[§346-172]  Rules for registration. (a)  The department shall adopt rules establishing minimum requirements toensure the health and safety of children provided care in a family child carehome.  The rules may specify, but shall not be limited to, minimum requirementsconcerning:

(1)  The number of children which may be cared for atone time and the ratio of adult to children;

(2)  The health of the provider and children;

(3)  Fire and sanitation standards;

(4)  The supervision and allowable types of disciplineof children; and

(5)  Protection of children who are provided care fromabuse.

(b)  It is the intent of the legislature thatthe:

(1)  Minimum requirements established under thissection be less strict than the minimum standards established under section346-162 for group child care homes and group child care centers;

(2)  Minimum requirements be as simple and clear aspossible;

(3)  Minimum requirements be germane to the provisionof care to children in a private home as opposed to a nonresidential facilityor institution, require as little recordkeeping by the provider as possible,and require information and reports if deemed necessary, from the providerwhich the department intends to scrutinize carefully and not cursorily; and

(4)  Department establish minimum requirements, thecompliance with which can be assessed easily and objectively by officers andemployees of the department, providers, and parents and legal guardians ofchildren. [L 1985, c 208, pt of §2]