FINAL BILL REPORT

ESHB 1968

C 227 L 13

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Requiring the chief of the Washington state patrol to adopt licensing provisions for certain before and after-school programs in school buildings.

Sponsors: House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Kagi, Farrell, Pollet and Fey).

House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Governmental Operations

Background:

The Department of Early Learning (DEL) regulates child care in Washington. The DEL licenses three categories of child care providers: family homes, child care centers, and school-age centers. Separate sets of licensing rules are used to regulate each type of provider. Some features related to each provider type are described below:

• Family-home child care providers care for children up to 11 years of age in a home setting.

• Childcare centers provide care for children up to 12 years of age. These centers operate in commercial, privately-owned, school, or faith-based facilities.

• School-age centers care for children ages 5 through 12. These centers usually operate in a school setting, but may be located in commercial, privately-owned, or faith-based facilities.

Child care centers and school-age centers may operate in a variety of facilities. The DEL's licensing rules operate in accordance with accepted fire and building code standards that apply to any given facility type.

The Washington State Fire Marshal, also known as the Director of Fire Protection, is organized within the Washington State Patrol (WSP). The Fire Marshal's Office is responsible for providing fire and life safety inspections in licensed care occupancies, including nursing homes, boarding homes, group homes, hospitals, and childcare centers. The WSP, through the Fire Marshal's Office, has the statutory responsibility to issue a certificate of compliance to applicants for licensure who comply with minimum standards. If an agency, program, or child care facility does not receive a certificate of compliance, the agency, program, or childcare facility cannot be licensed by the DEL.

Summary:

The Washington State Patrol (WSP) is required, through the state Fire Marshal's Office, to adopt licensing standards that allow children who attend classes in a school building during school hours to remain in the same building to participate in before-school or after-school programs. The WSP is also directed to adopt licensing standards to allow participation in before-school and after-school programs by children who attend other schools and are transported to attend such before-school and after-school programs.

Votes on Final Passage: