Petitioner: DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES
Respondent: LOVE AND LAUGHTER LEARNING CENTER, INC. AND MICHELE WEDEMEYER
Judges: THOMAS P. CRAPPS
Agency: Department of Children and Family Services
Locations: Fort Myers, Florida
Filed: Nov. 08, 2010
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Thursday, January 13, 2011.
Latest Update: Feb. 01, 2025
01005
STATE OF FLORIDA
vo E
DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN ES 2
IN THE MATTER OF:
A Civil Penalty Against mS
Love & Laughter Learning Center, Inc. LEE COUNTY
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
Nature of the Case
1. This case arises from the Child Care Facility’s failure to comply with Chapters
402 and 435, Florida Statutes, and Rule 65C-22, Florida Administrative Code.
2. This is an administrative action for imposition of civil penalties per known
incidents of occurrence as authorized in Chapter 402.310, Florida Statutes.
3. The State of Florida, Department of Children and Families, is the administrative
agency of the State of Florida charged with the duty to enforce and administer the
provisions of Chapter 402, Florida Statutes.
4. On January 24, 2008, Michele Wedemeyer, identifying herself as the owner for
Love & Laughter Learning Center, Inc., made application to the Department to
operate a child care facility known as Love & Laughter Learning Center, Inc. at
1313 Laurel Drive, North Fort Mz2rs, FL 33917. On February 14, 2008, an
annual license was issued, Certificate #C20LE6752, which was valid until
February 28, 2009.
On January 15, 2009, Michele Wedemeyer, identifying herself as the owner for
Love & Laughter Learning Center, Inc., made application to the Department to
operate a child care facility known as Love & Laughter Learning Center, Inc. at
1313 Laurel Drive, North Fort Myers, FL 33917. On February 10, 2009, an
annual license was issued, Certificate #C20LE6752, which was valid until
February 28, 2010.
On January 29, 2010, Michele Wedemeyer, identifying herself as the owner for
Love & Laughter Learning Center, Inc. made application to the Department to
operate a child care facility known as Love & Laughter learning Center, Inc. at
1313 Laurel Drive, North Fort Myers, FL 33917. On February 17, 2010, an
annual license was issued, Certificate #C20LE6752, which is valid until February
28, 2011.
5. Progressive Enforcement for repeated violations of child care licensing standards
became effective on July 1, 2008. All licensed providers received a copy of the
new standards in 65C-22 Administrative Code and 402 Florida Statutes,
governing child care. All providers were invited to attend provider meetings for
detailed explanations of how the changes would affect them and how progressive
enforcement would be handled by child care licensing throughout the State of
Florida.
6. The licensing counselor conducted a routine inspection on May 21, 2009. The
facility was cited for non-compliance with licensing standard #60, Background
Screening Documents. Documentation of Level 2 screening was missing for one
employee. Y.R. had transferred from a religious exempt facility and started at the
current licensed facility on 5/8/09. However, FDLE clearance was not on file nor
had it been submitted within ten days of hire. This was the first occurrence of this
Class I violation and an Administrative Warning was issued.
A routine inspection was conducted on June 14, 2010. The facility was cited for
non-compliance with licensing standard #60, Background Screening Documents.
Documentation of Level 2 screening was missing for one employee. P.R. had
been a volunteer at the facility from 1/5/09 to 2/9/10. On 2/9/10, she was hired as
Kitchen staff but did not have current FDLE on file. In addition, one employee,
E.H., did not have local law clearance either submitted or cleared within ten days
of hire. E.H. had been hired on 5/27/10. This was the second occurrence of this
Class II violation.
7. The acts and practices described in paragraph 6 are violations of Florida
Administrative Code 65C-22.006(4)(d)(1) which states in part, “Level 2 screening
as defined in Section 435.04, F.S., which includes at a minimum Federal Bureau
of Investigations (FBI), Tlorida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), ané
local law enforcement records checks.”
Florida Statutes 435.05(1)(a)(c) states in part, “Every person employed in a
position for which employment screening is required must, within 5 working days
after starting to work, submit to the employer a complete set of information -
necessary to conduct a screening under this section. For level 2 screening, the
employer or licensing agency must submit the information necessary for
screening to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement within 5 working days
after receiving it. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will conduct a
search of its criminal and juvenile records and will request that the Federal
Bureau of Investigation conduct a search of it records for each employee for
whom the request is made. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will
respond to the employer or licensing agency, and the employer or licensing
agency will inform the employee whether screening has revealed disqualifying
information.”
