2005 North Carolina Code - General Statutes Article 1A - Control Over Child Placing and Child Care.

Article 1A.

Control Over Child Placing and Child Care.

§ 131D‑10.1.� Purpose.

It is the policy of this State to strengthen and preserve the family as a unit. When a child requires care outside the family unit, it is the duty of the State to assure that the quality of substitute care is as close as possible to the care and nurturing that society expects of a family.

The purpose of this Article is to assign the authority to protect the health, safety and well‑being of children separated from or being cared for away from their families. (1983, c. 637, s. 2.)

 

§ 131D‑10.2.� Definitions.

For purposes of this Article, unless the context clearly implies otherwise:

(1)������ "Adoption" means the act of creating a legal relationship between parent and child where it did not exist genetically.

(2)������ "Adoptive Home" means a family home approved by a child placing agency to accept a child for adoption.

(3)������ "Child" means an individual less than 18 years of age, who has not been emancipated under the provisions of Article 35 of Chapter 7B of the General Statutes.

(4)������ "Child Placing Agency" means a person authorized by statute or license under this Article to receive children for purposes of placement in residential group care, family foster homes or adoptive homes.

(5)������ "Children's Camp" means a residential child‑care facility which provides foster care at either a permanent camp site or in a wilderness setting.

(6)������ "Commission" means the Social Services Commission.

(6a)���� "Criminal History" means a county, state, or federal criminal history of conviction or a pending indictment of a crime, whether a misdemeanor or a felony, that bears upon an individual's fitness to have responsibility for the safety and well‑being of children, including the following North Carolina crimes contained in any of the following Articles of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes: Article 6, Homicide; Article 7A, Rape and Kindred Offenses; Article 8, Assaults; Article 10, Kidnapping and Abduction; Article 13, Malicious Injury or Damage by Use of Explosive or Incendiary Device or Material; Article 26, Offenses Against Public Morality and Decency; Article 27, Prostitution; Article 39, Protection of Minors; Article 40, Protection of the Family; and Article 59, Public Intoxication. Such crimes also include possession or sale of drugs in violation of the North Carolina Controlled Substances Act, Article 5 of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes, and alcohol‑related offenses such as sale to underage persons in violation of G.S. 18B‑302 or driving while impaired in violation of G.S. 20‑138.1 through G.S. 20‑138.5. In addition to the North Carolina crimes listed in this subdivision, such crimes also include similar crimes under federal law or under the laws of other states.

(7)������ "Department" means the Department of Health and Human Services.

(8)������ "Family Foster Home" means the private residence of one or more individuals who permanently reside as members of the household and who provide continuing full‑time foster care for a child or children who are placed there by a child placing agency or who provide continuing full‑time foster care for two or more children who are unrelated to the adult members of the household by blood, marriage, guardianship or adoption.

(9)������ "Foster Care" means the continuing provision of the essentials of daily living on a 24‑hour basis for dependent, neglected, abused, abandoned, destitute, orphaned, undisciplined or delinquent children or other children who, due to similar problems of behavior or family conditions, are living apart from their parents, relatives, or guardians in a family foster home or residential child‑care facility. The essentials of daily living include but are not limited to shelter, meals, clothing, education, recreation, and individual attention and supervision.

(9a)���� "Foster Parent" means any individual who is 18 years of age or older who is licensed by the State to provide foster care.

(10)���� "Person" means an individual, partnership, joint‑stock company, trust, voluntary association, corporation, agency, or other organization or enterprise doing business in this State, whether or not for profit.

(11)���� "Primarily Educational Institution" means any institution which operates one or more scholastic or vocational and technical education programs that can be offered in satisfaction of compulsory school attendance laws, in which the primary purpose of the housing and care of children is to meet their educational needs, provided such institution has complied with Article 39 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes.

(12)���� "Provisional License" means a type of license granted by the Department to a person who is temporarily unable to comply with a rule or rules adopted under this Article.

(13)���� "Residential Child‑Care Facility" means a staffed premise with paid or volunteer staff where children receive continuing full‑time foster care. Residential child‑care facility includes child‑caring institutions, group homes, and children's camps which provide foster care.

