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(7) assurance that the conditions at the child care premises do not present an imminent danger to the health, safety, or welfare of recipients of services;

(8) if the request for a variance involves fire safety or another state or municipal requirement, evidence that the request has been reviewed by the appropriate authority; and

(9) any additional information requested by the department or designee to determine the effect of a variance on the health, safety, and welfare of recipients of services. (d) The department will or designee shall evaluate a request for a general variance by

(1) investigating the statements in the request form;

(2) a department inspection of, or the designee requesting the department to inspect, the child care premises, if appropriate;

(3) taking one or both of the following actions:

(A) conferring with the applicant regarding the request;

(B) discussing the request with the parents of affected recipients of services, as appropriate, to determine whether the parents support granting the variance. (e) If a designee does the evaluation under (d) of this section, the designee shall submit a recommendation to the department for the department’s review. The department’s decision to grant or deny a request for a general variance will be issued in writing and will be delivered to the provider who made the request. The department may grant a general variance for

(1) a period that does not exceed one year, if the department determines that the provider

(A) is unable to comply with the requirement from which the variance is sought;

(B) has an effective plan for achieving compliance during the term of the variance; and

(C) is able to adequately provide for the health, safety, and welfare of recipients of services during the term of the variance; or

(2) a longer period than allowed under (1) of this subsection if the department determines

(A) that