30:5B-19 Responsibility; authority; contractual terms.

4. a. The department has the responsibility and authority to contract with family day care sponsoring organizations for the voluntary registration of family day care providers and shall adopt regulations for the operation and maintenance of family day care sponsoring organizations.

b. The department shall contract in writing with an agency or organization authorizing the agency or organization to operate as a family day care sponsoring organization to assist in the voluntary registration of family day care providers in a specific geographical area and to perform other functions with regard to family day care providers in accordance with the provisions of this act and the regulations adopted thereunder for which purposes the organization shall receive funds from the department based upon a fee for the service. The department shall contract with a family day care sponsoring organization for a period of one year.

c. The department shall contract with one family day care sponsoring organization to serve each county; however, the department may, as it deems appropriate, contract with additional family day care sponsoring organizations in a county, except that the department shall make all necessary arrangements to avoid duplication of effort and to promote a cooperative working relationship among the sponsoring organizations. Within one year following the effective date of this act there shall be a family day care sponsoring organization serving each county in this State.

L.1987,c.27,s.4; amended 2004, c.130, s.104.