(a) Each applicant must submit on a form provided by the Director:
(1) the name, address, and telephone number of the applicant and staff director;
(2) the address of the group home;
(3) the maximum number of residents who will reside at the home at any one time;
(4) the number of staff on each shift and the number of staff who will reside on the premises;
(5) the steps the staff director will take to receive, investigate, and respond to inquiries and complaints from non-residents;
(6) the name of the State agency that licenses, certifies, or registers the group home or from which a license, certificate, or registration was requested;
(7) a program statement, when one is required; and
(8) any other information the Director may require. The Director must not accept a license application unless it is complete.
(b) Any reference or other personnel information submitted as part of an application for a license must be treated as confidential and used only for review by a program review board and for the oversight of operations by the Director.
(c) The Director must give each applicant information necessary to contact other relevant agencies about applicable licenses, permits, special exceptions, and other regulatory requirements.
(d) A separate program statement must be submitted as part of an application if an applicable regulation adopted under Section 23A-6 requires the statement, or when the regulation does not establish County standards or incorporate State standards governing residential care and services for the population to be served. Each program statement must specify:
(1) the program purpose, goals and objectives;
(2) the means to accomplish the goals and objectives;
(3) the needs and capabilities of the population to be served;
(4) the proposed budget, resources, and procedures to meet those needs;
(5) the proposed operating methods and procedures for medication management, transportation, social and recreational services, 24-hour supervision, personal care services, and food service;
(6) client admission and retention criteria;
(7) qualifications and experience of the applicant and the personnel operating the group home; and
(8) any other information the Director may require.
(e) A separate license application, supporting documentation, and, if required, program statement must be submitted for each group home to be licensed.
(f) Each applicant must pay a license fee set by executive regulation adopted under method (3) in an amount that does not exceed the prorated costs of administering this Chapter.
(g) Before a license is issued, the proposed group home must be inspected for compliance with County health and safety standards.
(h) The Director must not issue or renew a group home license unless the following documents have been filed with the Department not more than 60 days before the license is issued or 30 days before the license is renewed:
(1) a certificate from the Department of Permitting Services stating that the facility complies with applicable County building, housing, electrical, fire, and zoning codes. A certificate is not required when a license is renewed, but may be required at any time physical or structural changes are made to a group home or the number of residents increases;
(2) a statement from the Fire Marshal, if required, that the group home meets appropriate Life Safety Code standards;
(3) a statement from the Department that the group home complies with all applicable health and sanitation requirements;
(4) a statement from the Director that the group home program meets the requirements of this Chapter; and
(5) when a program is regulated by a state agency with quality of care standards, a certificate from that agency that the group home is licensed, certified, or registered; or a certificate from the Director indicating that the program statement is acceptable.
(1977 L.M.C., ch. 32, § 2; 1981 L.M.C., ch. 43, § 1; 1984 L.M.C., ch. 24, § 24; 1985 L.M.C., ch. 4, § 1; 1996 L.M.C., ch. 20, § 1; 1997 L.M.C., ch. 2, § 1; 1998 L.M.C., ch. 12, § 1; 2001 L.M.C., ch. 14, § 1; 2002 L.M.C., ch. 16, § 2.)