(14)���� "Therapeutic Foster Home" means a family foster home where, in addition to the provision of foster care, foster parents who receive appropriate training provide a child with behavioral health treatment services under the supervision of a county department of social services, an area mental health program, or a licensed private agency and in compliance with licensing rules adopted by the Commission. (1983, c. 637, s. 2; 1993, c. 180, s. 5; 1995, c. 507, s. 23.26(a); 1997‑140, s. 1; 1997‑443, s. 11A.118(a); 1998‑202, s. 13(hh); 2001‑487, s. 84(b).)

 

§ 131D‑10.3.� Licensure required.

(a)������ No person shall operate, establish or provide foster care for children or receive and place children in residential care facilities, family foster homes, or adoptive homes without first applying for a license to the Department and submitting the required information on application forms provided by the Department.

(b)������ Persons licensed or seeking a license under this Article shall permit the Department access to premises and information required to determine whether the person is in compliance with licensing rules of the Commission.

(c)������ Persons licensed pursuant to this Article shall be periodically reviewed by the Department to determine whether they comply with Commission rules and whether licensure shall continue.

(d)������ This Article shall apply to all persons intending to organize, develop or provide foster care for children or receive and place children in residential child‑care facilities, family foster homes or adoptive homes irrespective of such persons having applied for or obtained a certification, registration or permit to carry on work not controlled by this Article except persons exempted in G.S. 131D‑10.4.

(e)������ Unless revoked or modified to a provisional or suspended status, the terms of a license issued by the Department shall be in force for a period not to exceed 24 months from the date of issuance under rules adopted by the Commission.

(f)������� Persons licensed or seeking a license who are temporarily unable to comply with a rule or rules may be granted a provisional license. The provisional license can be issued for a period not to exceed six months. The noncompliance with a rule or rules shall not present an immediate threat to the health and safety of the children, and the person shall have a plan approved by the Department to correct the area(s) of noncompliance within the provisional period. A provisional license for an additional period of time to meet the same area(s) of noncompliance shall not be issued.

(g)������ In accordance with Commission rules, a person may submit to the Department documentation of compliance with the standards of a nationally recognized accrediting body, and the Department on the basis of such accreditation may deem the person in compliance with one or more Commission licensing rules.

(h)������ Except as provided in subsection (i) of this section, the Secretary shall not enroll any new provider for Medicaid Home or Community Based services or other Medicaid services, as defined in 42 C.F.R. 440.90, 42 C.F.R. 440.130(d), and 42 C.F.R. 440.180, or issue a license for a new facility or a new service to any applicant meeting any of the following criteria:

(1)������ The applicant was the owner, principal, or affiliate of a licensable facility under Chapter 122C, Chapter 131D, or Article 7 of Chapter 110 that had its license revoked until 60 months after the date of the revocation.

(2)������ The applicant is the owner, principal, or affiliate of a licensable facility that was assessed a penalty for a Type A or Type B violation under Article 3 of Chapter 122C, or any combination thereof, and any one of the following conditions exist:

a.�������� A single violation has been assessed in the six months prior to the application.

b.�������� Two violations have been assessed in the 18 months prior to the application and 18 months have not passed from the date of the most recent violation.

c.�������� Three violations have been assessed in the 36 months prior to the application and 36 months have not passed from the date of the most recent violation.

d.�������� Four or more violations have been assessed in the 60 months prior to application and 60 months have not passed from the date of the most recent violation.

(3)������ The applicant is the owner, principal, or affiliate of a licensable facility that had its license summarily suspended or downgraded to provisional status as a result of violations under G.S. 122C‑24.1(a) until 60 months after the date of reinstatement or restoration of the license.

(4)������ The applicant is the owner, principal, or affiliate of a licensable facility that had its license summarily suspended or downgraded to provisional status as a result of violations under Article 1A of Chapter 131D, or had its license summarily suspended or denied under Article 7 of Chapter 110 until 60 months after the date of reinstatement or restoration of the license.

(i)������� The Secretary may enroll a provider described in subsection (h) of this section if any of the following circumstances apply:

(1)������ The applicant is an area program or county program providing services under G.S. 122C‑141, and there is no other provider of the service in the catchment area.

(2)������ The Secretary finds that the area program or county program has shown good cause by clear and convincing evidence why the enrollment should be allowed.

(j)������� For purposes of subdivision (h)(2) of this section, fines assessed prior to October 23, 2002, are not applicable to this provision. However, licensure or enrollment shall be denied if an applicant's history as a provider under Chapter 131D, Chapter 122C, or Article 7 of Chapter 110 is such that the Secretary has concluded the applicant will likely be unable to comply with licensing or enrollment statutes, rules, or regulations. In the event the Secretary denies licensure or enrollment under this subsection, the reasons for the denial and appeal rights pursuant to Article 3 of Chapter 150B shall be given to the provider in writing. (1983, c. 637, s. 2; 2002‑164, s. 4.4; 2003‑294, s. 4.)

 

§ 131D‑10.3A.� Mandatory criminal checks.

(a)������ Effective January 1, 1996, in order to ensure the safety and well‑being of any child placed for foster care in a home, the Department shall ensure that the criminal histories of all foster parents, individuals applying for licensure as foster parents, and individuals 18 years of age or older who reside in a family foster home, are checked and, based on the criminal history check, a determination is made as to whether the foster parents, and other individuals required to be checked, are fit for a foster child to reside with them in the home. The Department shall ensure that, as of the effective date of this Article, all individuals required to be checked are checked for county, state, and federal criminal histories.

(b)������ The Department shall ensure that all individuals who are required to be checked pursuant to subsection (a) of this section are checked upon relicensure for county and State criminal histories.

(c)������ The Department may prohibit an individual from providing foster care by denying or revoking the license to provide foster care if the Department determines that the safety and well‑being of a child placed in the home for foster care would be at risk based on the criminal history of the individuals required to be checked pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.

(d)������ The Department of Justice shall provide to the Department the criminal history of the individuals specified in subsection (a) of this section obtained from the State and National Repositories of Criminal Histories as requested by the Department. The Department shall provide to the Department of Justice, along with the request, the fingerprints of the individual to be checked, any additional information required by the Department of Justice, and a form consenting to the check of the criminal record and to the use of fingerprints and other identifying information required by the State or National Repositories signed by the individual to be checked. The fingerprints of the individual to be checked shall be forwarded to the State Bureau of Investigation for a search of the State's criminal history record file, and the State Bureau of Investigation shall forward a set of fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a national criminal history record check.

(e)������ At the time of application, the individual whose criminal history is to be checked shall be furnished with a statement substantially similar to the following:

 

"NOTICE

MANDATORY CRIMINAL HISTORY CHECK

 

NORTH CAROLINA LAW REQUIRES THAT A CRIMINAL HISTORY CHECK BE CONDUCTED ON ALL PERSONS 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER WHO RESIDE IN A LICENSED FAMILY FOSTER HOME.

"Criminal history" includes any county, state, and federal convictions or pending indictments of any crime, of any of the following crimes: the following Articles of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes: Article 6, Homicide; Article 7A, Rape and Kindred Offenses; Article 8, Assaults; Article 10, Kidnapping and Abduction; Article 13, Malicious Injury or Damage by Use of Explosive or Incendiary Device or Material; Article 26, Offenses Against Public Morality and Decency; Article 27, Prostitution; Article 39, Protection of Minors; Article 40, Protection of the Family; and Article 59, Public Intoxication; violation of the North Carolina Controlled Substances Act, Article 5 of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes, and alcohol‑related offenses such as sale to underage persons in violation of G.S. 18B‑302 or driving while impaired in violation of G.S. 20‑138.1 through G.S. 20‑138.5; or similar crimes under federal law or under the laws of other states. Your fingerprints will be used to check the criminal history records of the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

If it is determined, based on your criminal history, that you are unfit to have a foster child reside with you, you shall have the opportunity to complete or challenge the accuracy of the information contained in the SBI or FBI identification records.

If licensure is denied or the foster home license is revoked by the Department of Health and Human Services as a result of the criminal history check, if you are a foster parent, or are applying to become a foster parent, you may request a hearing pursuant to Article 3 of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes, the Administrative Procedure Act.

Any person who intentionally falsifies any information required to be furnished to conduct the criminal history is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor."

Refusal to consent to a criminal history check is grounds for the Department to deny or revoke a license to provide foster care. Any person who intentionally falsifies any information required to be furnished to conduct the criminal history is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.

(f)������� The Department shall notify in writing the foster parent and any person applying to be licensed as a foster parent, and that individual's supervising agency of the determination by the Department of whether the foster parent is qualified to provide foster care based on the criminal history of all individuals required to be checked. In accordance with the law regulating the dissemination of the contents of the criminal history file furnished by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department shall not release nor disclose any portion of an individual's criminal history to the foster parent or any other individual required to be checked. The Department shall also notify the individual of the individual's right to review the criminal history information, the procedure for completing or challenging the accuracy of the criminal history, and the foster parent's right to contest the Department's determination.

