On page 27, after line 7, insert the following:

"NEW SECTION.  Sec. 313. The legislature recognizes that certain areas of the state lack access to licensed child care and early learning programs. The legislature acknowledges that family home licensees must provide care in their private residences. The legislature intends to explore a new family home hub model that would allow family home licensees to operate child care and early learning programs in homes where the licensee does not reside. The legislature intends to establish a pilot project to determine if this new model can increase access to licensed child care and early learning programs.

(2) The department must select up to 10 family home licensees who live east of the crest of the Cascade mountains and up to 10 family home licensees who live west of the crest of the Cascade mountains to participate in the pilot project. The department must select family home licensees who live in:

(a) Areas where there are few or limited licensed child care and early learning programs; or

(b) Areas of need where child care and early learning programs are at or near full capacity, and where access may be restricted by one or more enrollment waitlists.

(3) The department must adopt rules to implement the pilot project and may waive or adapt licensing requirements when necessary to allow for the family home hub except for staff-to-child ratio requirements. The rules must:

(a) Require a supervisor at each private residence who meets training and supervision requirements established by the department; and

(b) Allow but not require the family home licensee or supervisor to live at the private residence or in a dwelling unit located on the same lot as the private residence that is the site of the licensed program.

(4)(a) By November 30, 2025, the department must report to the appropriate committees of the legislature on findings from the pilot project, including:

(i) Potential costs of implementing family home hubs;

(ii) Impact on new license applications and license capacity; and

(iii) Impact on access to child care and early learning programs; and

(b) The department must recommend whether the family home hub pilot project should be modified or expanded.

(5) This section expires August 1, 2026."

On page 31, line 22, after "quarters" insert ", except as provided in section 314 of this act"

On page 51, line 32, after "312," insert "314,"