S.C. Code Ann. § 20-7-2700
For the purpose of this subarticle:
(10) child daycare centers and group daycare homes owned and operated by a local church congregation or an established religious denomination or a religious college or university which does not receive state or federal financial assistance for daycare services; however, these facilities must comply with the provisions of Sections 20-7-2900 through 20-7-2975 and that these facilities voluntarily may elect to become licensed according to the process as set forth in Sections 20-7-2700 through 20-7-2780 and Sections 20-7-2980 through 20-7-3090.
(2) "Nonprofit child day care facility" means a facility whose child day care operator may receive public assistance funds directly or indirectly but which is operated under the tutelage and control of a nonprofit or eleemosynary corporation, foundation, association or other organization whose ownership may or may not be liable for payment of federal and state income taxes on profits earned by the facility.
e. "Child day care center" means any facility which regularly receives thirteen or more children for day care.
f. "Group daycare home" means a facility within a residence occupied by the operator which regularly provides child daycare for at least seven but not more than twelve children, unattended by a parent or a legal guardian including those children living in the home and children received for daycare who are related to the resident caregiver. However, an occupied residence in which child daycare is provided only for a child or children related to the resident caregiver or only for the child or children of one unrelated family or only for a combination of these children is not a group daycare home.
g. "Family daycare home" means a facility within a residence occupied by the operator in which child daycare is regularly provided for no more than six children, unattended by a parent or legal guardian, including those children living in the home and children received for daycare who are related to the resident caregiver. However, an occupied residence in which child daycare is provided only for a child or children related to the resident caregiver or only for the child or children of one unrelated family or only for a combination of these children is not a family daycare home.
h. "Child day care operator" means the person, corporation, partnership, voluntary association or other public or private organization ultimately responsible for the overall operation of a child day care facility.
i. "Caregiver" means any person whose duties include direct care, supervision and guidance of children in a child day care facility.
j. "Minor child" means a person who has not reached the eighteenth birthday.
k. "Department" means the State Department of Social Services, the agency designated to administer the regulation of child day care facilities under subarticle, with the advice of the State Advisory Committee on the Regulation of Child Day Care Facilities.
l. "Committee" means the State Advisory Committee on the Regulation of Child Day Care Facilities, named under this subarticle to advise the department on regulatory matters related to child day care facilities.
m. "Director" means the administrative head of the department.
n. "Regularly, or on a regular basis": these terms refer to the frequency with which child day care services are available and provided at a facility in any one week; these terms mean the availability and provision of periods of day care on more than two days in such week.
o. "Related" means any of the following relationships by marriage, blood or adoption: parent, grandparent, brother, sister, stepparent, stepsister, stepbrother, uncle, aunt, cousin of the first degree.
p. "Regular license" means a license issued by the department for two years to an operator of a private child day care center or group day care home or a family day care home which elects to be licensed showing that the licensee is in compliance with the provisions of this subarticle and the regulations of the department at the time of issuance and authorizing the licensee to operate in accordance with the license, this subarticle, and the regulations of the department.
q. "Provisional license" means a license issued by the department to an operator of a private child day care center or group day care home or a family day care home which elects to be licensed authorizing the licensee to begin operations although the licensee temporarily is unable to comply with all of the requirements for a license.
r. "Regular approval" means a written notice issued by the department for a two-year period to a department, agency or institution of the State, or a county, city, or other political subdivision, approving the operation of a public child day care center or group day care home in accordance with the provisions of the notice, this subarticle and the regulations of the department.
s. "Provisional approval" means a written notice issued by the department to a department, agency, or institution of the State, or a county, city, or other political subdivision approving the commencement the operations of a public child day care center or group day care home although the operator is temporarily unable to comply with all of the requirements for approval.
t. "Registration" means the process whereby child day care centers and group day care homes owned and operated by a church or a publicly recognized religious educational or religious charitable institution are regulated under this subarticle and the process whereby all family day care homes are regulated under this subarticle.
u. "Declaratory order" means a written statement on the part of the department approving plans for construction or renovation insuring against the imposition of more stringent regulations at a later date.
v. "Renewal" means in regard to child day care centers and group day care homes, to grant an extension of a regular license or regular approval for another two-year period provided an investigation of such facilities verifies that they are in compliance with the applicable regulations; in regard to family day care homes, to place the name of the operator on the registration list for another year provided procedures indicated in this subarticle have been completed.
w. "Revocation" means to void the regular license of a child day care center or group day care home.
x. "Deficiency correction notice" means a written statement on the part of the department notifying a child day care facility which is not complying with any applicable regulations to correct the deficiencies stated in the notice within a reasonable time limit.
y. "Complaint" means a written statement reporting unsatisfactory conditions in a child day care facility.
z. "Curriculum" means and includes design of courses, teaching philosophy, methods and activities.
aa. "Summer resident camp for children" means a twenty- four hour residential program offered during the summer that provides recreational activities for children.
bb. "Summer day camp for children" means a program offered during the summer that provides recreational activities primarily during daytime hours throughout the period of the program and may include an occasional overnight activity under the supervision of the operator.
cc. "Infant" means a child age twelve months or younger for the purposes of this chapter.
c. "Public child day care facility" means a facility as defined under item b of this section which was created and exists by act of the State, or a county, city or other political subdivision, whose operation remains under the tutelage and control of a governmental agency.
d. "Private child day care facility" means a facility as defined under item b of this section which is not a public child day care facility, and which is able to be further classified as follows:
a. "Child day care" means the care, supervision or guidance of a child or children, unaccompanied by the parent, guardian or custodian, on a regular basis, for periods of less than twenty-four hours per day, but more than four hours, in a place other than the child's or the children's own home or homes.
b. "Child daycare facilities" means a facility which provides care, supervision, or guidance for a minor child who is not related by blood, marriage, or adoption to the owner or operator of the facility whether or not the facility is operated for profit and whether or not the facility makes a charge for services offered by it. This definition includes, but is not limited to, day nurseries, nursery schools, daycare centers, group daycare homes, and family daycare homes. The term does not include: