As used in the Early Childhood Education and Care Department Act:

A. “child” means a person from birth to age five or, where the context otherwise provides, to age eight or thirteen;

B. “child care home program” means the program developed by the department to license or register homes or residences to provide child care services to children, including those defined in Section 32A-23C-2 N.M. Stat. Ann.. A home may be registered or licensed pursuant to the Early Childhood Education and Care Act and through department rules;

C. “department” means the early childhood education and care department;

D. “department-contracted providers” means individuals or entities that enter into contracts with the department to provide child care services, federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part C, early intervention services, home visiting services or pre-kindergarten services or those under contract with the department that have access to child and family personal and confidential information;

E. “licensed child care center” means a nonresidential facility that meets the applicable state and local building and safety codes and provides care and services to and supervision of children for less than twenty-four hours of any day;

F. “licensed child care facility” means a licensed child care center, licensed group child care home, licensed family child care home or licensed out-of-school time program;

G. “licensed family child care home” means a private dwelling in which the licensee resides and is the primary educator that provides care and services to and supervision of children as part of the child care home program for a period of less than twenty-four hours of any day for no more than six children;

H. “licensed group child care home” means a home in which the licensee resides and is the primary educator that provides care and services to and supervision of children as part of the child care home program for at least seven but no more than twelve children;

I. “licensed out-of-school time program” means a school-age person program at a specific site, usually a school or community center, offering on a consistent basis a variety of developmentally appropriate activities that are both educational and recreational;

J. “registered child care home” or “registration” means an independent primary caregiver who has registered the independent primary caregiver’s home or residence with the department to provide care and services to and supervision of children as part of the child care home program for a period of less than twenty-four hours of any day for no more than four children. A registered child care home may participate in the child and adult care food program or participate in the child care assistance program; and

K. “secretary” means the secretary of early childhood education and care.