AN ACT Relating to day care; adding new sections to chapter 74.15 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature recognizes that a significant increase in our state's population of children under six years old is taking place. The legislature further recognizes the increasing proportion of children living with only one parent which is projected to increase by forty-eight percent between 1980 and 1990. These two demographic trends indicate the need for the state to assist parents in locating and maintaining safe affordable day care services. The legislature further recognizes that it is a joint responsibility of parents and the state to assure the safety and well-being of children in care out of their own homes.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 74.15 RCW to read as follows:

The department shall maintain a toll free telephone number for parents, guardians, or custodians seeking information about agencies licensed to provide child care under this chapter. The department shall provide a copy of all standards which agencies seeking to be licensed as day care agencies by the department are required to meet. The standards shall include, but not be limited to, all applicable fire, health, safety, and related program requirements. The day care agencies shall provide copies of the standards to all persons visiting the day care agency seeking child care. Before a parent, guardian, or custodian enrolls the child with an agency licensed under this chapter, the agency shall have that person sign a form stating that he or she has received a copy of the standards.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 74.15 RCW to read as follows:

The department shall inform and provide all parents, guardians, or custodians requesting information from the department about day care providers the following:

(1) The agency's or individual's application for licensure, to the extent information in the application does not violate the right of privacy of the applicable individuals;

(2) Copies of all inspection reports regarding fire, health, and licensing requirements;

(3) All letters of reference, if authorized by the originator of the reference;

(4) All complaints against the agency or individual regarding health, safety or program requirements, or incidents of abuse or neglect, where the department has made a finding that a violation has occurred, to the extent the right to privacy of the applicable individual is protected;

(5) The present status of the agency's or individual's license, including whether the license has been issued, denied, suspended, or revoked, whether the department has issued a letter of intention to deny, suspend, or revoke the license and whether there is a plan of corrective action for any noted deficiencies;

(6) All policies and documents required by the terms of the license;

(7) The contents of any licensing file following a departmental decision as to appropriate action relating to the issuance, reinstatement, or termination of a license, to the extent the right to privacy of the applicable individual is protected;

(8) The names and addresses of all licensees in the particular geographical vicinity being requested by the parent, guardian or custodian; and

(9) Assistance in selecting a facility which provides the child with a safe environment during the parent's absence.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 74.15 RCW to read as follows:

Regularly scheduled on-site inspections of day care facilities by the department of social and health services shall occur as frequently as it deems necessary for the operation, sanitation and safety thereof.

The department shall conduct unannounced on-site inspections of each licensed day care facility at least two times during the facilities licensing period.

The department shall conduct additional on-site inspections pursuant to any complaint by a parent, guardian or custodian of a child attending such facility, at the request of the licensee or to assure correction of previously noted deficiencies.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 74.15 RCW to read as follows:

The secretary may for purposes of establishing the toll free telephone service and other day care information and referral services, contract with any public or private agency and is authorized to accept funds from other sources including federal, private, and other public funding services to carry out such purposes. The secretary shall actively seek, where consistent with the policies and programs of the department, and shall make maximum use of, such private funds as are or may be made available to the department for the purpose of supporting day care information, referral and monitoring programs.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. A new section is added to chapter 74.15 RCW to read as follows:

The division of children and family services shall develop and make available training programs designed to provide parents with information about day care. Subject areas shall include, but not be limited to, child development, child safety, standards of care, and the licensing programs, and shall support and coordinate with other existing training resources. Nothing shall preclude the use of volunteers in the delivery of training.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. A new section is added to chapter 74.15 RCW to read as follows:

The division of children and family services shall make an annual report to the legislature on its programs. The report shall include:

(1) A report on the implementation of the training programs required by section 6 of this act; and

(2) The first annual report shall include an evaluation of the feasibility of expanding the division's existing information system to include state-wide uniform reporting and analysis of data relating to complaints and conditions in child care agencies licensed by the state pursuant to this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. A new section is added to chapter 74.15 RCW to read as follows:

Every day care agency licensed under this chapter shall post, in a conspicuous location, a notice of the child care information toll-free number.