(a) Any person or entity operating a child care agency, as defined in § 71-3-501, without being licensed by the department or who continues to operate such agency while a suspension of the license is in effect, or who operates a child care agency following the effective date of a denial or revocation of a license, commits a Class A misdemeanor.

(b) Each day of operation without an effective license constitutes a separate offense.

(c)

(1) It is unlawful for any person who is an operator, licensee or employee of a child care agency to make any statement, whether written or verbal, knowing such statement is false, including, but not limited to, statements regarding:

(A) The number of children in the child care agency;

(B) The area of the child care agency used for child care; or

(C) The credentials, licensure or qualification of any care giver, employee, substitute or volunteer of the child care agency, when such statement is made to a parent or guardian of a child in the care of such agency, to any state or local official having jurisdiction over such agencies, or to any law enforcement officer.

(2) In order for subdivision (c)(1) to apply, the falsity of the statement must place at risk the health or safety of a child in the care of the child care agency.

(3) A violation of subdivision (c)(1) is a Class A misdemeanor.

(4) This subsection (c) includes statements made in any child care agency license application that misrepresents or conceals a material fact that would have resulted in the license being denied.

(5) In addition to any punishment authorized under this subsection (c), the department may also take any licensure action authorized under this part.