AN ACT Relating to child care; amending RCW
74.13.0903; creating a new section; and declaring an emergency.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.
The legislature finds that building a system of quality, affordable child care
requires coordinated efforts toward constructing partnerships at state and
community levels. Through the office of child care policy, the department of
social and health services is responsible for facilitating the coordination of
child care efforts and establishing working partnerships among the affected
entities within the public and private sectors. Through these collaborative
efforts, the office of child care policy encouraged the coalition of locally
based child care resource and referral agencies into a state-wide network. The
state-wide network, in existence since 1989, supports the development and
operation of community-based resource and referral programs, improves the
quality and quantity of child care available in Washington by fostering
state-wide strategies, and generates then nurtures effective public-private
partnerships. The state-wide network provides important training, standards of
service, and general technical assistance to its locally based child care
resource and referral programs. The locally based programs enrich the
availability, affordability, and quality of child care in their communities.
Sec. 2.
RCW 74.13.0903 and 1991 sp.s. c 16 s 924 are each amended to read as follows:
The office of ((the)) child care ((resources
coordinator)) policy is established to operate under the authority
of the department of social and health services. The duties and
responsibilities of the office ((shall)) include, but are not
limited to, the following, within appropriated funds:
(1) Staff and assist the child care
coordinating committee in the implementation of its duties under RCW 74.13.090;
(2) Work ((with)) in conjunction with
the state-wide child care resource and referral network as well as local
governments, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and community child care
advocates to create local child care resource and referral organizations.
These organizations may carry out needs assessments, resource development,
provider training, technical assistance, and parent information and training;
(3) Actively seek public and private money for
distribution as grants to ((potential or existing)) the state-wide
child care resource and referral network and to existing or potential local
child care resource and referral organizations((. After the 1991‑93
fiscal biennium, no grant shall be distributed that is greater than twenty-five
thousand dollars));
(4) Adopt rules regarding the application for
and distribution of grants to local child care resource and referral
organizations. The rules shall, at a minimum, require an applicant to submit a
plan for achieving the following objectives:
(a) Provide parents with information about
child care resources, including location of services and subsidies;
(b) Carry out child care provider recruitment
and training programs;
(c) Offer support services, such as parent and
provider seminars, toy-lending libraries, and substitute banks;
(d) Provide information for businesses
regarding child care supply and demand;
(e) Advocate for increased public and private
sector resources devoted to child care; and
(f) Provide technical assistance to employers
regarding employee child care services;
(5) Provide staff support and technical
assistance to the state-wide child care resource and referral network and
local child care resource and referral organizations;
(6) ((Organize the local child care resource
and referral organizations into a state-wide system;
(7)))
Maintain a state-wide child care ((referral)) licensing data bank
and work with department of social and health services licensors to provide
information to local child care resource and referral organizations about
licensed child care providers in the state;
(((8))) (7) Through the
state-wide child care resource and referral network and local resource and
referral organizations, compile data about local child care needs and
availability for future planning and development;
(((9))) (8) Coordinate with
the state-wide child care resource and referral network and local child care
resource and referral organizations for the provision of training and
technical assistance to child care providers; and
(((10))) (9) Collect and assemble
information regarding the availability of insurance and of federal and other
child care funding to assist state and local agencies, businesses, and other
child care providers in offering child care services.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.
This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace,
health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public
institutions, and shall take effect immediately.
