WSR 17-13-058 PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY DEPARTMENT OF EARLY LEARNING [Filed June 15, 2017, 10:42 a.m.]
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Implementing a single set of weighted licensing standards for child care and the early childhood education and assistance program (ECEAP). Revising chapters in Title 170 WAC as needed for consistency; repealing chapters 170-295 and 170-296A WAC; creating new chapter 170-300 WAC.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 43.215.070, 43.215.201, chapter 43.215 RCW.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The legislature in 2015 passed the Early Start Act (HB 1491). It requires the department of early learning (DEL) to implement a single set of licensing standards for child care and ECEAP. The new WAC chapter will provide minimum health and safety standards for child care and preschool programs, use the standards established in the early achievers program to address quality issues in participating early childhood programs, take into account the separate needs of family care providers and child care centers and promote the continued safety of child care settings. Additionally, the new licensing standards will be weighted to improve licensing enforcement and to enhance the heath [health] and safety of children who participate in early learning programs.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: As appropriate, DEL will coordinate development of these rules with the state department of social and [health] services, the state department of health, Washington state patrol, the office of the superintendent of public instruction, state department of education, state fire marshal's office, and the United States Administration for Children and Families.
Process for Developing New Rule: Negotiated rule making; and DEL solicited comment before and while drafting the rules. Public meetings were held around the state to hear comments and comments were accepted online. The draft rules will be negotiated by teams representing family home providers, center child care providers, Head Start and ECEAP providers, families and parents, and DEL licensing division. Negotiations are open for public observation and time will be scheduled for public comment. The draft rules being negotiated are linked to DEL's web site and comments will be accepted through the end of August 2017. Comments made online are shared with all negotiators. Additionally, comments may be emailed to a particular negotiation participant group. These direct comments will not be shared with the other participant groups.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication. Submit comments online that will be shared with all negotiators: https://apps.del.wa.gov/PolicyProposalComment/Detail.aspx.
Attend a negotiation session to observe or comment. Negotiation meeting locations, dates, and times:
Submit a comment to a particular group participating in the negotiation: Negotiation participants and their email addresses where direct comments may be sent:
Family home child care providers: FHCWACComments@pcgus.com.
Center child care providers: CenterWACComments@pcgus.com.
Head start/ECEAP providers: HSECEAPWACComments@pcgus.com.
Families and parents: FamilyWACComments@pcgus.com.
DEL licensing: DELWACComments@pcgus.com.
Email comments to rules@del.wa.gov that will be shared with all negotiations.
Last day that comments will be accepted August 31, 2017.
June 8, 2017
Lori Anderson
Rules Coordinator
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