S-437                 _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5076

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Senators Craswell, Rasmussen and Owen

Read first time 1/11/89 and referred to Committee on  Children & Family Services.

AN ACT Relating to corporal punishment in licensed child care facilities; and adding a new section to chapter 74.15 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 74.15 RCW to read as follows:

          As a condition of licensure of a child care facility under this chapter, corporal punishment is prohibited except that spanking with the flat of the hand on the buttocks in a manner that does not result in bruises or other physical harm is permitted when other methods of discipline are found to be ineffective.  The use of such amounts of physical restraint as may be reasonable and necessary to:

          (1) Protect persons on the premises from physical injury;

          (2) Obtain possession of a weapon or other dangerous object; and

          (3) Protect property from serious damage;

!ixshall not be construed to constitute corporal punishment.