Rules for the Licensing of Child Care Facilities 10-148 cmr chapter 32

TRANSPORTATION

138. 
     Vehicle Requirements
     

1. 
   Licensed driver. Any person authorized by the facility to transport children shall be properly licensed to operate that class of vehicle.
   

2. 
   Training. All staff and volunteers who transport children as part of their regular duties shall complete the department-approved children’s transportation training.
   

3. 
   Number of passengers. The number of persons transported in any vehicle shall not exceed the seating capacity of the vehicle.
   

139. 
     Safety in vehicles.
     

1. 
   Unattended vehicle. No child shall be permitted to remain in any vehicle while it is unattended. Children must be seated with seat belts fastened or in child safety seats (when applicable according to State law) while vehicle is in motion.
   

2. 
   Seat belt. The driver shall wear a seat belt.
   

3. 
   Back seat. All children age twelve (12) and under shall ride in the back seat.
   

4. 
   One child per seat belt. The buckling of more than one child in a single seat is prohibited.
   

5. 
   Adult to child ratios in vehicles. There must be one (1) adult present for up to six (6) pre-school age children, infants or toddlers transported. Additional pre-school age children shall be supervised in accordance with staff/child ratios, Sections 26.1.1 and 28.2.
   

6. 
   Non-ambulatory children. In addition, one (1) staff person or adult volunteer per every three (3) non-ambulatory children must be present in the vehicle.
   

7. 
   Limitations of vehicle requirements. The vehicle requirements above shall not apply to vehicles not operated by the facility, such
   

8. 
   Weapons in vehicles. Weapons must not be transported in any vehicle in which children are riding.
   

9. 
   Child safety seats. The following standards must be met regarding the use of car safety seats:
   

REPORTING CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT

140. 
     Mandatory reporting. The facility must make all childcare personnel aware of their status and responsibility as mandated reporters to the Department of Health and Human Services when there is reasonable cause to suspect abuse or neglect of a child under the age of eighteen (18).
     

1. 
   When reports are made in good faith, reporters are immune from civil or criminal liability for the act of reporting or participating in the investigation or proceeding.
   

2. 
   The department will respect a reporter's request for confidentiality to the extent possible. The identity of reporters will not be revealed unless required to protect the child from serious harm.
   

141. 
     Policy for handling suspected instances of child abuse or neglect. The facility must adopt written policy for handling suspected instances of child abuse or neglect in accordance with Maine law.
     

142. 
     Facility cooperation in investigations. The facility staff shall cooperate in the investigation of allegations of abuse and neglect.