S-0539.1 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 5131
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State of Washington 56th Legislature 1999 Regular Session
By Senators Kohl‑Welles, Long, Hargrove, Winsley, Brown, Patterson, Thibaudeau, Prentice and Costa
Read first time 01/13/1999. Referred to Committee on Human Services & Corrections.
AN ACT Relating to liability insurance for licensed day-care and family day-care providers; adding a new section to chapter 74.15 RCW; and providing an effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 74.15 RCW to read as follows:
(1) Every licensed child day-care center and family day-care provider shall, at the time of licensure or renewal and at any inspection, provide to the department proof that the licensee has day-care insurance as defined in RCW 48.88.020 or for day-care centers, is self-insured pursuant to chapter 48.90 RCW. Liability limits under this section shall be the same as set forth in RCW 48.88.050.
(2) The licensee shall notify the department when coverage has been terminated. The licensee shall post at the day care, in a manner likely to be observed by patrons, notice that coverage has lapsed or been terminated. Within thirty days of lapse or termination, the licensee shall obtain from the parent an affidavit or declaration signed by him or her that states he or she has been informed coverage has lapsed or terminated.
(3) The department may take action as provided in RCW 74.15.130 if the licensee fails to maintain in full force and effect the insurance required by this section.
(4) This section applies to child day-care centers and family day-care providers holding licenses, initial licenses, and probationary licenses under this chapter.
(5) A child day-care center or family day-care provider holding a license under this chapter on the effective date of this act is not required to be in compliance with this section until the time of renewal of the license or until January 1, 2000, whichever is sooner.
(6) In lieu of day-care insurance, family day-care providers shall maintain a file of affidavits or declarations signed by each parent with a child enrolled in family day care. The affidavit or declaration shall state that the parent has been informed that the family day-care provider does not carry day-care insurance and that the parent has been informed that the day-care insurance, if any, of the owner of the property or the homeowners' association, as appropriate, may not provide coverage for losses arising out of, or in connection with, the operation of the family day-care provider, except to the extent that the losses are caused by, or result from, an action or omission by the owner of the property or the homeowners' association, for which the owner of the property or the homeowners' association would otherwise be liable under the law. These affidavits or declarations shall be on a form provided by the department and shall be reviewed at each licensing inspection.
(7) Noncompliance or compliance with the provisions of this section shall not constitute evidence of liability or nonliability in any injury litigation.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. This act takes effect January 1, 2000.
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