Section 251.12. Complaints, inspections and enforcement actions.

 

(1)   Complaints.

(a) Anyone having a complaint about a licensed or illegally operating group child care center may submit that complaint to the department by telephone, letter or personal interview. A representative of the department shall investigate every complaint. If requested by the complainant, the department shall provide the complainant a written report of the investigation findings.

(b) The licensee may not discharge an employee because that employee has reported violations of this chapter to the representative of the department.

(2)   Inspection.

(a) Pursuant to s. 48.73 , Stats., the department may visit and inspect any group child care center at any time during licensed hours of operation. A department licensing representative shall have unrestricted access to the premises identified in the license, including access to children served and staff records and any other materials or other individuals having information on the group child care center's compliance with this chapter.

(b) At least once per year, the department shall inspect each vehicle that is required to have a child safety alarm under s. DCF 251.08 (8) (a) to determine whether the child safety alarm is in good working order.

(3)   Enforcement action. The department may order any sanction or impose any penalty on a licensee in accordance with s. 48.685 , 48.715 or 48.76 , Stats.

Cr. Register, January, 1997, No. 493 , eff. 8-1-97; CR 03-052 : renum. from HFS 46.13 and r. and recr. Register December 2004 No. 588 , eff. 3-1-05; CR 14-028 : renum. (2) to (2) (a), cr. (2) (b) Register July 2016 No. 727 , eff. 8-1-16.

Note

A complaint should be sent, phoned or delivered to the appropriate Division of Children and Family Services regional office listed in Appendix A. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1