Original Notice.

     Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 02-24-065.

     Title of Rule: Family child care homes, minimum licensing requirements, WAC 388-155-070 and 388-155-090.

     Purpose: WAC 388-155-070 and 388-155-090 are being revised to require family home providers to submit to the department picture identification issued by a government entity and a valid Social Security card or employer identification number card in order to be licensed to provide child care.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapters 74.12 and 74.15 RCW.

     Statute Being Implemented: Chapters 74.12 and 74.15 RCW.

     Summary: The rules are being revised to require family child care home providers to submit both a picture identification issued by a government entity and either a Social Security card or an employer identification card.

     Reasons Supporting Proposal: The department is required to make accurate wage and tax reports to the Internal Revenue Service. Provider identification and tax numbers are required for this.

     Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation and Enforcement: Carla Gira, Policy Unit Lead, Lacey Government Center, 1009 College Street S.E., Lacey, WA 98503, (360) 413-3268.

     Name of Proponent: Department of Social and Health Services, governmental.

     Rule is necessary because of federal law, 26 U.S.C. 6109.

     Explanation of Rule, its Purpose, and Anticipated Effects: This rule revision requires family child care home providers to submit both picture identification issued by a government entity and either a Social Security number or an employer identification number to the department in order to be licensed to provide child care.

     The purpose is to allow the department to make a correct reporting of wages paid, to the Internal Revenue Service.

     Proposal Changes the Following Existing Rules: The revision of WAC 388-155-070 contains the requirement of providing the picture identification and the SSN or employer identification number when the individual applies for a license to be a family child care home provider. WAC 388-155-090 states that the department can deny, suspend or revoke a license if the person fails to provide those two items to the department.

     No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. This rule does not have an economic impact on small businesses. This rule revision does not contain any requirements that would result in an increase in costs to the licensed child care providers that are not already in the rules that are currently in effect.

     RCW 34.05.328 does not apply to this rule adoption. These rules incorporate requirements in 26 U.S.C. 6109. RCW 34.05.328 does not apply to "rules adopting or incorporating by reference without material change federal statutes or regulations..."

     Hearing Location: Blake Office Park (behind Goodyear Courtesy Tire), 4500 10th Avenue S.E., Rose Room, Lacey, WA 98503, on April 8, 2003, at 10:00 a.m.

     Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Andy Fernando, DSHS Rules Coordinator, by April 4, 2003, phone (360) 664-6094, TTY (360) 664-6178, e-mail fernaax@dshs.wa.gov.

     Submit Written Comments to: Identify WAC Numbers, DSHS Rules Coordinator, Rules and Policies Assistance Unit, P.O. Box 45850, Olympia, WA 98504-5850, fax (360) 664-6185, e-mail fernaax@dshs.wa.gov, by 5:00 p.m., April 8, 2003.

     Date of Intended Adoption: Not earlier than April 9, 2003.

February 25, 2003

Bonita H. Jacques

for Brian H. Lindgren, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit

     (5) The department may perform investigations of the applicant, licensee, assistant, volunteer, member of their household, and other person having access to the child in care as the department deems necessary, including accessing criminal histories and law enforcement files)) To apply for a license to provide family home child care you must:

     (a) Be eighteen years of age or older;

     (b) Attend an orientation provided by the department;

     (c) Submit to the department a completed and signed family child care home license application form, including the following attachments:

     (i) The twenty-four dollars per year license fee. The license fee may be paid for one, two or three years;

     (ii) A completed criminal history and background inquiry form for each person sixteen years of age or older who will have unsupervised or regular access to the children in care. This includes you, any other applicants, assistants, volunteers and members of your household;

     (iii) A copy of your picture identification issued by a government entity (could include but is not limited to: driver's license, passport, state identification); and

     (iv) A copy of your social security card or your employer identification number (EIN) card.

     (d) Submit to the department these additional documents either with your application or within the ninety-day licensing period:

     (i) An employment and education resume for you and any assistants along with your school transcript, if you request:

     (A) A waiver of the STARS training requirement; or

     (B) A capacity higher than six children.

