at the time of the initial application, any renewal application, relocation of an existing licensed center, and, as determined by the Office of Licensing, on a case-by-case basis, the facility operator shall submit to the Office of Licensing a Safe Building Interior Certification or other approval issued by the Department of Health that indicates that no further remediation is needed for the interior of the building in which the center is located. the Office of Licensing shall not issue licenses or renewals to child care centers that are co-located in a building or other structure that contains a dry cleaner or nail salon unless the applicant obtains indoor air sampling that demonstrates that there is no impact to the child care center.

Submit a Safe Building Interior Certification or other approval issued by the DOH.

3A:52-5.3(i)(8) · Corrected Sep 4, 2025

The center shall maintain on file documentation of the date, time, topic, presenter, and attendance for all staff development and orientation completed by center staff members. The center shall record each staff member’s completion of staff development and orientation on the Staff Records Checklist, as specified in N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.1(b).

Ensure that 1 volunteer staff complete orientation training annually and that the completion of the training is documented on the Staff Records Checklist. 9/23/2024 Ensure that the completion of the training is documented on the Staff Records Checklist.

3A:52-4.8(g)(3) · Corrected Oct 22, 2024

A person applying for an initial license or renewal license to operate a center or relocation of a center shall submit a completed application to the Office of Licensing at least 45 days prior to the anticipated opening of the center or to the expiration of its existing regular license.

Submit DCF Renewal Fee.

3A:52-2.1(b) · Corrected Jun 17, 2024

Indoor maintenance and sanitation requirements are as follows: ventilation outlets shall be clean and free from obstructions, and filters shall be replaced when saturated.

Maintain all mechanical ventilation in a clean condition in the bathrooms throughout the center.

3A:52-5.3(a)(15) · Corrected Aug 20, 2024

Environmental condition precautions are as follows: at the time of the initial application, any renewal application, relocation of an existing licensed center and, in the discretion of the Office of Licensing, any other time, the applicant or facility operator shall certify in writing that the center provides a potable water supply provided by a public community water system. If the facility is supplied by a public community water system, the applicant or facility operator shall provide documentation of water testing conducted by a laboratory certified by the Department of Environmental Protection for water testing for lead and copper from all faucets and other sources used for drinking water or food preparation and at least 50 percent of all indoor water faucets utilized by the center.

Emergency procedure requirements are as follows: the center shall conduct two lockdown drills per year and maintain on file a record of each lockdown drill. The center shall ensure that lockdown drills are conducted during each session provided at the center.

Ensure that the center conducts at least two lockdown drills per year during each session provided at the center and maintains records of the drills on file.

3A:52-5.3(l)(4) · Corrected Jun 26, 2023

The center shall be permitted to obtain a valid fire safety inspection certificate issued by the municipality in which it is located, based on a fire inspection conducted within the preceding 12 months, and submit a copy of the certificate to the Office of Licensing in lieu of a CO or CCO, if the center serves only children 2 ½ years of age or older and is located in a public school building that is used as a public school.

Ensure that all illuminated exit signs and emergency lighting are operable at all times in hallway by the bathrooms.

3A:52-5.2(a)(5) · Corrected Jun 26, 2023

The center shall ensure that all staff members who work at the center complete 12 hours of continuing staff development each year.

Ensure that all staff complete 12 hours of staff development annually.

3A:52-4.8(c) · Corrected Jun 26, 2023

In lieu of the child care staff development specified in N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.8(b), the director, head teacher(s), group teacher(s), and program supervisor(s) shall each complete 20 hours of staff development each year. Recommended topics of training for these staff include educational and physical activity.

Ensure that all credentialed staff complete 20 hours of staff development annually.

Orientation training as specified in N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.8(a) may be included for six of the required hours of staff development specified in N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.8(c) and (d).

Ensure that all staff complete orientation training annually, and secure and maintain on file, each staff member's signature attesting to the review of the orientation training; .and that the completion of the training is documented on the Staff Records Checklist.

3A:52-4.8(b) · Corrected Oct 14, 2022

When the center applies for a new or renewal license or Certificate of Life/Safety Approval, the sponsor or sponsor representative shall submit to the Department the completed CARI consent forms for all staff members who are or will be working at the center on a regularly scheduled basis. Until the results of the CARI background check for a new staff member have been received from the Department, the center shall ensure oversight of the new staff member by another staff member, and ensure that person is not left alone to supervise a child or group of children.

Ensure that 1 regular staff who do not have a completed CARI background check are directly supervised by another staff member.

3A:52-4.10(b)(2) · Corrected Oct 13, 2022

As a condition of securing a license or Certificate of Life/Safety Approval, the sponsor or sponsor representative shall ensure that a Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) fingerprint background check is completed for himself or herself, and for all staff members at least 18 years of age who are or will be working at the center on a regularly- scheduled basis, to determine whether any such person has been convicted of a crime, as specified in P.L. 2000, c. 77 (N.J.S.A. 30:5B-6.10 to 6.17). The sponsor or sponsor representative and each staff member shall complete the electronic fingerprinting process through the vendor authorized by the State to conduct CHRI background checks through the Division of State Police in the Department of Law and Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Emergency procedure requirements are as follows: the center shall prepare written emergency procedures delineating a diagram showing how the center is to be evacuated in case of emergency from each classroom and the outdoor play area.

Post a diagram showing how the center is to be evacuated from each classroom and the outdoor play area.

3A:52-5.3(l)(1)(vii) · Corrected Feb 14, 2022

Indoor maintenance and sanitation requirements are as follows: carpeting shall be securely fastened to the floor.

Ensure that all carpeting is securely fastened to the floor throughout the center.

3A:52-5.3(a)(4) · Corrected Feb 14, 2022

Handwashing requirements are as follows: the center shall ensure that children three months of age and older wash their hands with soap and running water before intake of food.

Ensure that children wash their hands before the intake of food in room 1.

3A:52-7.8(a)(1)(i) · Corrected Feb 14, 2022

As a condition of securing a license or Certificate of Life/Safety Approval, the sponsor or sponsor representative shall ensure that a Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) fingerprint background check is completed for himself or herself, and for all staff members at least 18 years of age who are or will be working at the center on a regularly- scheduled basis, to determine whether any such person has been convicted of a crime, as specified in P.L. 2000, c. 77 (N.J.S.A. 30:5B-6.10 to 6.17). The sponsor or sponsor representative and each staff member shall complete the electronic fingerprinting process through the vendor authorized by the State to conduct CHRI background checks through the Division of State Police in the Department of Law and Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.