A foster parent who disagrees with the Department's decision may request a hearing pursuant to Chapter 150B of the General Statutes, the Administrative Procedure Act.

(g)������ All the information that the Department receives through the checking of the criminal history is privileged information and is not a public record but is for the exclusive use of the Department and those persons authorized under this section to receive the information. The Department may destroy the information after it is used for the purposes authorized by this section after one calendar year.

(h)������ There is no liability for negligence on the part of a supervising agency, or a State or local agency, or the employees of a State or local agency, arising from any action taken or omission by any of them in carrying out the provisions of this section. The immunity established by this subsection shall not extend to gross negligence, wanton conduct, or intentional wrongdoing that would otherwise be actionable. The immunity established by this subsection shall be deemed to have been waived to the extent of indemnification by insurance, indemnification under Article 31A of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes, and to the extent sovereign immunity is waived under the Torts Claim Act, as set forth in Article 31 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes.

(i)������� The Department of Justice shall perform the State and national criminal history checks on individuals required by this section and shall charge the Department a reasonable fee only for conducting the checks of the national criminal history records authorized by this section. The Division of Social Services, Department of Health and Human Services, shall bear the costs of implementing this section. (1995, c. 507, s. 23.26(b); 1997‑140, s. 2; 1997‑443, ss. 11A.89, 11A.118(a); 2003‑304, s. 4.)

 

§ 131D‑10.4.� Exemptions.

This Article shall not apply to:

(1)������ Any residential child‑care facility chartered by the laws of the State of North Carolina (or operating under charters of other states which have complied with the corporation laws of North Carolina) which has a plant and assets worth sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) or more and which is owned or operated by a religious denomination or fraternal order and which was in operation before July 1, 1977;

(2)������ State institutions for emotionally disturbed or delinquent children, the mentally ill, mentally retarded, and substance abusers;

(3)������ Secure detention facilities as specified in Article 12 of Chapter 143B of the General Statutes;

(4)������ Licensable facilities subject to the rules of the Commission for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services as specified in Article 2 of Chapter 122C of the General Statutes;

(5)������ Persons authorized by statute to receive and place children for foster care and adoption in accordance with G.S. 108A‑14;

(6)������ Primarily educational institutions as defined in G.S. 131D‑10.2(11); or

(7)������ Individuals who are related by blood, marriage, or adoption to the child. (1983, c. 637, s. 2; 1985, c. 589, s. 39; 1991, c. 636, s. 19(b); 1998‑202, s. 13(ii); 1999‑423, s. 6; 2000‑137, s. 4(gg).)

 

§ 131D‑10.5.� Powers and duties of the Commission.

In addition to other powers and duties prescribed by law, the Commission shall exercise the following powers and duties:

(1)������ Adopt, amend and repeal rules consistent with the laws of this State and the laws and regulations of the federal government to implement the provisions and purposes of this Article;

(2)������ Issue declaratory rulings as may be needed to implement the provisions and purposes of this Article;

(3)������ Adopt rules governing procedures to appeal Department decisions pursuant to this Article granting, denying, suspending or revoking licenses;

(4)������ Adopt criteria for waiver of licensing rules adopted pursuant to this Article;

(5)������ Adopt rules on documenting the use of physical restraint in residential child‑care facilities; and

(6)������ Adopt rules establishing personnel and training requirements related to the use of physical restraints and time‑out for staff employed in residential child‑care facilities. (1983, c. 637, s. 2; 2000‑129, s. 2(a).)

 

§ 131D‑10.5A.� Collection of data on use of restraints in residential child‑care facilities.

A residential child‑care facility that employs physical restraint of a child shall collect data on the use of the restraint. The data shall reflect for each incidence, the type of procedure used, the length of time employed, alternatives considered or employed, and the effectiveness of the procedure or alternative employed. The facility shall analyze the data on at least a quarterly basis to monitor effectiveness, determine trends, and take corrective action where necessary. The facility shall make the data available to the Department upon request. Nothing in this subsection abrogates State or federal law or requirements pertaining to the confidentiality, privilege, or other prohibition against disclosure of information provided to the Department under this subsection. In reviewing data requested under this subsection, the Department shall adhere to State and federal requirements of confidentiality, privilege, and other prohibitions against disclosure and release applicable to the information received under this subsection. (2000‑129, s. 2(b).)

