Notice is hereby given in accordance with § 2.2-4007.01 of the Code of Virginia that the State Board of Social Services intends to consider amending 22VAC40-185, Standards for Licensed Child Day Centers. The purpose of the proposed action is to align the regulation with the federal Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014, which requires 10 health and safety topics to be addressed for providers receiving federal child care and development funds. The intent is to align requirements of licensed programs with requirements for providers receiving child care and development funds; this includes unregulated and unlicensed programs. Amending the existing regulation to reflect federal health and safety standards will provide additional protections of the health, safety, and welfare of children in care. The agency has a pending regulatory action to repeal 22VAC40-185 and replace it with a new regulation, as part of a comprehensive review and update.

The agency does not intend to hold a public hearing on the proposed action after publication in the Virginia Register.

Statutory Authority: §§ 63.2-217 and 63.2-1734 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Comment Deadline: March 9, 2016.

Agency Contact: Tatanishia Armstrong, Licensing Consultant, Department of Social Services, 801 East Main Street, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 726-7152 ext: 7, FAX (804) 726-7132, or email tatanishia.armstrong@dss.virginia.gov.