Dent introduces childcare provider qualifications bill
State Rep. Tom Dent (R-Moses Lake), State Rep. Alex Ybarra (R-Quincy) and State Senator Judy Warnick (R-Moses Lake) pose for a photo opp. The three legislators represent Washington's 13th Legislative District and are participating in the 2023 legislative session in Olympia.
COURTESY PHOTO/OFFICE OF STATE REP. TOM DENT
OLYMPIA - A bill to make it easier for early learning providers to receive state certification was introduced to the House last week by Representative Tom Dent (R-Moses Lake).
Dent said there is a shortage of workers and that changing some regulations regarding some jobs would reduce the shortage.
“I think the reason that we get into these workforce shortages is because we regulate ourselves right out of the employees,” Dent said.
House Bill 1739, also sponsored by Representatives Carolyn Eslick (R-Sultan) and Suzanne Schmidt (R-Spokane Valley), concerns qualifications for childcare providers taking care of pre-kindergarten-age children. The bill would require the creation of an instructional handbook for all childcare providers that would provide educational material on the health, safety and nutritional needs of children, how to establish a nurturing relationship and the fundamentals of instruction.
The handbook would also be required to be made available free of charge in both physical and online formats
The bill was introduced on Feb. 2 and referred to the Human Services, Youth and Early Learning Committee, where Dent is a member.
Dent said that the bill would make the process to become certified for childcare providers easier and cheaper to access.
“I’m just changing how you become qualified to do that, I'm not totally taking away the qualifications,” he said.
Rebecca Pettingill may be reached at rpettingill@columbiabasinherald.com.