Any person who, without having first obtained a written permit so to do from the Department of Public Health, establishes, maintains, conducts or manages any institution, day nursery, or other place for the reception or care of children, exclusive of boarding homes as defined in Section 1620(a) of the Welfare and Institutions Code of the State of California, or who keeps at any such place any child under the age of 12 years, not his relative, apprentice or ward, without legal commitment, or neglects, refuses or omits to comply with the provisions of this Section, or who violates the provisions of such permit, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(a) Permits. The Department of Public Health, shall have power to issue permits for such places, and every such permit shall specify the name and residence of the person so undertaking the care of such children and the location of the place where the same are kept and the number of children thereby allowed to be received or kept therein, and shall be revocable for cause by the said Department of Public Health in any case where the provisions of this Section are violated, or in any case where, in the opinion of the Department of Public Health, such institution, day nursery, or other place as previously described herein, is being managed, conducted or maintained without regard for the health, comfort or morality of the inmates thereof, or without thereof, or without due regard to proper sanitation or hygiene.
(b) Registration of Children. Every person holding such permit must keep a register, wherein he shall enter the names and ages of all such children and the names and residence of their parents, so far as known; the time of the reception and discharge of such children and the reasons therefor, and, also the name and age of every child who is given out, adopted, taken away or indentured from such place to or by any person, together with the name and residence of the person so adopting, taking away or indenturing such child, and within 48 hours after such child is so given out, taken away or indentured shall cause a correct copy of the register to be sent to the Department of Public Health.
It shall be lawful for the officers and representatives of the Department of Public Health, and for all Health Officers at all reasonable times to enter and inspect the premises wherein such children are so received and kept, and to call for and inspect the permit and register, and also to see and visit such children.