Section 1240-04-01-.18 - EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS(1) All persons or entities operating a child care agency as defined in this chapter, excluding drop-in child care centers and those programs and facilities exempt from licensing as provided in T.C.A. § 71-3-503, shall, in consultation with appropriate local authorities and local emergency management, develop a written multi-hazard plan to protect children in the event of emergencies, including, but not limited to, fires, tornados, earthquakes, chemical spills, and floods. Such plans must address the following components: evacuation, relocation, shelter-in-place and lock down, staff and volunteer emergency preparedness training and practice drills, communication and reunification with families, continuity of operations, and accommodation of infants and toddlers, children with disabilities, and children with chronic medical conditions.(2) All child care agencies shall also inform parents and guardians of children attending the child care agency of the plan. The child care agency shall comply with all other requirements related to emergency preparedness provided under T.C.A. § 71-3-517.(3) The Department may temporarily waive certain provisions of child care licensing and Quality Rating Improvement System rules when a state of emergency is declared by the Governor or the Governor's designee, or by activation of the Tennessee Emergency Management Plan ("TEMP") pursuant to T.C.A. § 71-3-517.(4) The Department may also waive, on a temporary basis, certain provisions of the child care licensing and Quality Rating Improvement System rules as they pertain to a particular child care agency as needed on an individual basis in case of a single incident such as a fire or other type of disaster.Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-01-.18
Original rules filed May 1, 2018; effective July 30, 2018. Amendments filed March 31, 2022; effective 6/29/2022.Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-201, et seq.; 71-1-105(a)(5); and 71-3-517.