     (ii) Three references for you;

     (iii) Documentation of current TB exam by the Mantoux method for you, any assistants, volunteers and adult members of the household;

     (iv) Documentation of current, standard first aid and infant/child CPR training for you and any assistant who will be left alone to care for the children;

     (v) Documentation of your HIV/AIDS training;

     (vi) Documentation of the local health jurisdiction approval of your private water supply and independent sewage system, if applicable;

     (vii) A copy of your policies and procedures that you give to parents.

     (e) Provide to the department any additional reports or information regarding you, any assistants, volunteers, members of your household or any other person having access to the child in care if any of those individuals may be unable to meet the requirements in chapter 388-155 WAC. This could include:

     (i) Sexual deviancy evaluations;

     (ii) Substance abuse evaluations;

     (iii) Psychiatric evaluations; and

     (iv) Medical evaluations.

     (2) If we decide it is necessary, we will investigate you, other applicants, assistants, volunteers, members of your household, and other persons having access to the children in care. This investigation could include, but is not limited to, accessing criminal histories and law enforcement files and records.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.15.030. 00-06-040, § 388-155-070, filed 2/28/00, effective 3/30/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.12.340 and chapter 74.15 RCW. 96-10-042 (Order 9373), § 388-155-070, filed 4/26/96, effective 5/27/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.15.030. 91-04-048 (Order 3136), § 388-155-070, filed 2/1/91, effective 3/4/91.]

     (2) If more than one person applies for a license or is licensed under this chapter to provide child care at the same facility, we ((will)) consider qualifications separately and together. We may deny your license application, or suspend or revoke your license if one person fails to meet the minimum licensing requirements.

     (3) We must deny, suspend, or revoke your license if you:

     (a) Have been found to have abused, neglected, ((or)) sexually exploited, or abandoned a child as defined in chapter 26.44 RCW and chapter 388-15 WAC ((388-15-130));

     (b) Have a disqualifying criminal history as listed in chapter 388-06 WAC;

     (c) Have had a license denied, suspended, or revoked for the care of adults or children in this state or any other state. The exception: If you can demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that you have taken enough correction action or rehabilitation to justify the public trust and to operate the home according to the rules of this chapter, we may issue you a license;

     (d) Commit or allow an illegal act on the licensed premises;

     (e) Allow a child in your care to be abused, neglected, exploited, or treated with cruelty or indifference;

     (f) Use illegal drugs, or use alcohol excessively;

     (g) Refuse to permit an authorized representative of the department, state fire marshal, or state auditor's office to inspect the premises; ((or))

     (h) Refuse to permit an authorized representative of the department, state fire marshal, or state auditor's office access to records related to the home's operation or to interview staff or a child in care; or

     (i) Refuse to provide to us a copy of your:

     (A) Picture identification issued by a government entity; and

     (B) Social Security care or your employer identification number (EIN) card.

     (4) We may deny, suspend, or revoke your license if you:

     (a) Try to get a license by deceitful means, such as making false statements or leaving out important information on your application;

     (b) Do not provide enough staff in relation to the numbers, ages, or characteristics of children in care;

     (c) Allow a person who is not qualified by training, experience or temperament to care for or be in contact with a child in care;

     (d) Fail to provide adequate supervision to a child in care;

     (e) Are not able to exercise fiscal responsibility and accountability while operating the home;

     (f) Knowingly allow an employee or volunteer on the premises who has made false statements on an application for employment or volunteer service;

     (g) Refuse to supply additional information reasonably requested by the department; or

     (h) Fail to comply with the minimum licensing requirements set forth in this chapter or any provision of chapter 74.15 RCW.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.15.030. 02-24-022, § 388-155-090, filed 11/26/02, effective 12/27/02. Statutory Authority: Chapter 74.120 RCW, RCW 74.12.340, and 74.15.030. 02-14-085, § 388-155-090, filed 6/28/02, effective 7/29/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.15.030. 01-17-084, § 388-155-090, filed 8/16/01, effective 9/16/01; 96-10-043 (Order 3974), § 388-155-090, filed 4/26/96, effective 5/27/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.12.340. 94-13-201 (Order 3745), § 388-155-090, filed 6/22/94, effective 7/23/94. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.15.030. 91-04-048 (Order 3136), § 388-155-090, filed 2/1/91, effective 3/4/91.]

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