Section 744.501 - What written operational policies must I have?You must develop written operational policies and procedures that at a minimum address each of the following:
(1) Hours, days, and months of operation;(2) Procedures for the release of children;(3) Illness and exclusion criteria;(4) Procedures for dispensing medication or a statement that medication is not dispensed;(5) Procedures for handling medical emergencies;(6) Procedures for parental notifications;(7) Discipline and guidance that is consistent with Subchapter G of this chapter (relating to Discipline and Guidance). A copy of Subchapter G may be used for your discipline and guidance policy, unless you use disciplinary and training measures specific to a skills-based program, as specified in § 744.2109 of this chapter (relating to May I use disciplinary measures that are fundamental to teaching a skill, talent, ability, expertise, or proficiency?);(8) Suspension and expulsion of children;(9) Meals and food service practices;(10) Immunization requirements for children, including tuberculosis screening and testing if required by your regional Texas Department of State Health Services or local health authority;(11) Enrollment procedures, including how and when parents will be notified of policy changes;(12) Transportation, if applicable;(13) Water activities, if applicable;(14) Field trips, if applicable;(15) Animals, if applicable;(16) Procedures for providing and applying, as needed, insect repellent and sunscreen, including what types will be used, if applicable;(17) Parent rights that are consistent with the rules in Division 5 of this subchapter (relating to Parent Rights);(18) Procedures for parents to review and discuss with the director any questions or concerns about the policies and procedures of the operation;(19) Procedures for parents to participate in the operation's activities;(20) Instructions on how a parent may access the: (A) Minimum standards online;(B) Texas Abuse and Neglect Hotline; and(21) Emergency preparedness plan;(22) Procedures for conducting health checks, if applicable;(23) Information on vaccine-preventable diseases for employees, unless your operation is in the home of the permit holder, the director, or a caregiver. The policy must address the requirements outlined in § 744.2581 of this chapter (relating to What must a policy for protecting children from vaccine-preventable diseases include?);(24) If your operation maintains and administers unassigned epinephrine auto-injectors to use when a child in care has an emergency anaphylaxis reaction, policies for maintenance, administration, and disposal of unassigned epinephrine auto-injectors that comply with the unassigned epinephrine auto-injector requirements set by the Texas Department of State Health Services, as specified in Texas Administrative Code, Title 25, Chapter 40, Subchapter C (relating to Epinephrine Auto-Injector Policies in Youth Facilities) and Texas Health and Safety Code § 773.0145; and(25) Procedures for supporting inclusive services to children with special care needs. The policy must address the requirements outlined in § 744.2009 of this chapter (relating to What are my responsibilities when planning activities for a child in care with special care needs?).26 Tex. Admin. Code § 744.501
The provisions of this §744.501 adopted to be effective September 1, 2010, 35 TexReg 7469; amended to be effective December 1, 2012, 37 TexReg 9126; amended to be effective June 1, 2014, 39 TexReg 3716; amended to be effective April 15, 2017, 42 TexReg 1779; transferred effective March 9, 2018, as published in the Texas Register February 16, 2018, 43 TexReg 909; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 46, Number 10, March 5, 2021, TexReg 1476, eff. 3/10/2021; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 46, Number 43, October 22, 2021, TexReg 7217, eff. 10/25/2021; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 48, Number 07, February 17, 2023, TexReg 0926, eff. 3/1/2023; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 49, Number 33, August 16, 2024, TexReg 6226, eff. 8/19/2024