Sec. 14.31.02.07. Designation of Licensing Agency

A. The Office shall designate a licensing agency from among the agencies authorized by State law and regulations to license residential child care facilities for each proposal or expansion request that is:

(1) Certified as meeting single point of entry requirements; or

(2) Recommended by a review panel for referral without certification to a licensing agency.

B. The Office shall indicate to the licensing agency whether it has certified that the proposal or expansion request has met single point of entry requirements.

C. The Office shall select the licensing agency based upon:

(1) The type of program or facility being proposed;

(2) State law and regulations governing agency responsibility for specific populations of children;

(3) Existing relationships between an agency and a provider; and

(4) Any standards established by the Children's Cabinet.

D. Multiple Programs or Facilities.

(1) A provider may operate multiple programs or facilities licensed by different agencies.

(2) An individual program or facility may not be licensed by more than one agency.

E. Educational Programs in Residential Child Care Facilities. The Office shall refer residential child care programs and facilities that plan to operate an educational program to the Department of Education for processing pursuant to COMAR 13A.09.10.