 

§ 131D‑10.6.� Powers and duties of the Department.

In addition to other powers and duties prescribed by law, the Department shall exercise the following powers and duties:

(1)������ Investigate applicants for licensure to determine whether they are in compliance with licensing rules adopted by the Commission and the provisions of this Article.

(2)������ Grant a license when an investigation shows compliance with this Article and Commission rules. The license shall be valid for a period not to exceed 24 months as specified by Commission rules and may be revoked or placed in suspended or provisional status sooner if the Department finds that licensure rules are not being met or upon a finding that the health, safety or welfare of children is threatened.

(3)������ Administer and enforce the provisions of this Article and the rules of the Commission.

(4)������ Appoint hearing officers to conduct appeals pursuant to this Article.

(5)������ Prescribe the form in which application for licensure or a request for waiver of Commission rules shall be submitted.

(6)������ Inspect facilities and obtain records, documents and other information necessary to determine compliance with the provisions of this Article and Commission rules.

(7)������ Grant, deny, suspend or revoke a license or a provisional license, in accordance with Commission rules.

(8)������ Act to grant or deny a request for waiver of Commission rules within 10 business days after its receipt. Grant a waiver for good cause to Commission rules that do not affect the health, safety, or welfare of children in facilities subject to licensure under this Article, in accordance with Commission rules.

(9)������ Undertake a comprehensive study of the existing procedures for granting or denying an application for licensure or a request for waiver of Commission rules and report to the General Assembly on or before May 1, 1998, regarding its efforts to make the process more efficient and less time‑consuming and its recommendations for any changes in the licensing laws or rules. The study shall include the development of a procedure that will ensure that the local Guardian Ad Litem Program is notified by the county department of social services of the request for a waiver if a guardian has been appointed for any child who may be affected by the waiver.

(10)���� Report annually on October 1 to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services the level of facility compliance with applicable State law governing the use of restraint and time‑out in residential child‑care facilities. The report shall also include the total number of facilities that reported deaths under this section, the number of deaths reported by each facility, the number of deaths investigated pursuant to this section, and the number found by the investigation to be related to the use of physical restraint or time‑out. (1983, c. 637, s. 2; 1997‑110, s. 1; 2000‑129, s. 5(b); 2003‑58, s. 3.)

 

§ 131D‑10.6A.� Training by the Division of Social Services required.

(a)������ The Division of Social Services, Department of Health and Human Services, shall require a minimum of 30 hours of preservice training for foster care parents either prior to licensure or within six months from the date a provisional license is issued pursuant to G.S.131D‑10.3, and a mandated minimum of 10 hours of continuing education for all foster care parents annually after the year in which a license is obtained.

(b)������ (See Editor's Note) The Division of Social Services shall establish minimum training requirements for child welfare services staff. The minimum training requirements established by the Division are as follows:

(1)������ Child welfare services workers shall complete a minimum of 72 hours of preservice training before assuming direct client contact responsibilities. In completing this requirement, the Division of Social Services shall ensure that each child welfare worker receives training on family centered practices and State and federal law regarding the basic rights of individuals relevant to the provision of child welfare services, including the right to privacy, freedom from duress and coercion to induce cooperation, and the right to parent.

(2)������ Child protective services workers shall complete a minimum of 18 hours of additional training that the Division of Social Services determines is necessary to adequately meet training needs.

(3)������ Foster care and adoption workers shall complete a minimum of 39 hours of additional training that the Division of Social Services determines is necessary to adequately meet training needs.

(4)������ Child welfare services supervisors shall complete a minimum of 72 hours of preservice training before assuming supervisory responsibilities and a minimum of 54 hours of additional training that the Division of Social Services determines is necessary to adequately meet training needs.

(5)������ Child welfare services staff shall complete 24 hours of continuing education annually. In completing this requirement, the Division of Social Services shall provide each child welfare services staff member with annual update information on family centered practices and State and federal law regarding the basic rights of individuals relevant to the provision of child welfare services, including the right to privacy, freedom from duress and coercion to induce cooperation, and the right to parent.

The Division of Social Services may grant an exception in whole or in part to the requirement under subdivision (1) of this subsection to child welfare workers who satisfactorily complete or are enrolled in a masters or bachelors program after July 1, 1999, from a North Carolina social work program accredited pursuant to the Council on Social Work Education. The program's curricula must cover the specific preservice training requirements as established by the Division of Social Services.

