Title: An act relating to signature upon penalty of perjury on license applications for agencies providing care for children, expectant mothers, and persons with developmental disabilities.

Brief Description: Revising the licensing process for agencies providing care for children, expectant mothers, and persons with developmental disabilities.

Sponsors: Senators Mulliken and Stevens.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Human Services & Corrections: 1/24/05.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS

Staff: Edith Rice (786-7444)

Background: State law requires that any agency or person providing child care or child placing services must be licensed. This includes child care, foster care and adoption services. The Department of Social and Health Services is responsible for licensing functions which are administered through the Division of Child Care and Early Learning (DCCEL). Licenses issued are valid for three years.

The Department of Social and Health Services also administers child care programs that pay child care centers and licensed family home child care providers for child care services for eligible families. The department either pays the providers directly or pays clients directly, the expectation being that the clients will use the funds for child care services. DCCEL is responsible for administering this program as well.

Minimum requirements for licensing set by DCCEL address issues such as size of the facility, competency of the agency or individual responsible for care, background checks, capacity, safety, financial compliance, and record maintenance.

The licensing application requires applicants to certify that the information they have submitted is true and complete to the best of his or her knowledge. It further notes that DCCEL may deny, suspend, revoke or not renew a license for misrepresentation or material omissions on the application.

Summary of Bill: A person completing an application for a child care license must sign and swear to the information contained in the application under penalty of perjury.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: None.

Testimony Against: None.

CONCERNS: This requirement might discourage people from becoming caregivers or foster parents, if they think they will be prosecuted.

Who Testified: CONCERNS: Rachel Langen, Dept. of Social & Health Services (DSHS), Division of Child Care & Early Learning; Mike Tornquist, DSHS, Children's Administration; Laurie Lippold, Children's Home Society; Donna Christensen, Catholic Conference.