Title: An act relating to child care services.

Brief Description: Requiring child care agencies to provide additional information to parents.

Sponsors: Senators Kohl-Welles, Hargrove, Rasmussen and Jacobsen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Human Services & Corrections: 2/15/05, 2/24/05 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5806 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Hargrove, Chair; Regala, Vice Chair; Brandland, Carrell, McAuliffe and Thibaudeau.

Staff: Edith Rice (786-7444)

Background: Under current law, the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) administers the licensing of child day care providers. These can be child care centers, or family day-care providers. DSHS sets minimum standards for licensing and does not currently require providers to show proof of insurance coverage. DSHS can take a variety of actions against a provider in the event that they do not meet the appropriate statutory or regulatory standards set by the department. Sanctions for non-compliance can include denial, suspension or revocation of a license, civil monetary penalties and in some cases criminal penalties. Current law does not require child care providers to make timely disclosure of licensing status or insurance coverage to users of their services.

Summary of Substitute Bill: DSHS is to make child care licensing status and related information about providers, available to parents by establishing a toll-free number and a web based system. Providers are to post the toll-free number and note the availability of licensing status information. Providers are to post information about their license, the DSHS toll-free number, any pending enforcement actions, and the fact that inspection reports are available from the provider.

Providers and DSHS are to make inspection reports and information about any enforcement actions available. This bill clarifies and adds some penalties. DSHS has the ability to place a provider on non-referral or stop placement status if the provider fails to comply with the law or agency enforcement action. Providers must show proof of insurance at the time of licensing or renewal. If a provider's coverage lapses or is terminated, parents must sign a statement that they have been so informed. If the provider chooses not to carry day-care insurance they must inform parents and have them sign a declaration acknowledging lack of insurance coverage. The provider must maintain a file of these statements.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: A new section is added requiring child day-care and family day-care providers to post certain information including pending enforcement actions and inspections reports.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: We support this bill, parents deserve to know about their child care providers. Insurance is more readily available now. We support posting information at the provider site as well as through the department.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Stu Jacobson, Washington Parents for Safe Child Care.