Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws > Chapter 42-12.5 - Licensing and Monitoring of Child Daycare Providers

• Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
• Applicant: means a child daycare provider that applies for a license to operate. See Rhode Island General Laws 42-12.5-2
• Child: means any person less than eighteen (18) years of age. See Rhode Island General Laws 42-12.5-2
• Child day care: means daily care and/or supervision offered commercially to the public for any part of a twenty-four-hour (24) day to children away from their homes. See Rhode Island General Laws 42-12.5-2
• Child daycare center: means any person, firm, corporation, association, or agency who, on a regular or irregular basis, receives any child under the age of sixteen (16) years, for the purpose of care and/or supervision, not in a home or residence, apart from the child's parent or guardian for any part of a twenty-four-hour (24) day irrespective of compensation. See Rhode Island General Laws 42-12.5-2
• Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
• Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
• Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
• Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
• Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
• Department: means the department of human services (DHS). See Rhode Island General Laws 42-12.5-2
• Director: means the director of the department of human services, or the director's designee. See Rhode Island General Laws 42-12.5-2
• Family daycare home: means any home, other than the child's home, in which child day care in lieu of parental care and/or supervision is offered at the same time to four (4) or more children who are not relatives of the caregiver. See Rhode Island General Laws 42-12.5-2
• Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
• Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
• Licensee: means any person, firm, corporation, association, or agency that holds a valid license under this chapter. See Rhode Island General Laws 42-12.5-2
• person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
• Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
• Regulation: means any requirement for licensure, promulgated pursuant to this chapter, having the force of law. See Rhode Island General Laws 42-12.5-2
• Related: means any of the following relationships, by marriage, blood or adoption, even following the death or divorce of a natural parent: parent, grandparent, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, and first cousin. See Rhode Island General Laws 42-12.5-2