Code of Massachusetts Regulations 102 CMR - OFFICE OF CHILD CARE SERVICES
Here’s an overview of 102 CMR – Office of Child Care Services (Massachusetts):
📌 Title & Scope
102 CMR is the Code of Massachusetts Regulations governing child care services, overseen by the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC)—formerly known as the Office of Child Care Services.
It covers:
102 CMR 1.00: Enforcement standards, definitions, licensure and approval procedures. (mass.gov)
102 CMR 12.00: Minimum standards for child care tuition assistance and on-site or near-site subsidized child care placements. (mass.gov)
Other sections (2.00–4.00, 5.00, 7.00, 8.00, and 14.00) are reserved or repealed. (law.cornell.edu)
102 CMR 1.00 – Enforcement & Definitions
This part establishes:
Licensing requirements for programs, families, and staff.
Background-screening standards:
Anyone regularly present—applicants, licensees, household members, employees—must be free from disqualifying conduct (e.g., serious criminal convictions, child abuse/neglect allegations, substance abuse) that could impair their ability to care for children (regulations.justia.com).
Inspections & compliance: EEC personnel have authority to inspect sites, investigate complaints, and request records. Non-compliance results in written reports and compliant plans required within up to 30 days .
102 CMR 12.00 – Child Care Assistance Standards
Adopted July 9, 2004, under authority of St. 1990, c. 521, § 7 (amended 1991), this outlines:
Requirements for state contracts: Employers with ≥50 full-time employees seeking state contracts must provide dependent care options—like tuition assistance or on-site child care—by July 1, 1992. (law.cornell.edu)
The minimum standards EEC set for such subsidy programs, ensuring affordability and accessibility for state employees and contracted vendors.
✅ Where to Access
The Mass.gov Law Library provides the full text of 102 CMR 1.00 and 12.00. (mass.gov)
Cornell/Justia offer annotated versions, including § 1.05 on background screenings. (regulations.justia.com)
PDFs are downloadable via EEC’s or Public Health Law Center’s websites. (publichealthlawcenter.org)
📚 Summary Table
Section
Topic
Key Provisions
1.00
Licensure & Compliance
Definitions, background checks, inspections, enforcement
12.00
Child Care Tuition & Subsidy Standards
Employer requirements for DCAP; financial assistance protocols for state-contracted employees
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