(1) Chapter 43.216 RCW grants to the department of children, youth, and families the responsibility and authority to establish and enforce licensing requirements and standards for licensed child care programs in Washington state, including the authority to adopt rules to implement chapter 43.216 RCW.

(2) Pursuant to section 229(19), chapter 334, Laws of 2021, and section 229(19), chapter 297, Laws of 2022, DCYF must:

(a) Establish a pilot project to determine the feasibility of a child care license category for multisite programs operating under one owner or one entity; and

(b) Adopt rules to implement the pilot project. DCYF may waive or adapt licensing requirements when necessary to allow for the operation of a new license category.