Title 30, Education and Culture

As used in ORS 329A.100 to 329A.135, “resource and referral system” means a statewide network of entities funded by the state to: (1) Provide information to parents and guardians; (2) Provide training and technical assistance to existing and prospective child care providers; or (…

The Legislative Assembly believes that a resource and referral system involving a statewide network of local resource and referral entities coordinated centrally is essential to long-range solutions to meet the child care needs of communities in this state. Services may be both p…

(1) The Department of Early Learning and Care shall implement, administer and maintain the resource and referral system. (2) Resource and referral entities must provide services including, but not limited to: (a) Training and technical assistance for existing and potential child …

A resource and referral entity must match funds as required by the Early Learning Council by rule. [Formerly 657A.130; 2017 c.187 §5; 2019 c.148 §2]

(1) The Department of Early Learning and Care shall implement federal requirements for the resource and referral system. (2) The department shall establish criteria for proposals, prepare requests for proposals, receive proposals and award grants or enter into agreements to estab…

As used in ORS 329A.030, 329A.250 to 329A.450 and 329A.500, unless the context requires otherwise: (1) “Babysitter” means a person who goes into the home of a child to give care during the temporary absence of the parent, legal guardian or custodian. (2) “Certification” means the…

(1) As used in this section, “exempt prohibited individual” means: (a) An individual whose record, certification or registration is suspended, has been denied for cause or has been revoked for cause under ORS 329A.255 or 329A.350. (b) An individual whose enrollment in the Central…

(1) A person may not operate a preschool recorded program or a school-age recorded program unless the program is recorded with the Department of Early Learning and Care as provided in this section. (2) To obtain recording, the person operating the program must apply to the depart…

(1) After consultation with appropriate agencies and interested persons, the Early Learning Council by rule shall establish minimum standards for child care facilities and the operation thereof and for the administration of ORS 329A.030 and 329A.250 to 329A.450. (2) In establishi…

(1) In addition to the minimum standards established for child care facilities and the operation of child care facilities under ORS 329A.260 and subject to available funds, the Department of Early Learning and Care, in coordination with the committee designated by the Early Learn…

(1) As used in this section: (a) “Certified child care facility” means a child care facility that has been certified under ORS 329A.280. (b) “Registered child care facility” means a child care facility that has been registered under ORS 329A.330. (2) Every certified child care fa…

(1) A certification or registration authorized by ORS 329A.250 to 329A.450 and issued to a child care facility may be renewed upon submission of an application and payment of the required fee not later than 30 days prior to the expiration date of the current certification or regi…

(1) There is established in the State Treasury, separate and distinct from the General Fund, the Child Care Fund. (2) The Child Care Fund shall consist of moneys collected, received and administered by the Department of Early Learning and Care or any divisions or offices of the d…

(1) The Early Learning Council shall adopt rules establishing fees for certification, registration and recording under ORS 329A.250 to 329A.450. (2) Subject to prior approval of the Oregon Department of Administrative Services and a report to the Legislative Assembly prior to ado…

(1) A person may not operate a child care facility, except a facility subject to the registration requirements of ORS 329A.330, without a certification for the facility from the Department of Early Learning and Care. (2) The Early Learning Council shall adopt rules for the certif…

A person applying for a certification for a child care facility shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Department of Early Learning and Care that: (1) The moral character and habits of the person will not endanger the well-being of children for whom the person is to provide…

(1) Upon receipt of an application for a certification, accompanied by the required fee, the Department of Early Learning and Care shall issue a certification if the department finds that the child care facility and its operations are in compliance with the requirements of ORS 18…

(1) Application for a certification or for the annual renewal thereof shall be made to the Department of Early Learning and Care on forms provided by the department and accompanied by a nonrefundable fee. The fee shall vary according to the type of facility and the number of chil…

(1) A provider operating a family child care home where care is provided in the family living quarters of the provider’s home that is not subject to the certification requirements of ORS 329A.280 may not operate a child care facility without registering with the Department of Ear…

(1) A child care provider not subject to certification or registration who receives funds from the Department of Early Learning and Care for subsidized care shall attend an orientation provided by the department or a resource and referral entity under ORS 329A.100 to 329A.135 wit…

The Department of Early Learning and Care is not deprived of jurisdiction to proceed with an investigation of or an action or disciplinary proceeding against an individual or a child care facility by the: (1) Lapsing, suspension, revocation or voluntary surrender of a certificati…

(1) If the Department of Early Learning and Care has reason to believe that an individual or a child care facility has engaged, is engaging or is about to engage in a violation of ORS 181A.200 or 329A.030 and 329A.250 to 329A.450 or the rules promulgated pursuant to ORS 181A.195,…

(1) The Department of Early Learning and Care may develop a progressive enforcement system for the rules promulgated pursuant to ORS 329A.030 and 329A.250 to 329A.450. (2) The enforcement system developed under this section may establish: (a) A set of progressively higher enforce…

