Proposed Rules
Foster Family Home Licensing: DCYF has proposed rules that are intended to implement model licensing standards developed by the U. S. Department of Health & Human Services. Proposed changes are:
- Any individuals who are at least 16 years old and living on the property (including those not living in the family home) must pass a background check;
- The licensee and all household members must have pertussis and influenza immunizations when the child in care is medically fragile as defined by rule, unless exempted by a licensed health care provider;
- One applicant for licensure in the family home must have functional literacy and be able to communicate with the child, DCYF, health care providers, and other service providers;
- Over-capacity exceptions are established;
- Requirements for a properly operating kitchen are clarified;
- Recycling disposal service Is required, when available;
- Safety requirements for on-premises swimming pools are established;
- Evacuation plans must be reviewed with children in care and posted in the home;
- A carbon monoxide detector is required for each level of occupancy in the home and at least one CM detector must be near each sleeping area;
- Co-sleeping and bed-sharing with children in care is prohibited; smoking is prohibited in vehicles used to transport children; and
- The driver or owner of a vehicle used to transport children in care must have proof of registration.
Last Day to Submit Comments: Jan. 7, 2020.
Hearing Date and Time: Jan. 7, 2020, at 1:00 p.m.
Hearing Location: Conference Room 4, Office Building 2 Service Level, 1115 Washington St. S.E., Olympia, Washington.
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Rules in Development
Working Connections and Seasonal Child Care: Rules will establish a monthly rate for school-age children as agreed to by DCYF and the family home child cares.
Background Checks: DCYF intends to implement chapter 9.97 RCW, which requires adoption of rules that explain when certificates of restoration of opportunity will be considered in background checks and when they will not. The department also intends to update rules that clarify certain criminal convictions that (1) may disqualify an individual from being licensed, contracted, certified, or authorized to have unsupervised access to children, or (2) trigger further review to determine the applicant’s character, suitability, and competence to have unsupervised access to children.
School-Age Child Care Licensing Standards: In accordance with RCW 43.216.255, Chapter 110-300 WAC, Foundational Quality Standards for Early Learning Programs, was adopted in 2018 and took effect Aug. 1, 2019. DCYF must now align school-age child care standards with the foundational quality standards in Chapter 110-300 WAC to ensure consistent health and safety standards that promote quality care in all licensed early learning programs.
Recently Adopted Rules
Juvenile Rehabilitation: Adopted rules implement SSB 5815 which modified the approved leave allowance for minimum security juvenile offenders and required rule making to appropriately address offenses involving alcohol or controlled substances by juveniles committed to community facilities. Effective date: Jan. 6, 2020. Read more …
ECEAP: Adopted rules implement Chapters 408 and 409, Laws of 2019 by allowing ECEAP enrollment for specific children when space is available, establishing a prioritization system for these enrollments, and establishing enrollment thresholds for children from families with income above 110% of federal poverty level. Effective date: Dec. 22, 2019. Read more ...