WSR 10-21-031

EMERGENCY RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

EARLY LEARNING

[ Filed October 12, 2010, 9:55 a.m. , effective October 12, 2010, 9:55 a.m. ]


     Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.

     Purpose: Increasing annual licensing fees for child care centers and school age centers in accordance with section 614(14), of ESSB 6444, the 2010-2011 supplemental operating budget (chapter 37, Laws of 2010 1st sp. sess.). The act authorizes department of early learning (DEL) to increase these fees effective in fiscal year 2011 starting July 1, 2010. This filing continues and extends the emergency rules filed on June 14, 2010, as filing number WSR 10-13-072.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 170-151-070 and 170-295-060.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 43.215.255; and chapter 37, Laws of 2010 1st sp. sess. (ESSB 6444).

     Other Authority: Chapter 43.215 RCW.

     Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that in order to implement the requirements or reductions in appropriations enacted in any budget for fiscal years 2009, 2010, or 2011, which necessitates the need for the immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the fiscal needs or requirements of the agency.

     Reasons for this Finding: Section 614(14) of the 2010-2011 Supplemental Operating Budget Act (ESSB 6444) directs DEL to increase licensing fees for child care centers by $52 for the first twelve children, plus and [an] additional $4 per additional child up to the center's maximum licensed capacity. The 2010 state legislature authorized this fee increase as part of several revenue-generating measures to close a projected $2.8 billion budget shortfall during the 2011 fiscal year, and for predicted shortfalls in future fiscal years. The rule is needed to implement the requirements or reductions in appropriations enacted in the budget for fiscal year 2011, which necessitates the need for the immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the fiscal needs of the state. Revenues generated by this fee increase will be deposited to the state general fund and are not retained by DEL. DEL has filed proposed rules (WSR 10-18-065), and public hearings were held on October 7 and 9, 2010. DEL must extend the emergency rules filed on June 14, 2010, while the department completes the permanent rule adoption.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.

     Date Adopted: October 12, 2010.

Elizabeth M. Hyde

Director

OTS-3284.1


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 08-10-041, filed 4/30/08, effective 5/31/08)

WAC 170-151-070   How do I apply or reapply for a license?   (1) You must comply with the department's application procedures and submit to the department:

     (a) A completed department-supplied application for school-age child care center license, including attachments, ninety or more days before the:

     (i) Expiration of your current license;

     (ii) Opening date of your center;

     (iii) Relocation of your center; or

     (iv) Change of the licensee.

     (b) A completed background check form for each staff person or volunteer having unsupervised or regular access to the child in care; and

     (c) The annual licensing fee((. The fee)) is:

     (i) For new licenses issued by the department before July 1, 2010, or for licensees whose annual licensing fees are due before July 1, 2010, forty-eight dollars per year for the first twelve children plus four dollars for each additional child over the licensed capacity of twelve children; or

     (ii) For new licenses issued after June 30, 2010, or for licensees whose annual licensing fees are due after June 30, 2010, one hundred dollars per year for the first twelve children plus eight dollars for each additional child over the licensed capacity of twelve children.

     (2) In addition to the required application materials specified under subsection (1) of this section, you must submit to the department:

     (a) An employment and education resume of the person responsible for the active management of the center and of the site coordinator;

     (b) Copies of diplomas or education transcripts of the director and site coordinator; and

     (c) Three professional references each for you, the director, and the site coordinator.

     (3) You, as the applicant for a license under this chapter must be twenty-one years of age or older.

     (4) You must conform to rules and regulations approved or adopted by the:

     (a) State department of health and relating to the health care of children at school-age child care centers;

     (b) State fire marshal's office, establishing standards for fire prevention and protection of life and property from fire, under chapter 212-12 WAC.

     (5) The department must not issue a license to you until the state fire marshal's office has certified or inspected and approved the center.

     (6) The department may exempt a school site possessing a fire safety certification signed by the local fire official within six months prior to licensure from the requirement to receive an additional fire safety inspection by the state fire marshal's office.

     (7) You must submit a completed plan of deficiency correction, when required, to the department of health and the department licensor before the department will issue you a license.

     (8) You, your director and site coordinator must attend department-provided orientation training.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 43.215 RCW, RCW 43.43.832, 2006 c 265 and 2007 c 387. 08-10-041, § 170-151-070, filed 4/30/08, effective 5/31/08. 06-15-075, recodified as § 170-151-070, filed 7/13/06, effective 7/13/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.15.020. 01-02-031, § 388-151-070, filed 12/22/00, effective 1/22/01. Statutory Authority: Chapter 74.15 RCW. 93-02-020 (Order 3493), § 388-151-070, filed 12/30/92, effective 1/30/93.]

OTS-3283.1


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 08-10-041, filed 4/30/08, effective 5/31/08)

WAC 170-295-0060   What are the requirements for applying for a license to operate a child care center?   (1) To apply or reapply for a license to operate a child care center you must:

     (a) Be twenty-one years of age or older;

     (b) The applicant, director and program supervisor must attend the orientation programs that we provide, arrange or approve;

     (c) Submit to us a completed and signed application for a child care center license or certification using our forms (with required attachments).

     (2) The application package must include the following attachments:

     (a) The annual licensing fee. The fee is based on your licensed capacity, and is:

     (i) For new licenses issued by the department before July 1, 2010, or for licensees whose annual licensing fees are due before July 1, 2010, forty-eight dollars for the first twelve children plus four dollars for each additional child over the licensed capacity of twelve children; or

     (ii) For new licenses issued after June 30, 2010, or for licenses whose annual license fees are due after June 30, 2010, one hundred dollars per year for the first twelve children plus eight dollars for each additional child over the licensed capacity of twelve children;

     (b) If the center is solely owned by you, a copy of your:

     (i) Photo identification issued by a government entity; and

     (ii) Social Security card that is valid for employment or verification of your employer identification number.

     (c) If the center is owned by a corporation, verification of the corporation's employer identification number;

     (d) An employment and education resume for:

     (i) The person responsible for the active management of the center; and

     (ii) The program supervisor.

     (e) Diploma or education transcript copies of the program supervisor;

     (f) Three professional references each, for yourself, the director, and the program supervisor;

     (g) Articles of incorporation if you choose to be incorporated;

     (h) List of staff (form is provided in the application);

     (i) Written parent communication (child care handbook);

     (j) Copy of transportation insurance policy (liability and medical);

     (k) In-service training program (for facilities employing more than five persons);

     (l) A floor plan of the facility drawn to scale;

     (m) A copy of your health care plan reviewed and signed by an advisory physician, physician's assistant, or registered nurse;

     (n) A copy of your policies and procedures that you give to parents; and

     (o) A copy of your occupancy permit.

     (3) You must submit to the department a completed background check form for all persons required to be authorized by DEL to care for or have unsupervised access to the children in care under chapter 170-06 WAC; and

     (4) You must submit your application and reapplication ninety or more calendar days before the date:

     (a) You expect to open your new center;

     (b) Your current license is scheduled to expire;

     (c) You expect to relocate your center;

     (d) You expect to change licensee; or

     (e) You expect a change in your license category.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 43.215 RCW, RCW 43.43.832, 2006 c 265 and 2007 c 387. 08-10-041, § 170-295-0060, filed 4/30/08, effective 5/31/08. 06-15-075, recodified as § 170-295-0060, filed 7/13/06, effective 7/13/06. Statutory Authority: Chapters 74.12 and 74.15 RCW. 04-09-093, § 388-295-0060, filed 4/20/04, effective 5/21/04; 03-14-110, § 388-295-0060, filed 6/30/03, effective 8/1/03.]

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