(a)    In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

(b)    “Child care provider” means the adult who has primary responsibility for the operation of a family child care home or a large family child care home.

(c)    “Direct Grant Fund” means the Family Child Care Provider Direct Grant Fund.

(d)    “Family child care” means the care given to a child under the age of 13 years or to any developmentally disabled person under the age of 21 years, in place of parental care for less than 24 hours a day, in a residence other than the child’s residence, for which the child care provider is paid.

(e)    “Family child care home” means a residence in which family child care is provided for up to eight children.

(f)    “Family child care provider” means an individual who cares for children in a registered family child care home or a registered large family child care home.

(g)    “Large family child care home” means a residence in which family child care is provided for at least nine children, but not more than 12 children.

(h)    “Unregistered family child care home” means a residence in which family child care is provided and in which the child care provider:

(1)    Has not obtained a certificate of registration from the Department;

(2)    Is not related by blood or marriage to each child in the provider’s care;

(3)    Is not a friend of each child’s parents or legal guardian and is providing care on a regular basis; and

(4)    Has not received the care of the child from a child placement agency licensed by the Department of Human Services or by a local department of social services.