The Division of Social Services shall ensure that training opportunities are available for county departments of social services and consolidated human service agencies to meet the training requirements of this subsection. (1995, c. 324, s. 23.25; 1997‑390, s. 11.1; 1997‑443, s. 11A.118(a); 2000‑67, s. 11.14(c); 2003‑304, s. 4.2.)

 

§ 131D‑10.6B.� Report of death.

(a)������ A facility licensed under this Article shall notify the Department immediately upon the death of any resident of the facility that occurs within seven days of physical restraint of the resident, and shall notify the Department within three days of the death of any resident of the facility resulting from violence, accident, suicide, or homicide. The Department may assess a civil penalty of not less than five hundred dollars ($500.00) and not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) against a facility that fails to notify the Department of a death and the circumstances surrounding the death known to the facility. Chapter 150B of the General Statutes governs the assessment of a penalty under this section. A civil penalty owed under this section may be recovered in a civil action brought by the Department or the Attorney General. The clear proceeds of the penalty shall be remitted to the State Treasurer for deposit in accordance with State law.

(b)������ Upon receipt of notification from a facility in accordance with subsection (a) of this section, the Department shall notify the Governor's Advocacy Council for Persons With Disabilities that a person with a disability has died. The Department shall provide the Council access to the information about each death reported to the Council pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, including information resulting from any investigation of the death by the Department, and from reports received from the Chief Medical Examiner pursuant to G.S. 130A‑385. The Council shall use the information in accordance with its powers and duties under G.S. 143B‑403.1 and applicable federal law and regulations.

(c)������ If the death of a resident of the facility occurs within seven days of the use of physical restraint, the Department shall initiate immediately an investigation of the death.

(d)������ Nothing in this section abrogates State or federal law or requirements pertaining to the confidentiality, privilege, or other prohibition against disclosure of information provided to the Department or the Council. In carrying out the requirements of this section, the Department and the Council shall adhere to State and federal requirements of confidentiality, privilege, and other prohibitions against disclosure and release applicable to the information received under this section. A facility or provider that makes available confidential information in accordance with this section and with State and federal law is not liable for the release of the information.

(e)������ The Secretary shall establish a standard reporting format for reporting deaths pursuant to this section and shall provide to facilities subject to this section a form for the facility's use in complying with this section. (2000‑129, s. 5(a).)

 

§ 131D‑10.6C.� Maintaining a register of applicants by the Division of Social Services.

(a)������ The Division of Social Services shall keep a register of all family foster and therapeutic foster home applicants. The register shall contain the following information:

(1)������ The name, age, and address of each applicant.

(2)������ The date of the application.

(3)������ The applicant's supervising agency.

(4)������ Any mandated training completed by the applicant and the dates of training.

(5)������ Whether the applicant was licensed and the date of the initial licensure.

(6)������ The current licensing period.

(7)������ Any adverse licensing actions.

(8)������ Any other information deemed necessary by the Division of Social Services.

(b)������ The register shall be a public record under Chapter 132 of the General Statutes. Information not specified in subsection (a) of this section shall be considered confidential and not subject to disclosure. (2003‑304, s. 5.)

 

§ 131D‑10.7.� Penalties.

Any person who establishes or provides foster care for children or who receives and places children in residential child‑care facilities, family foster homes or adoptive homes without a license shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall only be punishable by a fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) for the first offense and not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each subsequent offense. Each day of a continuing violation after conviction shall be considered a separate offense. (1983, c. 637, s. 2; 1993, c. 539, s. 955; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)

 

§ 131D‑10.8.� Injunction.

(a)������ Notwithstanding the existence or pursuit of any other remedy, the Department may, in the manner provided by law, maintain an action in the name of the State for injunction or other process against any person to restrain or prevent the establishment, conduct, management or operation of a facility operating without a license or in a manner that threatens the health, safety or welfare of the individuals in the facility.

(b)������ If any person shall interfere with the proper performance or duty of the Department in carrying out this Article, the Department may institute an action in the superior court of the county in which the interference occurred for injunctive relief against the continued interference, irrespective of all other remedies at law. (1983, c. 637, s. 2.)

 

§ 131D‑10.9.� Administrative and judicial review.

All procedures arising out of this Article, including all notification, hearing and appeal procedures, shall be governed by the appropriate provisions of Chapter 150B of the Administrative Procedure Act. (1983, c. 637, s. 2; 1987, c. 827, s. 243.)