This bill amends existing child care statutes by changing RCW 43.216.250, 43.216.255, and 43.216.600 and repealing RCW 43.216.755. It does not create a new criminal offense or change penalties; instead it makes procedural and regulatory changes to licensing, interagency responsibilities, background checks, program standards, and professional development authority. The amendments assign duties to "the secretary" for child care licensing including adopting and publishing minimum licensing requirements, investigating conviction records and pending charges, issuing and revoking licenses, inspecting agencies, consulting with stakeholders, and reviewing requirements at least every two years. The bill requires an interagency process, in consultation with the state fire marshal, to set health and safety requirements for child care programs serving school-age children in school buildings and excludes certain physical facility requirements for beforeand after-school programs that operate only in the same school facilities. DCYF and DSHS are directed to share federal fingerprint-based background check results with each other as permitted by law, but not with other state agencies or persons. Licenses must state the category of care and the ages and numbers of children served. The bill requires a single set of licensing standards for child care and ECEAP, produced within available appropriations, that provide minimum licensing requirements, rely on Early Achievers standards for quality issues in participating programs, consider family care and outdoor nature-based providers, and promote safety. The text specifies certain program and facility standards including maximum group sizes (21 for preschoolers, 31 for school-age children), minimum staff-to-child ratios (no less than 1:11 for preschoolers, 1:16 for school-age), and a minimum of 34 square feet of indoor program space per child; it also states providers may not be required to earn early childhood education certification as a staff qualification requirement. The department is directed, subject to appropriations, to provide professional development supports to defined "eligible providers" and the bill defines that term. RCW 43.216.755 (community-based training pathway) is repealed. The extracted materials do not include the text of the repealed RCW 43.216.755 or the full texts of other cited sections (for example RCW 43.216.270, 43.20A.710, 43.216.395(2)(b), or chapter 28A.195 RCW), and they do not explain how the cited past deadline of "no later than November 1, 2016" relates to current implementation or compliance. Funding levels and effective dates are not provided.

If enacted, the bill standardizes child care licensing rules so the department must use one set of standards that specify maximum group sizes and staff-to-child ratios (preschool rooms up to 21 children at a minimum 1:11 ratio; school-age rooms up to 31 children at a minimum 1:16 ratio), require at least 34 square feet of indoor space per child, rely on early achievers quality standards where applicable, and exempt beforeand after-school programs that operate only in the same school facilities from some physical facility requirements developed with the state fire marshal. The department and DSHS will share federal fingerprint background check results only with each other, the department must review rules at least every two years, and the department may provide professional development supports to a broad set of eligible providers only if the legislature appropriates money for them. Directly affected parties include the department (new or clarified duties to set and review standards and coordinate with DSHS and the fire marshal), DSHS (sharing background check results), licensed centers and family home providers (who may need to change group sizes, staffing, or available classroom space and thus could face higher staffing or facility costs or reduced capacity), ECEAP contractors and early achievers coaches (eligible for funded training supports if money is provided), and before/after-school programs in school buildings (which may avoid some facility changes). The bill also repeals the community-based training pathway statute, but the content and practical consequences of that repeal are not included in the provided text, so its impact on training options is unclear.