Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Appropriations Committee

HB 1968

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Summary of Bill

Requires the Department of Early Learning, in consultation with the Fire Marshal's office, to adopt licensing standards that allow children who attend classes in a school building during school hours to remain in the same building to participate in before-school or after-school programs.

Requires the Washington State Patrol, through the Fire Marshal's office, to adopt licensing standards that allow children who attend classes in a school building during school hours to remain in the same building to participate in before-school or after-school programs.

Background:

The Department of Early Learning (DEL) regulates child care in Washington. The DEL licenses three categories of child care providers: family homes, child care centers, and school-age centers. Separate sets of licensing rules are used to regulate each type of provider. Some features related to each provider type are described below:

Family-home child care providers care for children up to 11 years of age in a home setting.
Childcare centers provide care for children up to 12 years of age. These centers operate in commercial, privately owned, school or faith-based facilities.
School-age centers care for children ages 5 through 12. These centers usually operate in a school setting, but can be located in commercial, privately owned, or faith-based facilities.

Child care centers and school-age centers may operate in a variety of facilities. The DEL's licensing rules operate in accordance with accepted fire and building code standards that apply to any given facility type.

The Washington State Fire Marshal, also known as the Director of Fire Protection, is located within the Washington State Patrol. The Fire Marshal's Office is responsible for providing fire and life safety inspections in licensed care occupancies, including nursing homes, boarding homes, group homes, hospitals, and childcare centers. The Washington State Patrol, through the Fire Marshal's Office, has the statutory responsibility to issue a certificate of compliance to applicants of licensure who comply with minimum standards. If an agency, program or child care facility does not receive a certificate of compliance, the agency, program or childcare facility cannot be licensed by the DEL.

Summary of Bill:

The DEL is required to adopt licensing standards that allow children who attend classes in a school building during school hours to remain in the same building to participate in before-school or after-school programs. The Washington State Patrol, through the state Fire Marshal's office, is required to adopt licensing standards that allow children who attend classes in a school building during school hours to remain in the same building to participate in before-school or after-school programs.