(1) A child care facility may not interfere with the good faith disclosure of information by a parent, legal guardian or a current or former employee or volunteer concerning the abuse or mistreatment of a child in the child care facility, violations of licensing or certification …

An initial application from a child care facility for certification or registration or a renewal application from a child care facility for certification or registration may be denied, or a temporary or regular certification or regular registration may be revoked or suspended, if…

(1) Upon deciding to deny, revoke, suspend, impose a condition on or not renew a certification or registration, the Department of Early Learning and Care shall give notice and opportunity for hearing as provided in ORS chapter 183. (2) The department shall make the final decision…

(1) Without the necessity of prior administrative proceedings or hearing and entry of an order or at any time during such proceedings if they have been commenced, the Department of Early Learning and Care, the Attorney General or the prosecuting attorney of any county may institu…

(1) Whenever an authorized representative of the Department of Early Learning and Care is advised or has reason to believe that child care that is subject to regulation by the department is being provided without a certification, registration or record, the authorized representat…

(1) An authorized representative of the Oregon Health Authority may inspect the premises of a child care facility certified under ORS 329A.280 to determine whether the facility is in conformity with applicable laws and regulations relating to health and sanitation. (2) An authori…

(1) In the event that any authorized representative of the Department of Early Learning and Care, Oregon Health Authority or other agency is denied access to any premises for the purpose of making an inspection in the administration of ORS 181A.200, 329A.030 and 329A.250 to 329A.…

The Department of Early Learning and Care may enter into cooperative arrangements with the Oregon Health Authority, the State Fire Marshal and other public agencies for the provision of services in the inspection of child care facilities in the administration of ORS 181A.200, 329…

(1) As used in this section: (a) “Certified family child care provider” means an individual who operates a family child care home that is certified under ORS 329A.280. (b) “Child care subsidy” means a payment made by the state on behalf of eligible children for child care service…

The Department of Early Learning and Care may consult with, advise or train the staffs of child care facilities or other interested persons concerning child care programs. [Formerly 657A.450; 2023 c.554 §34]

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, children of any person providing babysitting or child care services within the person’s own home shall not be required to sleep in any area other than their normal sleeping quarters. Such children related by blood within the first degre…

(1) As used in this section, “family” means any individual who is responsible for the care, control and supervision of a child. (2) The Early Learning Council shall adopt rules for the operation of the Employment Related Day Care subsidy program and for other subsidy programs adm…

(1) At any reasonable time, an authorized representative of the Department of Early Learning and Care may conduct an inspection or investigation of a subsidized care facility, as defined in ORS 329A.250. (2) When conducting an investigation under this section, the department may:…

(1) As used in this section, “international early childhood professional” is an individual who has received professional training in early learning and care, or a college or university degree related to early learning and care, outside of the United States. (2) The Department of …

(1) The Early Childhood Suspension and Expulsion Prevention Program is established. The Department of Early Learning and Care shall administer the program as provided by this section. (2) The purposes of the Early Childhood Suspension and Expulsion Prevention Program are to: (a) …

An early childhood care or education program may not suspend or expel any child if the program receives state public funds from the Department of Early Learning and Care or the program is certified under ORS 329A.280 or registered under ORS 329A.330. [2021 c.576 §3] Note: 329A.62…

As used in ORS 329A.700 to 329A.712: (1)(a) “Child care provider” means a provider, for compensation, of care, supervision or guidance to a child on a regular basis in a center or in a home other than the child’s home. (b) “Child care provider” does not include a person who is th…

(1) The Department of Early Learning and Care shall establish a program to: (a) Allocate tax credit certificates to taxpayers that make qualified contributions to the department; and (b) Distribute to child care providers moneys from qualified contributions and other contribution…

(1) For the purpose of implementing the program established under ORS 329A.703, the Early Learning Council, in collaboration with the Department of Early Learning and Care, shall: (a) Adopt rules. (b) Identify child care goals that are consistent with the purposes provided in ORS…

(1) The Department of Early Learning and Care shall distribute revenues in the Child Care Fund that are derived from contributions, minus the amounts needed to make refunds under ORS 329A.706 (3) and to cover expenses of the department in administering ORS 329A.700 to 329A.712. (…

(1) Early educational investments are severely underfunded. (2) There is a shortage of affordable and accessible child care in this state. (3) Early learning and care providers have limited finances to facilitate expansion of a robust child care infrastructure. (4) High-quality e…

As used in ORS 329A.720 to 329A.732: (1) “Administrative costs” includes, but is not limited to, the direct and indirect costs incurred by the Oregon Business Development Department for: (a) Reviewing and processing applications for grants and loans for financial assistance submi…

(1)(a) The Child Care Infrastructure Fund is established in the State Treasury, separate and distinct from the General Fund. Interest earned by the Child Care Infrastructure Fund shall be credited to the fund. (b) Moneys in the fund are continuously appropriated to the Oregon Bus…