READ FIRST TIME 02/24/11.   

     AN ACT Relating to licensing requirements for child care centers located in publicly owned buildings; amending RCW 43.215.200; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The legislature finds that some licensed child care centers seeking to operate in publicly owned or operated buildings, such as public schools or municipal centers, incur substantial costs to renovate spaces which have otherwise been deemed safe for children to use for other purposes, such as public education. Consequently, families have been forced to seek before or after school child care outside of the school building, resulting in additional transitions for students.
     (2) It is the legislature's intent to allow licensed child care centers to operate in facilities that have otherwise been deemed safe and healthy for children to use for other purposes, such as public education. With respect to section 2(2) of this act, the legislature intends that the development of any related child care licensing requirements shall:
     (a) Ensure safe and healthy environments for children;
     (b) Utilize existing rule-making processes and resources;
     (c) Utilize existing requirements as a starting point rather than create an entirely new set of requirements; and
     (d) Not overburden child care centers with additional licensing requirements.

Sec. 2   RCW 43.215.200 and 2007 c 415 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     It shall be the director's duty with regard to licensing:
     (1) In consultation and with the advice and assistance of persons representative of the various type agencies to be licensed, to designate categories of child care facilities for which separate or different requirements shall be developed, including child care centers under subsection (2) of this section, as may be appropriate whether because of variations in the ages and other characteristics of the children served, variations in the purposes and services offered or size or structure of the agencies to be licensed, or because of any other factor relevant thereto;
     (2) In consultation with the state fire marshal's office, the director shall use an interagency process to address requirements for child care centers operated in publicly owned or operated buildings, such as public schools or municipal centers, in which there are existing prekindergarten or school age educational programs;
     (3) In consultation and with the advice and assistance of parents or guardians, and persons representative of the various type agencies to be licensed, to adopt and publish minimum requirements for licensing applicable to each of the various categories of agencies to be licensed under this chapter;
     (((3))) (4) In consultation with law enforcement personnel, the director shall investigate the conviction record or pending charges of each agency and its staff seeking licensure or relicensure, and other persons having unsupervised access to children in care;
     (((4))) (5) To issue, revoke, or deny licenses to agencies pursuant to this chapter. Licenses shall specify the category of care that an agency is authorized to render and the ages and number of children to be served;
     (((5))) (6) To prescribe the procedures and the form and contents of reports necessary for the administration of this chapter and to require regular reports from each licensee;
     (((6))) (7) To inspect agencies periodically to determine whether or not there is compliance with this chapter and the requirements adopted under this chapter;
     (((7))) (8) To review requirements adopted under this chapter at least every two years and to adopt appropriate changes after consultation with affected groups for child day care requirements; and
     (((8))) (9) To consult with public and private agencies in order to help them improve their methods and facilities for the care and early learning of children.