OKLAHOMA CAPITOL — Unlicensed childcare facilities operating in Oklahoma will no longer be tolerated when a change in the state law goes into effect Nov. 1.

When Gov. Brad Henry signed House Bill 2643 into law June 2, it expanded the use of an emergency order to close any unlicensed child care facility operating in Oklahoma that is not in compliance with mandated child care licensing requirements.

Prior to HB-2643, an emergency order could only be used to close a licensed child care facility for being out of compliance with state requirements. The law now gives Oklahoma Child Care Services (OCCS) the authority to act on unlicensed child care.

“While we do not believe the majority of people provide unlicensed child care to violate the law, it is illegal, and the new law gives us the authority to act when such operations are brought to our attention,” said OKDHS Child Care Services State Licensing Coordinator Janice Matthews.

Some states have seen a surge in unlicensed child care as the economy tightens on working families across the country. Oklahoma’s legislative action last session is an attempt to get ahead of any possible surge occurring in Oklahoma.

“The Child Care Facilities Licensing Act of 1963, states that anyone who provides care to children must be licensed in Oklahoma,” Matthews said. “The amendment of this Act strengthens the original intentions.

“We know unlicensed childcare is attractive to some parents because it can be less expensive. At the same time, unregulated care can be more dangerous for children in care because providers may not be meeting the minimum health and safety requirements that are in place. Parents need to understand unlicensed facilities are illegal in Oklahoma.”

This is also a notice for parents who will be inconvenienced by having to leave their jobs to remove the children from the unlicensed facility. Additional time could also be lost from work while parents try to locate a licensed program at the last minute.

Oklahoma Department of Human Services OCCS does not want the new law to be a hardship for parents but are mandated by law to enforce the closure of unlicensed care. Facilities currently providing child care without a license can contact the local OKDHS Human Services Center in their area before Nov. 1 to begin the process to become licensed.

Bruising on the face of a three-year-old girl results in the arrest of her mother on abuse charges.21-year-old Brandi Harvey of Kirksville is facing felony charges of abuse of a child and endangering the welfare of a child.

According to court documents obtained exclusively by KTVO, Kirksville Police were summoned to the Adair County Law Enforcement Center after the child’s grandmother and uncle took the child there.

The child had suffered bruising all over her face; cheeks, forehead and an ear, and one cheek had a cut with bruising.

Police went to Harvey’s home to investigate and check on the well-being of the child’s younger sibling.

When police got there, they say they noticed a marijuana smell, and discovered three people in another room that had an even stronger marijuana odor.

The one-and-a-half year old child at the home was taken into custody by the Division of Family Services.

Harvey is being held in the Adair county jail on 25-thousand dollars cash only bond.