# Child Abuse Index (a) Prior to granting a license for a child care center, the Department shall conduct a Child Abuse Central Index (CACI) review pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 1596.877 and Penal Code Section 11170(b)(3). The Department shall check the CACI for the applicant(s) and all individuals subject to a criminal record review, pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 1596.871(a) and shall have the authority to approve or deny a facility license, employment, or presence in the facility based on the results of the review. (1) The applicant shall submit the Child Abuse Central Index checks (LIC 198A \[3/99]) for all individual's required to be checked directly to the California Department of Justice at the same time that the individual's fingerprints are submitted for a criminal background check as required by Section 101170(a). (A) Individuals who have submitted the Child Abuse Central Index check (LIC 198A \[3/99]) with fingerprints on or after January 1, 1999 need not submit a new check if the individual can transfer their criminal record clearance or exemption pursuant to Section 80019(e) or Section 80019.1(f). (2) The Department shall investigate any reports received from the CACI. The investigation shall include, but not be limited to, the review of the investigation report and file prepared by the child protective agency that investigated the child abuse report. The Department shall not deny a license based upon a report from the CACI unless the Department substantiates the allegation of child abuse. (b) Subsequent to licensure, all individuals subject to a criminal record review, pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 1596.871, shall complete a Child Abuse Central Index check (LIC 198A \[3/99]) prior to employment or initial presence in the child care facility. (1) The licensee shall submit the Child Abuse Central Index checks (LIC 198A \[Rev. 3/99]) directly to the California Department of Justice at the same time that the individual's fingerprints are submitted for a criminal background check as required by Section 101170(d). (A) Individuals who have submitted the Child Abuse Central Index check (LIC 198A \[3/99]) with fingerprints on or after January 1, 1999 need not submit a new check if the individual can transfer their criminal record clearance or exemption pursuant to Section 80019(e) or Section 80019.1(f). (2) The Department shall check the Child Abuse Central Index (CACI) pursuant to Penal Code Section 11170(b)(3). The Department shall investigate any reports received from the CACI. The investigation shall include, but not be limited to, the review of the investigation report and file prepared by the child protective agency that investigated the child abuse report. The Department shall not deny a license or take any other administrative action based upon a report from the CACI unless the Department substantiates the allegation of child abuse. (3) The Department shall investigate any subsequent reports received from the CACI. The investigation shall include, but not be limited to, the review of the investigation report and file prepared by the child protective agency that investigated the child abuse report. The Department shall not revoke a license or take any other administrative action based upon a report from the CACI unless the Department substantiates the allegation of child abuse. > Authority cited: Health and Safety Code 1596.81 Reference: Health and Safety Code 1596.81(b) Health and Safety Code 1596.871 (Amended by Register 2004, No. 11) --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://t22.caqualityearlylearning.org/application-procedures/child-abuse-index.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.