Negotiated Rulemaking and Public Comments Process
DCYF is required by statute RCW 34.05.320 to organize a public comments process, as well as negotiate rules with the Family Home Providers’ union on behalf of represented family child care licensees, and include all other affected parties in this negotiation. DCYF has created a robust plan to engage the early learning community in the public comments process, and to negotiate with the various affected parties in this situation, including Child Care Centers, ECEAP and Head Start providers, and Families.
Negotiated Rule Making - Aligned Licensing Standards
Representatives of child care centers, family home child cares, Head Start and Early Childhood Education & Assistance programs, families, and child care licensors negotiated aligned licensing standards that are now codified at Chapter 110-300 WAC. Public comments were collected during negotiations and over 1,500 written comments were delivered to negotiators to inform their decisions. Negotiation sessions were public and many people attended one or more negotiation sessions to observe and offer comment. While negotiations were proceeding, all documents used were made available online along with video recordings of negotiation sessions.
Documents & Videos
-
Negotiated Rule Making Protocol, revised June 23
-
Videos:
-
Proposed Weighted Enforcement Webinar & Examples
-
Public Comments - Environment Rules - updated August 18
-
Negotiated Rule Making Protocol, revised July 28
- Videos:
- Friday
- Saturday morning | afternoon part 1 | afternoon part 2
- Sunday
-
Videos:
- Public Comments
- Additional comment received September 23
- Negotiated Rule Making Reference Materials, September 21-23
- Professional Development Content Briefing
- Family Engagement Content Briefing
- Negotiated Rule Making Agenda - September 21-23
- Small Group Assignments - September 21-23
- Summary of Negotiations, September 21-23
- All negotiated draft rules as of September 25
- Videos:
- October 12 Powerpoint
- Presentation on Weights
- October 13 Powerpoint
- Negotiated Rule Making Agenda - October 12-13
- All negotiated draft rules as of October 27
- Videos:
- Negotiated Rule Making Agenda - November 17-19
- Consensus Queue - November 17-19
- All negotiated draft rules as of November 10
- Information for public who attend
- All negotiated draft rules as of December 18
- Videos
- Negotiated Rule Making Agenda - January 5-7
- Professional Development Resources
- Minor Work Permit Resources
- Checklist Presentation (Sunday)
- Enforcement Frequently Asked Questions (Sunday)
- All negotiated draft rules as of January 7
- Videos
- Friday morning | afternoon
- Saturday morning | afternoon part 1 | afternoon part 2
- Sunday
- Negotiated Rule Making Agenda - February 2-4
- Consensus Queue
- Public Comments
- Definitions flagged for negotiation
- Draft chapter 170-300 WAC "supervision" analysis
- All negotiated draft rules as of February 4
- Videos
- Negotiated Rule Making Agenda - March 3-4
- Public Comments | Supplemental Comments
- Request from Family Home Providers
- Sections Flagged for a Final Review
- Parking Lot
- Consensus Queue
- March 3 Welcome Powerpoint
- Negotiated Rule Making Summary Powerpoint
- All negotiated draft rules as of March 16
- Videos
Finalizing the Rules
Then Director Moss made a small number of revisions after reviewing the negotiated language for critical health and safety needs, federal Child Care Development Fund requirements, clarity, stakeholder needs and agency priorities. Proposed rules were published in the Washington State Register and, for almost two months, the agency accepted comments about them. Several changes were made in response to public comments and final rules were adopted on June 30, 2018. The rules take effect August 1, 2019.
Archived Resources
Negotiated Rule Making One-pager
Updating DEL's Rules & Regulations