BILL REQ. #: S-1986.1

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SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5805
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State of Washington

59th Legislature

2005 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Early Learning, K-12 & Higher Education (originally sponsored by Senators Kohl-Welles, Hargrove, Brown, McAuliffe, Rasmussen and Jacobsen)

READ FIRST TIME 03/02/05.

AN ACT Relating to studying the regulation of preschools and kindergartens; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The joint legislative audit and review committee shall consider and make recommendations regarding defining, regulating, and licensing preschools and kindergartens. In developing the recommendations, the task force shall, at a minimum:
     (a) Define "preschool" and "kindergarten";
     (b) Develop an implementation plan for the licensing and regulation of preschools and kindergartens;
     (c) Conduct an examination of and report on the agency best suited to manage the licensing and regulating of preschools and kindergartens;
     (d) Determine the criteria to license preschools and kindergartens; and
     (e) Determine whether to develop health and safety standards and/or standards for content of curriculum and educational background of teachers.
     (2) In developing the recommendations, the joint legislative audit and review committee shall consult with the following, to the extent possible: Early learning teachers, representatives of parent organizations, representatives from the office of superintendent of public instruction, representatives from the department of health, and representatives from the early childhood education and assistance program and head start.
     (3) The task force shall make its recommendations to the legislature by December 1, 2006.

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