52-2-704. Duties of department. (1) The department is responsible for planning, implementing, and coordinating programs under the Montana Child Care Act.
     (2) The department shall:
     (a) assess child-care needs and resources within the state;
     (b) develop a state child-care plan;
     (c) coordinate child-care programs administered by all state agencies;
     (d) issue licenses to persons to receive children into a day-care center on a regular basis;
     (e) prescribe the conditions and publish minimum standards upon which licenses and registration certificates are issued;
     (f) adopt rules for day-care facilities consistent with the purposes of this part;
     (g) adopt rules for day-care centers that provide day care on an irregular basis, which includes exceptions regarding requirements for immunization records and staffing ratios; and
     (h) issue registration certificates to a person or persons to receive children into a family day-care home or group day-care home on a regular basis.
     (3) The department may:
     (a) enter into interagency agreements to administer and coordinate child-care programs;
     (b) accept any federal funds made available for the improvement or promotion of child-care services within the state;
     (c) administer any state and federal funds that may be appropriated for the purposes of the part; and
     (d) issue a license to a person to receive children into a day-care center on an irregular basis if the person chooses to apply for licensure.

     History: (1), (2)(a) thru (2)(c), (3)En. Sec. 3, Ch. 692, L. 1989; (2)(d) thru (2)(g)En. Sec. 6, Ch. 247, L. 1965; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 121, L. 1974; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 293, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 10-806(part); amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 606, L. 1981; Sec. 53-4-503, MCA 1987; redes. 52-2-702(2)(d) thru (2)(g) by Code Commissioner, 1989; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 91, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 149, Ch. 418, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 349, Ch. 546, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 12, Ch. 171, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 505, L. 2001.