WSR 13-18-045
PROPOSED RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
EARLY LEARNING
[Filed August 30, 2013, 8:17 a.m.]
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 13-07-051.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 170-290-0200 Daily child care rates—Licensed or certified child care centers and DEL contracted seasonal day camps, 170-290-0205 Daily child care rates—Licensed or certified family home child care providers, 170-290-0210 Tiered reimbursement, and 170-290-0240 Child care subsidy rates—In-home/relative providers.
Hearing Location(s): Department of Early Learning (DEL), State Office, 1110 Jefferson Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98501, on October 8, 2013, at 12 p.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: Not earlier than October 8, 2013.
Submit Written Comments to: Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 40970, Olympia, WA 98504-0970, e-mail rules@del.wa.gov, fax (360) 586-0533, by midnight on October 8, 2013.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact DEL rules coordinator by October 1, 2013, (360) 407-1962.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: Amending sections of, and adding a section to, chapter 170-290 WAC, Working connections and seasonal child care subsidy programs, to comply with sections 8 and 9 of recently enacted 2SHB 1723, enrolled as chapter 323, Laws of 2013, that took effect on July 28, 2013, and 3ESSB 5034, enrolled as chapter 4, Laws of 2013, that took effect on June 30, 2013. As a result, rules for the working connections child care (WCCC) program is revised to:
•
Increase the base rate for all WCCC child care providers by two percent.
•
Increase the subsidy rate by two percent for WCCC child care providers enrolling in level 2 in the early achievers program. Providers must complete level 2 and advance to level 3 within thirty months in order to maintain this increase.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: The proposed rules implement 2013 2SHB 1723 and 3ESSB 5034. In legislative hearings, child care licensees and licensee advocates supported passage of 2SHB 1723.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 43.215.060 and 43.215.070; chapter 43.215 RCW.
Statute Being Implemented: Chapter 43.215 RCW as amended by chapters 323 and 4, Laws of 2013.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: DEL, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Lynne Shanafelt, Licensing Administration, DEL State Office, P.O. Box 40970, Olympia, WA 98504, (360) 407-1953; Implementation and Enforcement: DEL licensing offices, statewide.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. The proposed rules are not expected to impose new costs on businesses that are required to comply. If the rules result in costs, those costs are not expected to be "more than minor" as defined in chapter 19.85 RCW.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. DEL is not among the agencies listed as required to comply with RCW 34.05.328. DEL is not among the agencies listed as required to comply with RCW 34.05.328.
August 30, 2013
Elizabeth M. Hyde
Director
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 12-21-008, filed 10/5/12, effective 11/5/12)
WAC 170-290-0200 Daily child care rates—Licensed or certified child care centers and DEL contracted seasonal day camps.
(1) Base rate. DSHS pays the lesser of the following to a licensed or certified child care center or DEL contracted seasonal day camp:
(a) The provider's private pay rate for that child; or
(b) The maximum child care subsidy daily rate for that child as listed in the following table:
 
 
Infants
(One month -
11 mos.)
Toddlers
(12 - 29 mos.)
Preschool
(30 mos. -
5 yrs)
School-age (5 - 12 yrs)
Region 1
Full-Day
Half-Day
$((28.53)) 29.10
$((14.28)) 14.57
$((23.99)) 24.47
$((12.00)) 12.24
$((22.67)) 23.12
$((11.34)) 11.57
$((21.34)) 21.77
$((10.67)) 10.88
Spokane County
Full-Day
Half-Day
$((29.18)) 29.76
$((14.61)) 14.90
$((24.54)) 25.03
$((12.28)) 12.53
$((23.19)) 23.65
$((11.61)) 11.84
$((21.83)) 22.27
$((10.91)) 11.13
Region 2
Full-Day
Half-Day
$((28.81)) 29.39
$((14.41)) 14.70
$((24.05)) 24.53
$((12.03)) 12.27
$((22.30)) 22.75
$((11.15)) 11.37
$((19.73)) 20.12
$((9.88)) 10.08
Region 3
Full-Day
Half-Day
$((38.13)) 38.89
$((19.07)) 19.45
$((31.79)) 32.43
$((15.89)) 16.21
$((27.46)) 28.01
$((13.73)) 14.00
$((26.67)) 27.20
$((13.34)) 13.61
Region 4
Full-Day
Half-Day
$((44.38)) 45.27
$((22.63)) 23.08
$((37.06)) 37.80
$((18.54)) 18.91
$((31.09)) 31.71
$((15.55)) 15.86
$((28.00)) 28.56
$((14.00)) 14.28
Region 5
Full-Day
Half-Day
$((32.54)) 33.19
$((16.26)) 16.59
$((28.00)) 28.56
$((14.00)) 14.28
$((24.65)) 25.14
$((12.32)) 12.57
$((21.88)) 22.32
$((10.95)) 11.17
Region 6
Full-Day
Half-Day
$((31.99)) 32.63
$((16.01)) 16.33
$((27.46)) 28.01
$((13.73)) 14.00
$((23.99)) 24.47
$((12.00)) 12.24
$((23.46)) 23.93
$((11.74)) 11.97
(i) Centers in Clark County are paid Region 3 rates.
(ii) Centers in Benton, Walla Walla, and Whitman counties are paid Region 6 rates.
(2) The child care center WAC 170-295-0010 allows providers to care for children from one month up to and including the day before their thirteenth birthday. The provider must obtain a child-specific and time-limited exception from their child care licensor to provide care for a child outside the age listed on the center's license. If the provider has an exception to care for a child who has reached his or her thirteenth birthday, the payment rate is the same as subsection (1) of this section, and the five through twelve year age range column is used for comparison.
