(1) To participate in the pilot project, an early learning program must apply to and be granted an organizational pilot license from the department.

(2) To be eligible for an organizational pilot license, a governmental agency, nonprofit organization, or a for-profit private business must:

(a) Operate, oversee, or manage center or school-age child care and early learning programs;

(b) Have a current licensed or certified early learning program site authorized under chapter 43.216 RCW, or submitted an application to obtain a license or certification to provide child care at an early learning program site that is authorized under chapter 43.216 RCW; and

(c) Have the ability to operate, oversee, or manage a minimum of three and maximum of seven distinctly separate child care and early learning program sites that will be subject to the organizational pilot license.

(3) In addition to the eligibility requirements described in subsection (2) of this section, the department will select organizations to participate in the pilot project after considering:

(a) The criteria described in section 229(19), chapter 297, Laws of 2022; and

(b) The characteristics of applicants' identified sites that may contribute to a mixture of diverse statewide locations that participate in the pilot project.

(4) To protect the health and safety of children enrolled in the participating sites, early learning providers who participate in this pilot project must agree, enter into, and comply with the terms and conditions of an organizational license agreement prepared by the department. The organizational license agreement will require compliance with the following minimum terms and conditions:

(a) Applicable background check requirements contained in chapter 110-06 WAC;

(b) Applicable child care and early learning licensing requirements contained in chapter 43.216 RCW and chapter 110-300, 110-300E, or 110-301 WAC;

(c) The organizational license agreement; and

(d) Applicable federal Child Care Development Fund requirements described at Title 42 (chapter 105, subchapter II-B) of the United States Code (U.S.C.), and Title 45, Part 98, of the Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.).

(5) Pursuant to RCW 34.05.310 (2)(b), the department will use this pilot project to test the feasibility of complying with or administering draft new rules or draft amendments to existing rules.

(6) To establish a uniform set of requirements for an organizational license, the department may:

(a) Draft new rules or add amendments to existing rules; and

(b) Add or amend current licensed child care rules under chapters 110-300, 110-300E, and 110-301 WAC.