This act adds a new section to RCW 43.216 which intends to establish the Cost of Child Care Regulations Work Group.
The bill also sets forward membership requirements of 12 voting members, which must include:
§ 3 licensed family home child care providers;
§ 3 licensed child care center providers;
§ 2 foster parents; and
§ 4 legislators, consisting of 2 members of the House of Representatives & 2 members of the Senate.
The work group must study:
§ The financial impacts of department licensing regulations on child care businesses;
§ Direct and indirect costs and benefits to child care providers that are associated with participation in the Early Achievers quality rating system; and
§ Costs associated with licensing and Early Achievers requirements that may have a disproportionate economic impact on child care businesses in rural areas of the state.
The first meeting of the work group must happen by July 1st, 2019, with at least five meetings by November 30th, 2019. Finally, the work group must submit its findings and recommendations to the governor and appropriate committees of the legislature by December 31st, 2019.