NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that at least forty-six foster home licenses were closed between 2017 and 2019 due to failure to notify the department of children, youth, and families of a change of residence within thirty days of relocation. In recognition of the importance of maintaining foster placements in Washington, the legislature intends to provide licensing continuation for foster families without a foster child in their care at the time of relocation if the licensee meets minimum licensing standards and completes a home inspection within thirty days of providing notice of relocation.

Each agency shall make application for a license or renewal of license to the department on forms prescribed by the department. A licensed agency having foster-family homes under its supervision may make application for a license on behalf of any such foster-family home. Such a foster home license shall cease to be valid when the home is no longer under the supervision of that agency. Upon receipt of such application, the department shall either grant or deny a license within ninety days unless the application is for licensure as a foster-family home, in which case RCW 74.15.040 shall govern. A license shall be granted if the agency meets the minimum requirements set forth in this chapter (( 74.15 RCW)) and RCW 74.13.031 and the departmental requirements consistent herewith, except that an initial license may be issued as provided in RCW 74.15.120. Licenses provided for in this chapter (( 74.15 RCW)) and RCW 74.13.031 shall be issued for a period of three years. The licensee, however, shall advise the secretary of any material change in circumstances which might constitute grounds for reclassification of license as to category. The license issued under this chapter is not transferable and applies only to the licensee. The license shall be limited to a particular location which shall be stated on the license. For licensed foster-family homes having an acceptable history of child care, the license may remain in effect for thirty days after a move, except that this will apply only if the family remains intact. Licensees must notify their licensor before moving to a new location and may request a continuation of the license at the new location. Licensees with no children placed in their care at the time of a move to a new location may notify their licensor after moving and the licensor shall continue their license if their license is in good standing at the time of the move, the new location meets minimum licensing standards, and a home inspection is completed within thirty days of notice to the licensor; such licensees shall be on no-referral status and no new placements may be made at the new location until the location is approved by the licensor. At the request of the licensee, the department shall, within thirty days following a foster-family home licensee's move to a new location, amend the license to reflect the new location, provided the new location and the licensee meet minimum licensing standards.