https://seattlered.com/legislature/wash ... ub9nF1OJqQ
Washington Democrats move to shield daycare operators as fraud probes explode
BY
SEATTLE RED STAFF
Washington Democrats are advancing a bill critics note would make it harder for the public to scrutinize daycare providers at the exact moment serious fraud concerns are coming into focus nationwide.
Senate Bill 5926, sponsored by State Sen. Lisa Wellman (D-Mercer Island), expands public records exemptions for child care providers, shielding a wide range of personal information from disclosure. The bill extends privacy protections beyond in-home daycare operators to all licensed or certified child care providers in Washington, including large centers that receive substantial taxpayer funding.
Opponents say the timing is suspect, particularly as investigators and independent journalists uncover alleged large-scale fraud in the daycare sector elsewhere.