BP BHEAD INT S

AN ACT Relating to before-and-after-school child care; amending RCW 74.13.085 and 74.13.095; adding a new section to chapter 74.13 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that a significant number of school age children in the state of Washington are not under the care and supervision of an adult during the hours before and after school, on school holidays, during the summer when school is not in session, and while their parents work or are engaged in job training and professional preparation programs. The legislature finds that these children are at risk and that the provision of before-and-after-school child care will promote not only the safety and welfare of these children, but their ability to learn and develop into healthy and productive citizens.

(2) It is the intent of the legislature to promote the growth, development, and safety of school age children by supporting the establishment of high quality before-and-after-school child care programs, in partnership with local governments and the private sector.

Sec. 2. RCW 74.13.085 and 1989 c 381 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

It shall be the policy of the state of Washington to:

(1) Recognize the family as the most important social and economic unit of society and support the central role parents play in child rearing. All parents are encouraged to care for and nurture their children through the traditional methods of parental care at home. However, there has been a dramatic increase in participation of women in the workforce which has made the availability of quality, affordable child care a critical concern for the state and its citizens. There are not enough child care services and facilities to meet the needs of working parents, the costs of care are often beyond the resources of working parents, and child care facilities are not located conveniently to work places and neighborhoods. Parents are encouraged to participate fully in the effort to improve the quality of child care services.

(2) Promote a variety of culturally and developmentally appropriate child care settings and services of the highest possible quality in accordance with the basic principle of continuity of care. These settings and services shall include, but not be limited to, family day care homes, ((~~mini-centers,~~)) centers, and before-and-after-school child care programs located in or near school((s)) buildings. For the purposes of this chapter "near school buildings" means within one radius mile of the child's school, so long as no "hazardous walking condition" as defined in RCW 28A.160.160, exists between the child care facility and the school.

(3) Promote the growth, development and safety of children by working with community groups including providers and parents to establish standards for quality service, training of child care providers, fair and equitable monitoring, and salary levels commensurate with provider responsibilities and support services.

(4) Promote equal access to quality, affordable, socio-economically integrated child care for all children and families.

(5) Facilitate broad community and private sector involvement in the provision of quality child care services to foster economic development and assist industry.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 74.13 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The department, in consultation with the child care coordinating committee and the superintendent of public instruction, shall adopt rules under chapter 34.05 RCW, setting forth the minimum requirements for the operation of before-and-after-school child care programs. The rules shall include, but are not limited to the following:

(a) Availability of care to all children in grades kindergarten through six;

(b) Standards for care;

(d)(i) Provisions for sliding-fee scales including waivers or reductions in tuition or fees for low-income families;

(ii) At a minimum, all tuition or fees shall be waived for students whose family income is at or below one hundred eighty-five percent of the federal poverty line; and

(e) Address the transportation needs of the children.

(2) Each school district board of directors shall provide an area, within each elementary school, for before-and-after-school child care for children enrolled in grades kindergarten through six. The board may offer space jointly with more than one school if there is an insufficient need for the child care program within one school. The school shall offer the space, at a fee to cover the school's expenses, to child care providers to operate a before-and-after-school child care program.

Sec. 4. RCW 74.13.095 and 1988 c 213 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The legislature recognizes that a severe shortage of child care exists to the detriment of all families and employers throughout the state. Many workers are unable to enter or remain in the work force due to a shortage of child care resources. The high costs of starting a child care business create a barrier to the creation of new slots, especially for children with special needs.

(2) A child care expansion grant fund is created in the custody of the secretary of the department of social and health services. Grants shall be awarded on a one-time only basis to:

(a) Persons, organizations, or schools needing assistance to start a child care center ((~~or mini-center as defined by the department by rule,~~));

(b) Public school districts, educational service districts, or other governmental or nongovernmental organizations for expanding existing before-and-after-school child care programs or establishing new programs located in or near elementary schools; or ((to))

(c) Existing licensed child care providers, including family home providers, for the purpose of making capital improvements in order to accommodate handicapped children as defined under chapter 72.40 RCW, sick children, or infant care, or children needing night time care.

((No)) (3) A grant may not exceed ten thousand dollars and may not be used to support more than seventy-five percent of the costs of establishing the program. A grantee may meet the local matching requirement under this subsection through contributions by private or public entities of materials, supplies, in-kind services, or physical facilities. Start-up costs shall not include operational costs after the first ((~~three~~)) six months of business.

((~~(3)~~)) (4) Child care expansion grants shall be awarded on the basis of need for the proposed services in the community, within appropriated federal or state funds.

((~~(4)~~)) (5) The department shall adopt rules under chapter 34.05 RCW setting forth criteria, application procedures, and methods to assure compliance with the purposes described in this section.