§ 378. Form, duration and limitation of certificates and licenses. 1. Certificates or licenses to receive, board or keep any child and/or minor shall be in the form prescribed and provided by the department to the effect that such person is regarded by the issuing authorized agency or social services department, as the case may be, as maintaining a home suitable for the care of children and/or minors and specifying the name, address, and religious faith of the person to whom issued, the number of children and/or minors for whom such person is certified or licensed to care and such other information as the department may require.

2. Such certificates and licenses shall be valid for not more than two years after date of issue but may be renewed or extended subject to regulations established by the office of children and family services.

3. No such license shall permit the reception for board of more than six children and if there are children not received for board living in the home of a person to whom such license is issued, whether children of such person or otherwise, the sum of the number of such children and of the number of children permitted to be received for board by such license shall not exceed six, excepting, however, that such license may permit the reception for board of additional children if such children (a) are siblings or half-siblings, or are siblings or half-siblings of a child living in the home, (b) are children freed for adoption as defined in subdivision (b) of section one thousand eighty-seven of the family court act, and have been placed for adoption with the person to whom such license is issued, or (c) are minor parents who are foster children and the minor parents' children.

4. No such certificate shall permit the reception for board of more than six children and/or minors and if there are children under thirteen years of age not received for board living in the home of the person to whom such certificate is issued, whether children of such person or otherwise, the total number of such children and of the number of children and/or minors permitted to be received for board by such certificate shall not exceed six, excepting, however, that such certificate may permit the reception for board of up to two additional children if such children (a) are siblings or half-siblings, or are siblings or half-siblings of a child living in the home, (b) are children freed for adoption as defined in subdivision (b) of section one thousand eighty-seven of the family court act, and have been placed for adoption with the person to whom such certificate is issued, or (c) are minor parents who are foster children and the minor parents' children.

5. The department shall establish and may alter or amend regulations governing the issuing and revocation of such licenses and certificates and prescribing standards, records, accommodations and equipment for the care of children and/or minors received under such licenses and certificates.