Permanent Background Check Rules Adopted

The Department of Early Learning (DEL) adopted new WAC Chapter 170-06, DEL Background Check Rules, on April 30, 2008. The rules will take effect May 31, 2008. The department does a background check on anyone who is authorized to care for or have unsupervised access to children in child care that is licensed or certified by DEL.

The final rules include related changes to the DEL child care licensing WAC chapters 170-151 School-age child care, 170-295 Child care centers, and 170-296 Family home child care. The new background check WAC chapter will replace emergency background check rules that have been in place since July 2006 while DEL completed the permanent rule adoption process.

Click on the following links to find the:

Final rule text

Final rule-making notice

Summary of public comments, DEL responses, and Changes to the final rules (Concise Explanatory Statement)

Public comments received on the proposed background check rules:

Comments received by e-mail

Public hearing testimony

Written comments received at hearings

Proposed rules filed March 5, 2008

Interested in learning more about DEL rules? You can join an e-mail list or postal mail list to get current information. Just e-mail the DEL Rules Coordinator or write to:

DEL Rules Coordinator
Washington State Department of Early Learning
PO Box 40970
Olympia, WA 98504-0970