1. A. The administrative completeness review time-frame for each type of approval granted by the Department under this Article is listed in Table 2.1 and begins on the date that the Department receives an application.

   1. 1. An application for a license is not complete until the date, provided to the Department with the application or by written notice, that the child care facility is ready for an onsite licensing inspection.

   2. 2. The Department shall send a notice of administrative completeness or deficiencies to the applicant within the administrative completeness review time-frame.

      1. a. A notice of deficiencies shall list each deficiency and the items needed to complete the application.
      2. b. The administrative completeness review time-frame and the overall time-frame are suspended from the date that the notice of deficiencies is issued until the date that the Department receives all of the missing items from the applicant.
      3. c. If an applicant for a license or an approval of a change affecting a license fails to submit to the Department all of the items listed in the notice of deficiencies within 180 calendar days after the date that the Department sent the notice of deficiencies, the Department shall consider the application or request for approval withdrawn.
   3. 3. If the Department issues a license or other approval to the applicant during the administrative completeness review time-frame, the Department shall not issue a separate written notice of administrative completeness.

2. B. The substantive review time-frame for each type of approval granted by the Department under this Article is listed in Table 2.1 and begins on the date of the notice of administrative completeness.

   1. 1. As part of the substantive review for a license application, the Department shall conduct an inspection that may require more than one visit to the facility.
   2. 2. As part of the substantive review for a request for approval of a change affecting a license that requires a change in the use of physical space at the facility, the Department shall conduct an evaluation of the request to determine compliance with applicable rules and statutes that may include an onsite inspection.
   3. 3. The Department shall send a license, a written notice of approval, or denial of a license or other request for approval to an applicant within the substantive review time-frame.

   4. 4. During the substantive review time-frame, the Department may make one comprehensive written request for additional information, unless the Department and the applicant have agreed in writing to allow the Department to submit supplemental requests for information.

      1. a. If the Department determines that an applicant or a facility is not in substantial compliance with A.R.S. Title 36, Chapter 7.1, Article 1 and this Chapter, the Department shall send a comprehensive written request for additional information that includes a written statement of deficiencies stating each statute and rule upon which noncompliance is based.
      2. b. An applicant shall submit to the Department all of the information requested in the comprehensive written request for additional information and documentation of the corrections required in the statement of deficiencies, if applicable within 120 calendar days after the date of the comprehensive written request for additional information.
      3. c. The substantive review time-frame and the overall time-frame are suspended from the date that the Department issues a comprehensive written request for additional information or a supplemental request for information until the date that the Department receives all of the information requested, including documentation of corrections required in a statement of deficiencies, if applicable.
      4. d. If an applicant fails to submit to the Department all of the information requested in a comprehensive written request for additional information or a supplemental request for information, including documentation of corrections required in a statement of deficiencies, if applicable, within the time prescribed in subsection (C)(4)(b), the Department shall deny the application.
   5. 5. The Department shall issue a license or other approval if the Department determines that the applicant and facility are in substantial compliance with A.R.S. Title 36, Chapter 7.1, Article 1 and this Chapter, and the applicant submits documentation of corrections that is acceptable to the Department for any deficiencies.
   6. 6. If the Department determines that a license or other approval is to be denied, the Department shall send to the applicant a written notice of denial complying with A.R.S. § 36-888 and stating the reasons for denial and all other information required by A.R.S. §§ 36-888 and 41-1076.

Table 7.1. Time-frames (in calendar days)

Historical Note

Table 7.1 made by final rulemaking at 31 A.A.R. 2015 (June 27, 2025), effective August 3, 2025 (Supp. 25-2).

Historical Note

Adopted as an emergency effective July 3, 1989, pursuant to A.R.S. § 41-1026, valid for only 90 days; Emergency rule readopted effective September 28, 1989, pursuant to A.R.S. § 41-1026, valid for only 90 days (Supp. 89-3). Emergency rule readopted effective December 27, 1989, pursuant to A.R.S. § 41-1026, valid for only 90 days (Supp. 89-4). Emergency rule readopted effective April 3, 1990, pursuant to A.R.S. § 41-1026, valid for only 90 days (Supp. 90-2). Emergency expired. Emergency rule readopted effective July 9, 1990, pursuant to A.R.S. § 41-1026, valid for only 90 days (Supp. 90-3). Emergency permanently adopted effective October 4, 1990 (Supp. 90-4). Amended by final rulemaking at 8 A.A.R. 4060, effective November 10, 2002 (Supp. 02-3). Section repealed by final rulemaking at 10 A.A.R. 1282, effective September 1, 2004 (Supp. 04-1). New Section made by final rulemaking at 31 A.A.R. 2015 (June 27, 2025), effective August 3, 2025 (Supp. 25-2).