Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: 42 U.S.C. 9858; RCW 43.216.055 and 43.216.065; chapter 43.216 RCW.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Rules are necessary to comply with new child care and development fund requirements for receipt of grant monies embodied in the 2014 Child Care and Development Block Grant Act reauthorization and supporting rules. Specifically, the department of children, youth, and families (DCYF) is required to specify the number of children a family, friends, and neighbors provider may care for at one time (capacity), and to revise and clarify health and safety standards regarding prevention of shaken baby syndrome, abusive head trauma, and child maltreatment.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The United States Administration for Children and Families, Office of Child Care, administers the federal child care development fund (CCDF) and ensures that Washington and all other states receiving CCDF appropriations comply with federal requirements. DCYF submits a CCDF plan every three years to the Office of Child Care that serves as a grant application and describes how DCYF will comply with federal CCDF participation requirements. DCYF engages in any necessary rule making to implement the plan once it is approved.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting DCYF Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 40975, phone 360-902-7956, fax 360-902-7903, email dcyf.rulescoordinator@dcyf.wa.gov, web site www.dcyf.wa.gov, https://www.dcyf.wa.gov/practice/policy-laws-rules/rule-making/participate/online.