RCW 43.216.270
Character, suitability, and competence to provide child care and early learning services—Fingerprint criminal history record checks—Background check clearance card or certificate—Shared background checks.
(1)(a) In determining whether an individual is of appropriate character, suitability, and competence to provide child care and early learning services to children, the department may consider the history of past involvement of child protective services or law enforcement agencies with the individual for the purpose of establishing a pattern of conduct, behavior, or inaction with regard to the health, safety, or welfare of a child. No report of child abuse or neglect that has been destroyed or expunged under RCW 26.44.031 may be used for such purposes. No unfounded or inconclusive allegation of child abuse or neglect as defined in RCW 26.44.020 may be disclosed to a provider licensed under this chapter.
(b) The department may not deny or delay a license to provide child care and early learning services under this chapter to an individual solely because of a founded finding of physical abuse or negligent treatment or maltreatment involving the individual revealed in the background check process or solely because the individual's child was found by a court to be dependent as a result of a finding that the individual abused or neglected their child pursuant to RCW 13.34.030(6)(b) when that founded finding or court finding is accompanied by a certificate of parental improvement as defined in chapter 74.13 RCW related to the same incident.
(2) In order to determine the suitability of individuals newly applying for an agency license, new licensees, their new employees, and other persons who newly have unsupervised access to children in child care, shall be fingerprinted.
(a) The fingerprints shall be forwarded to the Washington state patrol and federal bureau of investigation for a criminal history record check.
(b)(i) All individuals applying for first-time agency licenses, all new employees, and other persons who have not been previously qualified by the department to have unsupervised access to children in child care must be fingerprinted and obtain a criminal history record check pursuant to this section.
(ii) Except during fiscal year 2023, persons required to be fingerprinted and obtain a criminal history record check pursuant to this section must pay for the cost of this check as follows: The fee established by the Washington state patrol for the criminal background history check, including the cost of obtaining the fingerprints; and a fee paid to the department for the cost of administering the individual-based/portable background check clearance registry. The fee paid to the department must be deposited into the individual-based/portable background check clearance account established in RCW 43.216.273. The licensee may, but need not, pay these costs on behalf of a prospective employee or reimburse the prospective employee for these costs. The licensee and the prospective employee may share these costs.
(c) The secretary shall use the fingerprint criminal history record check information solely for the purpose of determining eligibility for a license and for determining the character, suitability, and competence of those persons or agencies, excluding parents, not required to be licensed who are authorized to care for children.
(d) Criminal justice agencies shall provide the secretary such information as they may have and that the secretary may require for such purpose.
(e) No later than July 1, 2013, all agency licensees holding licenses prior to July 1, 2012, persons who were employees before July 1, 2012, and persons who have been qualified by the department before July 1, 2012, to have unsupervised access to children in child care, must submit a new background application to the department. The department must require persons submitting a new background application pursuant to this subsection (2)(e) to pay a fee to the department for the cost of administering the individual-based/portable background check clearance registry. This fee must be paid into the individual-based/portable background check clearance account established in RCW 43.216.273. The licensee may, but need not, pay these costs on behalf of a prospective employee or reimburse the prospective employee for these costs. The licensee and the prospective employee may share these costs.
(f) The department shall issue a background check clearance card or certificate to the applicant if after the completion of a background check the department concludes the applicant is qualified for unsupervised access to children in child care. The background check clearance card or certificate is valid for three years from the date of issuance. A valid card or certificate must be accepted by a potential employer as proof that the applicant has successfully completed a background check as required under this chapter. For purposes of renewal of the background clearance card or certificate, all agency licensees holding a license, persons who are employees, and persons who have been previously qualified by the department, must submit a new background application to the department on a date to be determined by the department. Except during fiscal year 2023, fee requirements applicable to this section also apply to background clearance renewal applications.
(g) The original applicant for an agency license, licensees, their employees, and other persons who have unsupervised access to children in child care shall submit a new background check application to the department, on a form and by a date as determined by the department.
(h) The payment requirements applicable to (a) through (g) of this subsection do not apply to persons who:
(i) Provide regularly scheduled care for a child or children in the home of the provider or in the home of the child or children for periods of less than twenty-four hours or, if necessary due to the nature of the parent's work, for periods equal to or greater than twenty-four hours;
(ii) Receive child care subsidies; and
(iii) Are exempt from licensing under this chapter.
(i) The applicant and agency shall maintain on-site for inspection a copy of the background check clearance card or certificate.
(j) Individuals who have been issued a background check clearance card or certificate shall report nonconviction and conviction information to the department within twenty-four hours of the event constituting the nonconviction or conviction information.
