S-2823               _______________________________________________

                                   SECOND SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL NO. 3038

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Ways and Means (originally sponsored by Senators Kreidler, Granlund and Stratton)

Read first time 4/17/85.

AN ACT Relating to day care; adding new sections to chapter 74.15 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature recognizes that a significant increase in our state's population of children under six years old is taking place.  The legislature further recognizes the increasing proportion of children living with only one parent which is projected to increase by forty-eight percent between 1980 and 1990.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 74.15 RCW to read as follows:

          The department shall make available to any parent, guardian, or custodian requesting information  about day care providers, for inspection and copying (with copying fees waivable in cases of hardship), the following:

          (1) The agency's or individual's application for licensure, to the extent information in the application does not violate the right of privacy of  the applicable individuals;

          (2) Copies of all inspection reports regarding fire, health, and licensing requirements;

          (3) All letters of reference, if authorized by the originator of the reference;

          (4) All complaints against the agency or individual regarding health, safety or program requirements, or incidents of abuse or neglect, where the department has made a finding that a violation has occurred, to the extent the right to privacy of the applicable individual is protected;

          (5) The present status of the agency's or individual's license, including whether the license has been issued, denied, suspended, or revoked, whether the department has issued a letter of intention to deny, suspend, or revoke the license and whether there is a plan of corrective action for any noted deficiencies;

          (6) All policies and documents required by the terms of the license;

          (7) The contents of any licensing file following a departmental decision as to appropriate action relating to the issuance, reinstatement, or termination of a license, to the extent the right to privacy of the applicable individual is protected; and

          (8) The names and addresses of all licensees in the particular geographical vicinity being requested by the parent, guardian or custodian.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 74.15 RCW to read as follows:

          Regularly scheduled on-site inspections of day care facilities by the department of social and health services shall occur as frequently as it deems necessary for the operation, sanitation and safety thereof.

          The department shall conduct at least one scheduled and one unannounced on-site inspection of each licensed day care facility  during the facility's licensing period.

          The department shall conduct additional on-site inspections pursuant to any complaint by a parent, guardian or custodian of a child attending such facility, at the request of the licensee or to assure correction of previously noted deficiencies.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  A new section is added to chapter 74.15 RCW to read as follows:

          The division of children and family services shall make an annual report to the legislature on its programs.  The report shall include an evaluation of the feasibility of expanding the division's existing information system to include state-wide uniform reporting and analysis of data relating to complaints and conditions in child care agencies licensed by the state pursuant to this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.  A new section is added to chapter 74.15 RCW to read as follows:

          Every day care agency licensed under this chapter shall post, in a conspicuous location, the address and telephone number of the appropriate local or regional office of the department and the name(s) of any employee(s) responsible for the licensing and monitoring of the day care agency.