Okla. Stat. tit. 10, § 10-404

A. 1. The Department of Human Services, in consultation with

the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth, shall appoint

advisory committees of representatives of child care facilities and

others to recommend minimum requirements and desirable standards for

promulgation by the Department.

2. Committee members shall be appointed for a three-year term,

with a two-consecutive-term limit. The committees shall include

representation for all categories of facilities licensed by the

Department and shall be comprised as follows:

a. the Residential Children's Services subcommittee shall

include at a minimum:

(1) a representative of a statewide organization

representing children in care arrangements

outside their own home,

(2) a representative of a statewide organization

providing residential services to youth in state

custody,

(3) a recipient or former recipient of youth services

for children in state custody,

(4) a representative of a statewide organization

promoting adoption services,

(5) a parent or guardian providing foster care to a

child or children in state custody,

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(6) a representative from a nonpublic, long-term

residential care facility for children in state

custody,

(7) a representative from an organization promoting

the interests of Native American children in

state custody,

(8) a provider of medical services for children,

(9) a practicing behavioral health services provider,

(10) a representative from an agency providing child-

placing services, and

(11) other appropriate representatives at the

discretion of the Department of Human Services

and Commission on Children and Youth,

b. the Child Care Centers subcommittee shall include at a

minimum:

(1) a representative of a statewide organization

advocating for children in care arrangements

outside their own home,

(2) a representative of a statewide organization

conducting programs for school-age children,

(3) a parent or guardian with a child attending a

licensed child care facility,

(4) a representative of a licensed child care

facility in a rural area,

(5) a representative of a statewide organization

advocating for licensed child care facilities

owned or operated by Native Americans,

(6) a representative of a licensed child care

facility in an urban/suburban area,

(7) a representative of a statewide organization

advocating for programs provided under the Head

Start program,

(8) a representative with knowledge of child care

programs offered by career technology center in

this state,

(9) a representative of a statewide organization

advocating for early childhood education

programs,

(10) a representative of a statewide organization

providing resources and referrals to child care

facilities,

(11) a provider of medical services for children, and

(12) other appropriate representatives at the

discretion of the Department of Human Services

and Commission on Children and Youth,

c. the Child Care Homes subcommittee shall include at a

minimum:

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(1) a representative of a statewide organization

advocating for children in care arrangements

outside their own home,

(2) a parent or guardian with a child receiving care

at a licensed child care home,

(3) a representative of a licensed child care home in

a rural area,

(4) a representative of a statewide organization

advocating for licensed child care facilities

owned or operated by Native Americans,

(5) a representative of a licensed child care home in

an urban/suburban area,

(6) a representative of a statewide organization

advocating for early childhood education

programs,

(7) a representative of a statewide organization

providing resources and referrals to child care

facilities,

(8) a provider of medical services for children, and
facilities

owned or operated by Native Americans,

(5) a representative of a licensed child care home in

an urban/suburban area,

(6) a representative of a statewide organization

advocating for early childhood education

programs,

(7) a representative of a statewide organization

providing resources and referrals to child care

facilities,

(8) a provider of medical services for children, and

(9) other appropriate representatives at the

discretion of the Department of Human Services

and Commission on Children and Youth, and

d. the Quality Rating and Improvement System subcommittee

shall include representatives of child care centers

and child care homes currently licensed by the State

and other members as determined by the Department of

Human Services and the Commission on Children and

Youth.

3. The Department shall create a Child Care Facility Peer

Review Board whose purpose shall be to participate in the

Department's grievance process. A majority of the Board shall be

representatives of child care facilities. The Department shall

promulgate rules specifying the duties of the Child Care Facility

Peer Review Board in the grievance process.

4. The advisory committee shall designate two people to serve

on the Department's Stars Administrative Review Panel. At least one

designee shall be the owner or operator of a licensed child care

center.

B. Child care facilities shall not allow children to be left

alone in the care of any person under eighteen (18) years of age

without supervision or sixteen (16) years of age with supervision as

delineated by the Department's rules. Child care centers and family

child care homes shall not:

1. Use soft or loose bedding, including, but not limited to,

blankets, in sleeping equipment or in sleeping areas used only for

infants;

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2. Allow toys or educational devices in sleeping equipment or

in a sleeping area used only for infants; or

3. Place a child in sleeping equipment or in a sleeping area

which has not been previously approved for use as such by the

Department.

C. The Department shall promulgate rules establishing minimum

requirements and desirable standards as may be deemed necessary or

advisable to carry out the provisions of the Oklahoma Child Care

Facilities Licensing Act.

D. Such rules shall not be promulgated until after consultation

with the State Department of Health, the State Department of

Education, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the State

Fire Marshal, the Commission on Children and Youth, the Oklahoma

Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and any

other agency deemed necessary by the Department. Not less than

sixty (60) days' notice, by regular mail, shall be given to all

current licensees before any changes are made in such rules.

E. In order to improve the standards of child care, the

Department shall advise and cooperate with licensees, the governing

bodies and staff of licensed child care facilities and assist the

staff through advice of progressive methods and procedures, and

suggestions for the improvement of services.

F. The Department may participate in federal programs for child

care services, and enter into agreements or plans on behalf of the

state for that purpose, in accordance with federal laws and

regulations.