You must develop written operational policies and procedures that at a minimum address each of the following:
  (1) Procedure for the release of children;
  (2) Illness and exclusion criteria;
  (3) Procedures for dispensing medication, or a statement that medication is not dispensed;
  (4) Procedures for handling medical emergencies;
  (5) Discipline and guidance policy that is consistent with Subchapter L of this title (relating to Discipline and Guidance). A copy of Subchapter L may be used for your discipline and guidance policy;
  (6) Safe sleep policy for infants from birth through 12 months old that is consistent with the rules in Subchapter H of this chapter (relating to Basic Requirements for Infants) that relate to sleep requirements and restrictions, including sleep positioning, and crib requirements and restrictions, including mattresses, bedding, blankets, toys, and restrictive devices;
  (7) Animals, if applicable;
  (8) Promotion of indoor and outdoor physical activity that is consistent with Subchapter F of this chapter (relating to Developmental Activities and Activity Plan). Your policies must include:
    (A) The duration of physical activity at your home, both indoor and outdoor;
    (B) The recommended clothing and footwear that will allow a child to participate freely and safely in physical activities; and
    (C) A plan to ensure physical activity occurs on days when extreme weather conditions prohibit or limit outdoor time.
  (9) Procedures for parents to visit the child-care home any time during your hours of operation to observe their child, program activities, the home, the premises, and equipment without having to secure prior approval;
  (10) Procedures for parents to review a copy of the child-care home's most recent Licensing inspection report and how the parent may access the minimum standards online;
  (11) Instructions on how a parent may contact the local Licensing office, access the Texas Abuse and Neglect Hotline, and access the HHSC website;
  (12) Your emergency preparedness plan;
  (13) Procedures for conducting health checks, if applicable;
  (14) Information on vaccine-preventable diseases for employees, if your licensed child-care home is not located in your own residence. The policy must address the requirements outlined in §747.3411 of this chapter (relating to What must a policy for protecting children from vaccine-preventable diseases include?); and
  (15) If your home 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 25 TAC Chapter 40, Subchapter C (relating to Epinephrine Auto-Injector Policies in Youth Facilities) and in Texas Health and Safety Code §773.0145.

Source Note: The provisions of this §747.501 adopted to be effective September 1, 2003, 28 TexReg 1462; amended to be effective December 1, 2010, 35 TexReg 10266; amended to be effective December 1, 2012, 37 TexReg 9137; amended to be effective June 1, 2014, 39 TexReg 3724; amended to be effective April 15, 2017, 42 TexReg 1906; transferred effective March 9, 2018, as published in the Texas Register February 16, 2018, 43 TexReg 909; amended to be effective March 10, 2021, 46 TexReg 1488; amended to be effective October 25, 2021, 46 TexReg 7219