(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, a residential child-caring agency or child-placing agency shall not be established, operated, or maintained in this state without first obtaining a license issued by the department under the Children's Residential Facilities and Placing Licensure Act. No person shall hold itself out as a residential child-caring agency or child-placing agency or as providing such services unless licensed under the act. The department shall issue a license to a residential child-caring agency or a child-placing agency that satisfies the requirements for licensing under the act.

(2) A group home, child-caring agency, or child-placing agency licensed under sections 71-1901 to 71-1906.01 on May 26, 2013, shall be deemed licensed under the Children's Residential Facilities and Placing Licensure Act until the license under such sections expires, and renewal shall be under the act.

(3) For purposes of requiring licensure, a residential child-caring agency or child-placing agency does not include an individual licensed as a foster family home under sections 71-1901 to 71-1906.01, a person licensed under the Health Care Facility Licensure Act, a person operating a juvenile detention facility as defined in section 83-4,125, a staff secure youth confinement facility operated by a county, or a person providing only casual care for children at irregular intervals. Such persons may voluntarily apply for a license.