In this matter, the Department hereby imposes a fine of $50.00 for the second
occurrence of this Class II violation for Background Screening Documents.
TOTAL ADMINISTRATIVE FINE: $50.00
NOTIFICATION OF RIGHTS UNDER CHAPTER 120, FLORIDA STATUTES
IF YOU BELIEVE THE DEPARTMENT'S DECISION IS IN ERROR, YOU MAY
REQUEST AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING TO CONTEST THE DECISION.
YOUR REQUEST FOR AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING MUST BE RECEIVED
BY THE DEPARTMENT WITHIN 21 DAYS OF YOUR RECEIPT OF THIS Ky
NOTICE. FAILURE TO REQUEST AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING WITHIN \¥ WO
THE 21 DAYS PROVIDED SHALL CONSTITUTE A WAIVER OF THE RIGHT
TO A HEARING. v G Ac
e
You may submit your request for an administrative hearing to the Department at \©
_ the following addresses: G chr
a: As >
Department of Children and Families Qyy
Legal Counsel (Attention: Eugenie Rehak)
Post Office Box 60085
Fort Myers, FL 33906
Department of Children and Families
Agency Clerk (Attention: Greg Venz)
Office of General Counsei
1317 Winewood Blvd
Building 2, Room 204
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Please note that a request for ar administrative hearing must comply with section
120.569(2)(c), Florida Statutes, and Rules 28-106.201(2), Florida Administrative Code.
Those provisions, when read together, require a petition for administrative hearing to
include:
(a) The name and address of each agency affected and each agency's file or -
identification number, if known;
(b) The name, address, and telephone number of the petitioner; the name, address
and telephone number of the petitioner's representative, if any, which shall be
the address for service purposes during the course of the proceeding;
(c) An explanation of how the petitioner's substantial interests will be affected by the
agency determination;
(d) A statement of when and how the petitioner received notice of the agency
decision;
A statement of all disputed issues of material facts. If there are none, the petition
must So indicate;
(f) A concise statement of the ultimate facts alleged, including the specific facts the
petitioner contends warrant reversal or modification of the agency's proposed
action;
(g) A statement of the specific rules or statutes the petitioner contends require
reversal or modification of the agency's proposed action, including an
explanation of how the alleged facts relate to the specific rules or statutes; and
(e
~~
(h) A statement of the relief sought by the petitioner, stating precisely the action
petitioner wishes the agency to take with respect to the agency's proposed
action.
Section 120.569, Florida Statutes, and Rule 28-106.201(4), Florida Administrative Code,
require that a petition to be dismissed if it is not in substantial compliance with the
requirements above.
Mediation as described in section 120.573, Florida Statutes, may be available if agreed
to by all parties, and on such terms as agreed to by all parties. The right to an
administrative proceeding is not affected when mediation does not result in a settlement.
Certificate of Service
I hereby certify that a true copy hereof was sent United States Certified Mail,
Return Receipt Requested, Certificate # 7008 2810 0000 1751 7038, this 6th day of
October, 2010 to Penny Greene, Director, Love and Laughter Learning Center, 1313
Laurel Drive, North Fort Myers, FL 33917.
STATE OF FLORIDA,
DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
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Mary BethWeh Pp ¢
Regional Safety Program Manager Ng S$’ \e
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State of Florida
County of Hillsborough
ged before mi opis
Notary Public
CC: Eugenie Rehak, DCF Legal Counsel
Alice Parrish, Child Care Licensing Supervisor
Docket for Case No: 10-010093
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Jan. 13, 2011 |
Order Relinquishing Jurisdiction and Closing File. CASE CLOSED.
|
Jan. 11, 2011 |
Motion to Relinquish Jurisdiction filed.
|
Dec. 23, 2010 |
Order Granting Continuance and Re-scheduling Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for January 19, 2011; 9:00 a.m.; Fort Myers and Tallahassee, FL).
|
Dec. 16, 2010 |
Motion for Continuance filed.
|
Nov. 18, 2010 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
|
Nov. 18, 2010 |
Notice of Hearing (hearing set for January 7, 2011; 9:00 a.m.; Fort Myers, FL).
|
Nov. 16, 2010 |
Joint Response to Initial Order filed.
|
Nov. 09, 2010 |
Initial Order.
|
Nov. 08, 2010 |
Request for Administrative Hearing filed.
|
Nov. 08, 2010 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Nov. 08, 2010 |
Notice (of Agency referral) filed.
|