HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 2450
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
As Reported by House Committee On:
Early Learning & Human Services
Title: An act relating to supporting the business of child care.
Brief Description: Supporting the business of child care.
Sponsors: Representatives Senn, Hargrove, Chapman, Kilduff, Muri, Kagi, Appleton, Tharinger and Doglio.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Early Learning & Human Services: 1/17/18, 1/24/18 [DPS].
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & HUMAN SERVICES |
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 13 members: Representatives Kagi, Chair; Senn, Vice Chair; Dent, Ranking Minority Member; McCaslin, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Eslick, Frame, Goodman, Griffey, Kilduff, Klippert, Lovick, Muri and Ortiz-Self.
Staff: Dawn Eychaner (786-7135).
Background:
The Department of Early Learning (DEL) is responsible for creating a set of core competencies for early care and education professionals and must review and update these competencies every five years. The DEL operates the Managed Education and Registry Information Tool (MERIT), an online portal for early care and education professionals to track training and education experience. State-approved training costs for professionals employed in facilities licensed or certified by the DEL may be reimbursed on a first-come, first-served basis.
On July 1, 2018, all powers, duties, and functions of the DEL will be transferred to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF).
The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) coordinates and directs the state system of public community and technical colleges. Students can earn "stackable" certificates in Early Childhood Education (ECE) at 29 community colleges in the state. Stackable certificates build off of one another in a sequential order.
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Summary of Substitute Bill:
The DCYF must develop a community-based training module to train child care providers and entrepreneurs in managing and sustaining a child care business. The DCYF must consult with the statewide child care resource and referral network, the community and technical college system, and one or more community-based organizations with experience in preparing child care providers for entry into the workforce, in the development of the training.
The training must be piloted in at least four communities selected by the DCYF. The training must be provided by state-approved trainers listed in the MERIT portal who are associated with one or more of the organizations that developed the training or with any other organization with experience in child care. Within available funds, the DCYF must offer child care providers with confirmed employment in department-licensed or certified facilities reimbursement for training.
Upon completion of the first cohort of trainees in the pilot and no later than July 1, 2021, the DCYF must offer the training module statewide. The training module must be translated into languages other than English, particularly Spanish and Somali.
The DCYF must work with the SBCTC to review ECE certificates and ensure the delivery of the training and implementation of federal Child Care and Development Fund requirements do not create a duplication of services.
The DCYF must collaborate with the SBCTC to align and integrate all or parts of the training module with course outcomes in one or more ECE classes and stackable certificates in ECE offered by community and technical colleges. The SBCTC must work with community and technical college ECE programs to incorporate outcomes related to managing and sustaining a child care business by the fall quarter of 2021. The training module must be an elective and not a required course and does not create any new requirements for receiving an ECE certificate.
Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:
The organizations consulting with the DCYF for the training development are expanded to include one or more community-based organizations with experience in preparing child care providers for entry into the workforce.
The training must be delivered in association with one or more of the organizations that consulted in the development of the training or with any other organization with experience in child care.
The substitute bill includes entrepreneurs interested in developing a child care business as eligible recipients of the training.
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Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 9, 2018.
Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect on July 1, 2018.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) There are child care deserts in some areas of the state and understanding the true costs and components of child care might be hindering people from opening a child care business. Child care providers need to have a business that is sustainable and helps move them out of poverty. This bill will ensure those services are available statewide and is a workforce development initiative. By providing business training to child care providers, providers will be in the position to grow their businesses that currently operate on a very thin margin.
(Opposed) None.
(Other) This is similar to a training program that the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is currently bargained to provide through the Imagine Institute. The SEIU would like to see a way to increase the capacity of the Imagine Institute to be able to serve child care center employees with additional funding.
Persons Testifying: (In support) Representative Senn, prime sponsor; and Kathy Goebel, State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.
(Other) Alex Hur, Service Employees International Union 925.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.