HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2905

                       As Passed House

                      February 15, 1992

Title:  An act relating to preschools.

Brief Description:  Studying whether preschools should be regulated like agencies that care for children, expectant mothers, and developmentally disabled people.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Beck, H. Myers, Leonard, Winsley, Jones and Wood.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Human Services, February 5, 1992, DP;

Passed House, February 15, 1992, 93-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

HUMAN SERVICES

Majority Report: Do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Leonard, Chair; Riley, Vice Chair; Winsley, Ranking Minority Member; Tate, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Anderson; Beck; Brekke; Hargrove; Hochstatter; R. King; and H. Myers.

Staff:  David Knutson  (786-7146).

Background:  Educational programs that serve preschool children for four or fewer hours per day are exempt from licensing requirements of the Department of Social and Health Services.

Summary of Bill:  By 1997, preschool programs will be brought into compliance with licensing requirements of the Department of Social and Health Services.  The Child Care Coordination Council will develop a schedule to phase in regulation of these programs and will report to the Legislature by December 1992.

Fiscal Note:  Requested January 24, 1992.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Preschool programs should be subject to the same licensing and regulatory standards which apply to other child care agencies.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Representative Beck, Prime Sponsor; and Lonnie Johns-Brown, National Association of Social Workers (pro).