SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5221
As Reported By Senate Committee On:
Human Services & Corrections, February 15, 2001
Title: An act relating to increasing public and parental access to information regarding child care service.
Brief Description: Increasing public and parental access to information regarding child care service.
Sponsors: Senators Kohl‑Welles, Winsley, Hargrove, Long, Costa and McAuliffe.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Human Services & Corrections: 2/1/01, 2/15/01 [DPS‑WM].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5221 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.
Signed by Senators Hargrove, Chair; Costa, Vice Chair; Carlson, Franklin, Hewitt, Kastama, Kohl‑Welles, Long and Stevens.
Staff: Edith Rice (786‑7444)
Background: Parents and consumers using child care services need access to up-to-date, accurate licensing and enforcement action information about service providers.
Summary of Substitute Bill: Child care service providers must post their licenses, as well as a notice that inspection reports and enforcement actions for the past three years are available from the provider. The same information is available through the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and is compiled in an annual report.
DSHS may place a provider on nonreferral status if he or she fails or refuses to post the required information as set out, or if enforcement action is taken. Conditions are set out for continued nonreferral or removal from nonreferral status. Notice requirements are provided.
Definitions are provided for the following terms: adverse licensing action, enforcement action, probationary license, and referent.
DSHS is given authority to adopt rules under this section.
A toll-free telephone number and public web site are established by DSHS for communication of information regarding child care providers. This information includes:
$whether a provider is licensed;
$whether a provider is in good standing;
$general nature of enforcement action taken;
$how to report alleged licensing violations;
$how to report alleged abuse or neglect;
$how to report health, safety and welfare concerns in a daycare;
$how to contact the Office of the Family and Children=s Ombudsman;
$other referral information.
Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The original bill was not considered.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 16, 2001.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: Parents and consumers need up to date, accurate information about childcare providers.
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: Margie Korn, Gina Clift, Parents for Safe Children (pro);Lonnie Johns‑Brown, Washington Associaiton for Education of Young Children (pro); Nancy Zahn, Rachel Langer, Children's Administration (pro); Cecile Callison, Dept. of Social and Health Services (pro); Randi Abrams, City of Seattle (pro); Kris Mohn, Parents for Safe Daycare (pro); Susan Kavanaugh, Washington State Resource and Referral Network (pro); Stu Jacobsen, Parents for Safe Childcare (pro); Daun Larsen, Catholic Community Services (pro).