Bill > HB1843

This bill amends existing laws to set new licensing requirements for child care centers and indoor early learning programs in Washington state. It establishes maximum group sizes and staff-to-child ratios for different age groups of children, requires a minimum of 34 square feet of indoor program space per child, and exempts before- and after-school programs operating in public or private school facilities from certain physical facility requirements. The bill also directs the Department of Children, Youth, and Families to implement a single set of licensing standards for child care and early childhood education programs, while allowing private schools operating early learning programs to be subject to certain health and safety requirements rather than the full set of licensing standards.