The purpose of this article is to provide minimum standards for the operation of child care facilities and before and after school program facilities in the city, to protect the health, safety and welfare of the occupants and patrons.
(Ordinance 3153, § 1, adopted 8/8/2011)
There is hereby adopted the "Minimum Standards for School-Age and Before or After-School Programs" and "Minimum Standards for Child-Care Centers" published in Title 26, Chapters 744 and 746 of the Texas Administrative Code, a copy of which shall be kept on file in the office of the city secretary. The provisions of the such minimum standards shall apply as though such regulations were copied at length herein, except where specific other provisions are expressed within this article or where the provisions contained herein require higher or greater standards of care.
Ord. No. 3738, § 1, adopted May 18, 2022, amended the title of § 18-32 to read as herein set out. The former § 18-32 title pertained to State Texas Department of Family and Protective Services minimum standards adopted.
(Ordinance 3153, § 1, adopted 8/8/2011; Ordinance 3738, § 1, adopted 5/18/2022)
(a) 
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section unless otherwise expressly stated or where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
(1) 
Child
means a person under 18 years of age.
(2) 
Child-care facility
means a facility licensed, certified, or registered by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to provide assessment, care, training, education, custody, treatment, or supervision for a child who is not related by blood, marriage, or adoption to the owner or operator of the facility, for all or part of the 24-hour day, whether or not the facility is operated for profit or charges for the services it offers.
(3) 
Foster home
means a child-care facility that provides care for not more than six children for 24 hours a day.
(4) 
Religious organization
means a church, synagogue, or other religious institution whose purpose is to support and serve the propagation of truly held religious beliefs.
(5) 
Before-school or after-school program
means a child-care facility that provides care before or after, or before and after, the customary school day and during school holidays, for at least two hours a day, three days a week, to children who attend prekindergarten through grade six.
(6) 
Regulatory authority
means the City of North Richland Hills Consumer Health Division and any other department or official of the city exercising the powers and duties established in this article.
(b) 
All other terms used herein shall have the meaning established for such terms by Chapter 42, Texas Human Resources Code.
(c) 
The term "child care facility" shall not apply to organizations, facilities or operations not required by Chapter 42, Texas Human Resources Code to be licensed, certified, or registered.
(Ordinance 3153, § 1, adopted 8/8/2011; Ordinance 3738, § 2, adopted 5/18/2022)