Several early learning-related bills are still being considered, including bills relating to:
Child health
- House Bill 2643, sponsored by Rep. Jessyn Farrell, D-Seattle, and requested by Gov. Jay Inslee, focuses on childhood obesity prevention by promoting breastfeeding-friendly environments, healthy early learning environments, and healthy school environments.
- House Bill 2329, sponsored by Rep. Marcus Riccelli, D-Spokane, would establish the Breastfeeding Friendly Washington program as a voluntary program to recognize hospitals, health care providers, employers, and child care programs that meet identified criteria to support breastfeeding.
Child safety
- House Bill 2165, sponsored by Rep. Ruth Kagi, D-Lake Forest Park, would require the Department of Early Learning (DEL) to conduct child fatality reviews for fatalities that occur in licensed child care or state-funded preschool.
- House Bill 2919, sponsored by Rep. Elizabeth Scott, R-Monroe, and Senate Bill 6234, sponsored by Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, would require DEL to consult with county or city officials before requiring any alterations to a family home child care facility.
- House Bill 2695, sponsored by Rep. Kagi, would require DEL to:
- Provide information on safe sleep practices to applicants for a child care license.
- Assess for safe sleep practices during all licensing monitoring visits.
- Revoke a child care license the second time a provider is found in violation of safe sleep practices.
- Senate Bill 6093, sponsored by Sen. Christine Rolfes, D-Kitsap County, and House Bill 2350, sponsored by Rep. Tana Senn, D-Mercer Island, would reduce duplication in the background check system for child care employees who work in school district or educational school district settings. (Agency-request legislation)
Improving quality in early learning programs
- House Bill 2377, sponsored by Rep. Ross Hunter, D-Medina, and Senate Bill 6127, sponsored by Sen. Steve Litzow, R-Bellevue, would ramp up participation in Early Achievers, Washington's quality rating and improvement system, and would require child care programs serving state-subsidized children to join Early Achievers. The bills also instruct DEL to create a single set of regulations for early learning programs.
- House Bill 2519, sponsored by Rep. Senn, and Senate Bill 6538, sponsored by Sen. Ann Rivers, R-La Center, would direct family assessment response workers working with families involved in child welfare services to assess for child well-being and safety and refer families to high-quality early learning services.
Early learning system building efforts
- House Bill 2598, sponsored by Rep. Kagi, would clarify in statute that DEL is the lead state agency for the Early Support for Infants and Toddlers program.
- House Bill 2282, sponsored by Rep. Farrell, would add a representative from each of the 10 regional coalitions to the Early Learning Advisory Council as voting members, as well as a representative of school-age child care providers.
