(b) For purposes of maintaining continuity of services to children and receipt of state and federal child nutrition and child development funding, the department may grant a certificate of operation to any child care and development facility which meets all of the following conditions:

1. (1) A representative of the department has visited the facility and verified, in writing, to the department’s licensing agency that the facility has no deficiencies at the time of granting the certificate of operation which would endanger the physical health, mental health, safety, or welfare of the children.
2. (2) Without a certificate of operation in lieu of a license from the department, the facility would be ineligible to receive state and federal child nutrition or child development funds.