(a) The department may approve or deny a written request for enrollment or retention of a nonminor student at a schoolage child care center. The department may approve a request for enrollment or retention of a nonminor student if the department determines the schoolage child care center can meet the needs of the nonminor student and enrollment or retention of the nonminor student is not detrimental to the health and safety of the nonminor student.

(b) (1) For the purposes of retention, if a request, as described in subdivision (c), is submitted to the department at least 30 days prior to the child’s 18th birthday, the nonminor student shall be retained at a schoolage child care center, unless the request is denied in writing by the department.

(2) For the purposes of enrollment, a nonminor student shall not be enrolled at a schoolage child care center until the request, as described in subdivision (c), is approved in writing by the department.

(c) A written request from a schoolage child care center for enrollment or retention of a nonminor student shall include all of the following:

(1) Confirmation that the licensee conducted a personal interview of the nonminor student or the nonminor student’s authorized representative, if applicable, and a written statement from the licensee that assesses both of the following:

(A) Whether the enrollment or retention of the nonminor student would present a threat to the physical health, mental health, or safety of the nonminor student and others at the schoolage child care center.

(B) Whether the needs of the nonminor student can be met by the schoolage child care center.

(2) A copy of the nonminor student’s current individualized education program and any other information requested by the department.

(d) A nonminor student enrolled or retained pursuant to this section shall be exempt from the fingerprinting and criminal record clearance requirements in Section 1596.871 and otherwise applicable regulations.

(e) An approved request may be terminated by the department and a citation of deficiency, an assessment of civil penalties, or discipline of the licensee pursuant to Section 1596.885 or Section 1596.886, or any combination thereof, may result if the licensee fails to comply with applicable laws.

(f) The department may adopt regulations necessary to implement this section.

(Added by Stats. 2011, Ch. 471, Sec. 3. (SB 309) Effective January 1, 2012.)