(3) If the center provider cares for a child who is thirteen or older, the provider must have a child-specific and time-limited exception and the child must meet the special needs requirement according to WAC 170-290-0220.
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 12-21-008, filed 10/5/12, effective 11/5/12)
WAC 170-290-0205 Daily child care rates—Licensed or certified family home child care providers.
(1) Base rate. DSHS pays the lesser of the following to a licensed or certified family home child care provider:
(a) The provider's private pay rate for that child; or
(b) The maximum child care subsidy daily rate for that child as listed in the following table.
 
 
Infants
(Birth - 11 mos.)
Enhanced
Toddlers
(12 - 17 mos.)
Toddlers
(18 - 29 mos.)
Preschool
(30 mos. - 5 yrs)
School-age
(5 - 12 yrs)
Region 1
Full-Day
Half-Day
$((24.29)) 24.78
$((12.14)) 12.38
$((24.29)) 24.78
$((12.14)) 12.38
$((21.12)) 21.54
$((10.56)) 10.77
$((21.12)) 21.54
$((10.56)) 10.77
$((18.78)) 19.16 
   $((9.39)) 9.58
Spokane County
Full-Day
Half-Day
$((24.84)) 25.34
$((12.42)) 12.67
$((24.84)) 25.34
$((12.42)) 12.67
$((21.60)) 22.03
$((10.80)) 11.02
$((21.60)) 22.03
$((10.80)) 11.02
$((19.21)) 19.59 
   $((9.60)) 9.79
Region 2
Full-Day
Half-Day
$((25.65)) 26.16
$((12.82)) 13.08
$((25.65)) 26.16
$((12.82)) 13.08
$((22.30)) 22.75
$((11.15)) 11.37
$((19.95)) 20.35
$((9.97)) 10.17
$((19.95)) 20.35
  $((9.97)) 10.17
Region 3
Full-Day
Half-Day
$((34.03)) 34.71
$((17.02)) 17.36
$((34.03)) 34.71
$((17.02)) 17.36
$((29.33)) 29.92
$((14.67)) 14.96
$((25.81)) 26.33
$((12.91)) 13.17
$((23.46)) 23.93
$((11.74)) 11.97
Region 4
Full-Day
Half-Day
$((40.04)) 40.84
$((20.03)) 20.43
$((40.04)) 40.84
$((20.03)) 20.43
$((34.81)) 35.51
$((17.42)) 17.77
$((29.33)) 29.92
$((14.67)) 14.96
$((28.16)) 28.72
$((14.08)) 14.36
Region 5
Full-Day
Half-Day
$((26.99)) 27.53
$((13.50)) 13.77
$((26.99)) 27.53
$((13.50)) 13.77
$((23.46)) 23.93
$((11.74)) 11.97
$((22.30)) 22.75
$((11.15)) 11.37
$((19.95)) 20.35
$((9.97)) 10.17
Region 6
Full-Day
Half-Day
$((26.99)) 27.53
$((13.50)) 13.77
$((26.99)) 27.53
$((13.50)) 13.77
$((23.46)) 23.93
$((11.74)) 11.97
$((23.46)) 23.93
$((11.74)) 11.97
$((22.30)) 22.75
$((11.15)) 11.37
(2) The family home child care WAC 170-296A-0010 and 170-296A-5550 allows providers to care for children from birth up to and including the day before their thirteenth birthday.
(3) If the family home provider cares for a child who is thirteen or older, the provider must have a child-specific and time-limited exception and the child must meet the special needs requirement according to WAC 170-290-0220.
(4) DSHS pays family home child care providers at the licensed home rate regardless of their relation to the children (with the exception listed in subsection (5) of this section). Refer to subsection (1) and the five through twelve year age range column for comparisons.
(5) DSHS cannot pay family home child care providers to provide care for children in their care if the provider is:
(a) The child's biological, adoptive or step-parent;
(b) The child's legal guardian or the guardian's spouse or live-in partner; or
(c) Another adult acting in loco parentis or that adult's spouse or live-in partner.
NEW SECTION
WAC 170-290-0210 Tiered reimbursement.
Starting September 1, 2013, providers receiving payment under the WCCC program will receive a two percent increase in the subsidy rate, calculated on the base rate, for enrolling in level 2 in the early achievers program. Providers must complete level 2, advance to level 3 within thirty months, and maintain a level 3 rating in order to maintain this increase.
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 12-11-025, filed 5/8/12, effective 6/8/12)
WAC 170-290-0240 Child care subsidy rates—In-home/relative providers.
(1) Base rate. When a consumer employs an in-home/relative provider, DSHS pays the lesser of the following to an eligible in-home/relative provider for child care:
(a) The provider's private pay rate for that child; or
(b) The maximum child care subsidy rate of two dollars and ((twenty)) twenty-four cents per hour for the child who needs the greatest number of hours of care and two dollars and ((seventeen)) twenty-one cents per hour for the care of each additional child in the family.
(2) DSHS may pay above the maximum hourly rate for children who have special needs under WAC 170-290-0235.
(3) DSHS makes the WCCC payment directly to a consumer's eligible provider.
(4) When applicable, DSHS pays the employer's share of the following:
(a) Social Security and medicare taxes (FICA) up to the wage limit;
(b) Federal Unemployment Taxes (FUTA); and
(c) State unemployment taxes (SUTA).
(5) If an in-home/relative provider receives less than the wage base limit per family in a calendar year, DSHS refunds all withheld taxes to the provider.