This bill aims to enhance the privacy protections for child care providers in Washington State by expanding the public records exemption for personal information. Currently, only licensed family home child care providers benefit from these protections due to the nature of their business operating within their private residences. The bill recognizes that child care providers in licensed centers and other nonresidential settings also face significant safety risks, including harassment and doxxing, when their personal information is publicly disclosed. To address this, the bill proposes to extend the existing privacy protections to all licensed child care providers, ensuring their personal safety and security.

The bill introduces a new section to the public records act, exempting various personal information of licensed or certified child care providers from public disclosure. This includes names, home addresses, personal phone numbers, and other identifying details. Additionally, it mandates the Department of Children, Youth, and Families to update privacy guidance and training materials to reflect these new protections. The bill also amends existing law to clarify definitions related to sensitive personal information and vulnerable individuals, ensuring comprehensive coverage for all child care providers in the state.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 42.56.640