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

(b)    “Child” means an individual under the age of 16 years.

(c)    (1)    “Child care center” means an agency, institution, or establishment that, for part or all of a day, or on a 24–hour basis on a regular schedule, and at least twice a week, offers or provides child care to children who do not have the same parentage except as otherwise provided for in law or regulation.

(2)    “Child care center” shall include a nonpublic nursery school in which an instructional program is offered or provided for children who are under the age of 5 years.

(3)    “Child care center” does not include:

(i)    A nonpublic kindergarten in which an instructional program is offered or provided for children who are at least 5 years old;

(ii)    A nonpublic elementary school in which an instructional program is offered or provided for children who are in grades 1 through 8;

(iii)    A child care home, a child care institution, or other child care facility that offers or provides a residential placement for a child and is established, licensed, or registered under this title, Title 9 of the Human Services Article, or Title 10 of the Health – General Article; or

(iv)    A family child care home or large family child care home that is required to be registered or is registered under this title.

(d)    “Letter of compliance” means a letter issued by the Department to a religious organization that meets the requirements under § 9.5–404 of this subtitle.