(k) The department shall investigate and conduct a redetermination of an applicant's or licensee's background clearance if the department receives a complaint or information from individuals, a law enforcement agency, or other federal, state, or local government agency. Subject to the requirements contained in RCW 43.216.325 and 43.216.327 and based on a determination that an individual lacks the appropriate character, suitability, or competence to provide child care or early learning services to children, the department may: (i) Invalidate the background card or certificate; or (ii) suspend, modify, or revoke any license authorized by this chapter.
(3) To satisfy the shared background check requirements of the department of children, youth, and families, the office of the superintendent of public instruction, and the department of social and health services, each department shall share federal fingerprint-based background check results as permitted under the law. The purpose of this provision is to allow these departments to fulfill their joint background check responsibility of checking any individual who may have unsupervised access to vulnerable adults, children, or juveniles. These departments may not share the federal background check results with any other state agency or person.
(4) Individuals who have completed a fingerprint background check as required by the office of the superintendent of public instruction, consistent with RCW 28A.400.303, and have been continuously employed by the same school district or educational service district, can meet the requirements in subsection (2) of this section by providing a true and accurate copy of their Washington state patrol and federal bureau of investigation background check report results to the department or if the school district or the educational service district provides an affidavit to the department that the individual has been authorized to work by the school district or educational service district after completing a record check consistent with RCW 28A.400.303. The department may require that additional background checks be completed that do not require additional fingerprinting and, except during fiscal year 2023, may charge a fee for these additional background checks.
[ 2022 c 297 § 960; 2020 c 270 § 9. Prior: 2018 c 59 § 1; 2018 c 58 § 69; prior: 2017 3rd sp.s. c 33 § 6; 2017 3rd sp.s. c 6 § 206; prior: 2011 c 295 § 2; 2011 c 253 § 4; 2007 c 415 § 5. Formerly RCW 43.215.215.]
NOTES:
Effective date—2022 c 297: See note following RCW 43.79.565.
Effective date—2020 c 270: See note following RCW 74.13.720.
Effective date—2018 c 59: "This act takes effect July 1, 2018." [ 2018 c 59 § 2.]
Effective date—2018 c 58: See note following RCW 28A.655.080.
Effective date—2017 3rd sp.s. c 6 §§ 102, 104-115, 201-227, 301-337, 401-419, 501-513, 801-803, and 805-822: See note following RCW 43.216.025.
Structure Revised Code of Washington
Title 43 - State Government—Executive
Chapter 43.216 - Department of Children, Youth, and Families.
43.216.020 - Department duties.
43.216.022 - Annual quality assurance report.
43.216.025 - Secretary—Appointment—Salary.
43.216.030 - Secretary's authority.
43.216.035 - Office of innovation, alignment, and accountability—Duties and focus.
43.216.040 - Family services and programs—Administration.
43.216.045 - Advisory committees or councils—Travel expenses.
43.216.055 - Federal and state cooperation—Rules—Construction.
43.216.060 - Policies to support children of incarcerated parents.
43.216.065 - Private-public partnership—Secretary's duties.
43.216.070 - Reports to the governor and legislature.
43.216.080 - Integration with other entities.
43.216.085 - Early achievers program—Quality rating and improvement system.
43.216.090 - Early achievers program—Mental health consultants.
43.216.091 - Early achievers program—Administrative policies—Rating and rerating.
43.216.092 - Early achievers program—Administrative policies—Various.
43.216.105 - Native language development and retention—Dual language learning—Rules.
43.216.115 - Partnership responsibilities—Department's duties—Partnership's duties.
43.216.130 - Home visiting services account—Purpose—Administration—Funding.
43.216.135 - Child care providers—Subsidy requirements—Tiered reimbursements—Copayments.
43.216.136 - Working connections child care program—Eligibility.
43.216.1368 - Working connections child care program—Eligibility—Copayments.
43.216.137 - Working connections child care program—Unemployment compensation.
43.216.139 - Working connections child care program—Notification of change in providers.
43.216.143 - Working connections child care program—Contracted child care slots and vouchers.
43.216.145 - Working connections child care—Eligibility of high school students.
43.216.155 - Home visitation programs—Findings—Intent.
43.216.157 - Home visitation programs—Definitions.
43.216.165 - Early start account.
43.216.170 - Applicants for positions with the department—Investigation and background checks.
43.216.190 - Assistance with submission of Washington state identicard application materials.
43.216.195 - Child care centers—Negotiated rule making.
43.216.200 - Imagination library of Washington program.
43.216.205 - Youth and young adults exiting publicly funded system of care—Rapid response team.
43.216.250 - Secretary's licensing duties.
43.216.255 - Licensing standards.
43.216.260 - Minimum requirements for licensure.
43.216.265 - Fire protection—Powers and duties of chief of the Washington state patrol.
43.216.271 - Background check clearance registry—Background application form.
43.216.273 - Individual-based/portable background check clearance account.
