Singapore legislation
Clause 18
Clause 18
Directions when licence expires, etc.
(1)
This section applies where —
a licence expires, or is expiring but no application to renew the licence is made before the renewal deadline mentioned in section 7(4)(a);
a licence is transferred under section 13;
a licensee ceases to operate the early childhood development centre specified in the licence or surrenders the licence, or gives notice under section 14 of the cessation of the operation of the centre or surrender of the licence;
a licence lapses under section 15(1)(b) or (c);
a licensee is given notice under section 16 of the revocation, or shortening of the term, of the licence; or
a licensee is given a direction under section 17 to cease the operation of an early childhood development centre, or any part of an early childhood development centre.
(2)
The purpose of this section is to secure the orderly cessation by a licensee of the operation of an early childhood development centre with minimal disruption to the children attending the centre.
(3)
The Chief Licensing Officer may (without compensation), for the purpose of this section, give directions to one or more of the following persons:
the licensee;
a key appointment holder of the licensee;
if there is no key appointment holder of the licensee who is able to comply with the directions, any person who was a key appointment holder of the licensee in the period of 6 months immediately preceding the date of the relevant event in subsection (1).
(4)
Without limiting subsection (3), the Chief Licensing Officer may (without compensation) give all or any of the following directions under that subsection:
the licensee must inform, in writing, the parents or guardian of every child who attends the affected centre, and every employee of the licensee or other person deployed at the affected centre, of the relevant event in subsection (1);
the licensee must not enrol any more children in the affected centre;
the licensee must not collect any deposit or fee in respect of any child attending the affected centre;
the licensee must refund to the parents or guardian any deposit or fee due to them before the affected centre ceases operations;
the licensee must return the licence to the Chief Licensing Officer;
the licensee must submit, within the prescribed period after the cessation of the affected centre’s operation, such audited statement of subsidy as may be required by the Chief Licensing Officer;
the licensee must provide the Chief Licensing Officer with such assistance as may be specified by the Chief Licensing Officer in respect of alternative care or education arrangements for the children who attend the affected centre;
any other direction that the Chief Licensing Officer thinks is necessary to ensure the orderly cessation by the licensee of the operation of the affected centre so as to cause minimal disruption to the children who attend the affected centre, which may include a direction for the continued operation of the affected centre for such period after the expiry or revocation of the licence as may be specified by the Chief Licensing Officer.
(5)
In giving a direction under subsection (3), the Chief Licensing Officer may specify the period within which the direction must be complied.
(6)
A person who, without reasonable excuse —
fails to comply with a direction given under subsection (3); or
fails to comply with a direction given under subsection (3) within the period specified by the Chief Licensing Officer,shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
(7)
In this section, “licensee” includes a person who has ceased to hold a licence.