HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 5351

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                    Government Operations

Title:  An act relating to requirements of cities regarding certification of family day‑care provider's home facilities.

Brief Description:  Allowing cities to require family day‑care provider's home facilities loading areas to be certified by the office of child care policy licensor.

Sponsors:  Senators Wojahn, Winsley, Haugen, McCaslin and Drew.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Government Operations:  3/28/95, 3/29/95 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 15 members:  Representatives Reams, Chairman; Goldsmith, Vice Chairman; L. Thomas, Vice Chairman; Rust, Ranking Minority Member; Scott, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Chopp; R. Fisher; Hargrove; Honeyford; Hymes; Mulliken; D. Schmidt; Sommers; Van Luven and Wolfe.

Staff:  Bill Lynch (786-7092).

Background:  Cities and towns may not prohibit by zoning or some other official control the use of a residential dwelling located in an area zoned for residential or commercial use as a family day-care provider's home facility.  A city or town may require that the family day-care facility meet certain health and safety requirements as well as other requirements.  One of these requirements is that the Department of Licensing certify that the facility provide a safe passenger loading area.

Summary of Bill:  The Office of Child Care Policy Licensor, rather than the Department of Licensing, is responsible for certifying that a family day-care provider's facility provides a safe passenger loading area.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For: This is a technical bill.  The Office of Child Care Policy Licensor is better suited to make the determination of safe drop-off zones for family day-cares than the Department of Licensing. 

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator Lorraine Wojahn, prime sponsor; and Julie Nelson, WA State Family Child Care Association.