43.216.285 - Articles of incorporation.
43.216.290 - Access to agencies—Records inspection.
43.216.295 - License required.
43.216.305 - License application—Nonexpiring licenses—Issuance, renewal, transfer, duration.
43.216.315 - Initial licenses.
43.216.320 - Probationary licenses.
43.216.335 - Civil fines—Notice—Adjudicative proceeding.
43.216.345 - Adjudicative proceedings—Training for administrative law judges.
43.216.350 - License or certificate suspension—Noncompliance with support order—Reissuance.
43.216.355 - Actions against agencies.
43.216.360 - Unlicensed providers—Notification to agency—Penalty—Posting on website.
43.216.365 - Operating without a license—Penalty.
43.216.370 - Negotiated rule making.
43.216.380 - Minimum licensing requirements—Window blind pull cords.
43.216.390 - Reporting resignation or termination of individual working in child care agency.
43.216.395 - Child care inspection reports—Internal review process—Definitions—Final review.
43.216.5052 - Definition of "Indian"—Rule making.
43.216.510 - Admission and funding.
43.216.512 - Expanded enrollment—Risk factors—Participation in other programs.
43.216.513 - Early entry—Participation in other programs.
43.216.514 - Enrollment priority.
43.216.520 - Advisory committee.
43.216.530 - Review of applications.
43.216.540 - State support—Priorities—Program funding levels.
43.216.545 - Reimbursement of advisory committee expenses.
43.216.550 - Authority to solicit gifts, grants, and support.
43.216.556 - Early learning program—Funding and statewide implementation.
43.216.559 - Early learning program—Short title—2010 c 231.
43.216.565 - Findings—Intent—Early start program.
43.216.567 - Early therapeutic and preventative services and programs.
43.216.570 - Early intervention services—Findings.
43.216.576 - Early intervention services—Interagency agreements.
43.216.577 - Prenatal to three family engagement strategy.
43.216.578 - Birth to three early childhood education and assistance program—Pilot project—Reports.
43.216.579 - Infant child care incentives.
43.216.580 - Early intervention services—Funding.
43.216.587 - Complex needs funds.
43.216.590 - Trauma-informed care supports.
43.216.592 - Dual language designation—Rate enhancement.
43.216.595 - Early childhood equity grants.
43.216.597 - Play and learn groups—Resources and supports.
43.216.600 - Professional development supports.
43.216.602 - Child care deserts grant program.
43.216.650 - Child fatality reviews.
43.216.655 - Data collection and program evaluation—Reports.
43.216.660 - Child care services—Declaration of policy.
43.216.665 - Child care workers—Findings—Intent.
43.216.670 - Child care provider rules review.
43.216.675 - Child care workers—Career and wage ladder.
43.216.680 - Child care workers—Career and wage ladder—Wage increases.
43.216.685 - Child care—Toll-free information number.
43.216.687 - Child care—Required postings—Disclosure of complaints.
43.216.689 - Child care—Public access to reports and enforcement action notices.
43.216.690 - Child day care centers and outdoor nature-based child care providers—Immunization.
43.216.692 - Family home providers—Capacity flexibility.
43.216.695 - County regulation of family day-care centers—Twelve-month pilot projects.
43.216.700 - Day care insurance.
43.216.705 - Child care providers—Tiered-reimbursement system—Pilot sites.
43.216.710 - Child care services.
43.216.715 - Child care partnership employer liaison.
43.216.720 - Child care expansion grant fund.
43.216.725 - Subsidized child care report and assessment.
43.216.730 - Child care subsidy fraud—Referral—Collection of overpayments.
43.216.735 - Placement of children ages sixty months through six years.
43.216.742 - Outdoor nature-based child care program.
43.216.745 - Child care consultation program—Creation, operation, and duties.
43.216.749 - Child care subsidy rates—Use of cost model.
43.216.755 - Child care providers—Community-based training pathway.
43.216.760 - Child care and early learning providers—Firearms, dangerous weapons.
43.216.762 - Child care and early learning providers—Firearms, dangerous weapons—Rules.
43.216.770 - Fair start for kids account.
43.216.772 - Fair start for kids account—Spending goals and strategies.
43.216.775 - Inflationary adjustments to rates.
43.216.900 - Early childhood education and assistance program—Short title—1985 c 418.
43.216.901 - Contingency—Effective date—1985 c 418.
43.216.902 - Effective date—2006 c 265.
43.216.903 - Construction—Chapter applicable to state registered domestic partnerships—2009 c 521.
43.216.904 - Short title—2015 3rd sp.s. c 7.
43.216.905 - Transfer of powers, duties, and functions of the department of early learning.
43.216.906 - Transfer of child welfare provisions from the department of social and health services.
43.216.908 - Conflict with federal requirements—2017 3rd sp.s. c 6.