Subject of Possible Rule Making: Waivers for license-exempt child care providers who participate in the working connections child care program and are not able to comply with a specific requirement of chapter 110-16 WAC.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Rules are needed to allow waivers for occasions when providers are not able to comply with the requirements of chapter 110-16 WAC due to their needs or the needs of the children in their care. The rules will clarify the department's authority to grant waivers, the application process providers must follow to request waivers, the department's criteria for granting waivers, the process for challenging waiver denials, and administrative hearing rights for waiver denials.

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. The department of children, youth, and families (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 Judy Jaramillo, phone 360-529-6542, email judy.jaramillo@dcyf.wa.gov, website https://dcyf.wa.gov/practice/policy-laws-rules/rule-making/participate/online.