PURPOSE: This rule defines the terms used throughout this chapter.

1. (1) The following definitions shall be used in interpreting the rules of this chapter:

   1. (A) Adult is an individual eighteen (18) years of age or older;
   2. (B) Bureau is the Bureau of Child Care Safety and Licensure of the Department of Health responsible for enforcement of child care rules and laws;
   3. (C) Caregiver is the facility director or other child care staff whether they are paid or volunteering;
   4. (D) Child care is care of a child away from his/her own home for any part of the day or night;
   5. (E) Department is the Missouri Department of Health;
   6. (F) Infant is a child less than twelve (12) months of age;
   7. (G) Kindergarten is a children’s educational program offered to prepare children for the first grade;
   8. (H) License-exempt facility or facility is a nursery school not operated by a religious organization or a child care operation run by a religious organization;
   9. (I) Local health department is an entity that enforces local public health codes and ordinances and provides other services related to public health;
   10. (J) Nursery school is a program for preschool children that is operated for no more than four (4) hours per child per day;
   11. (K) Premises is a house(s), dwelling(s) or building(s) and the adjoining land of a license-exempt facility;
   12. (L) Preschool child is a child between two and five (2–5) years of age not enrolled in kindergarten;
   13. (M) Registered professional nurse or registered nurse is one licensed under the provisions of sections 335.011—335.096, RSMo to engage in the practice of professional nursing;
   14. (N) Religious organization academic preschool is a child care program provided exclusively for four (4)- and five (5)-year-old children that is operated by a religious organization;
   15. (O) Sanitarian is a person employed by a state or local health department that conducts sanitation inspections for license-exempt child care facilities;
   16. (P) School-age child is a child four (4) years of age or older who is enrolled in kindergarten or elementary school;
   17. (Q) Staff/child ratio is the number of caregivers required for the number of children in care;
   18. (R) Toddler is a child between twelve (12) and twenty-four (24) months of age; and
   19. (S) Variance is approval by the department for a provider not to be required to meet a specific requirement of the rules of this chapter.

AUTHORITY: sections 210.221.1(3) and 210.252.5. RSMo Supp. 1999.* This rule was previously filed as 19 CSR 40-60.010. Original rule filed Dec. 1, 1994, effective July 30, 1995. Changed to 19 CSR 30-60.010 July 30, 1998. Emergency amendment filed March 1, 2000, effective March 11, 2000, expired Sept. 6. 2000. Amended: Filed March 1, 2000, effective Aug. 30, 2000. *Original authority: 210.221, RSMo 1949, amended 1955, 1987, 1993, 1995, 1999; 210.252, RSMo 1993, amended 1999.