Working Connections Child Care.
Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) is a federally and state-funded program that provides subsidies for child care to families with incomes at or below 60 percent of the state median income (SMI), adjusted for family size, and when the household meets other eligibility requirements. Beginning July 1, 2025, a family is eligible for WCCC program benefits when the household's annual income is above 60 percent and at or below 75 percent of the SMI, adjusted for family size, and beginning July 1, 2027, if funds are appropriated, when the household's annual income is up to 85 percent of the SMI, adjusted for family size.
Through the WCCC program, the state pays part of the cost of child care when a parent is working or participating in approved work-related activities. Depending on income, families may be required to pay a monthly copayment to their provider. Copayments are currently calculated as follows:
| Household income: | Maximum copayment: |
| At or below 20 percent of the SMI | Waived to the extent allowable under federal law; otherwise, a maximum of $15 |
| Above 20 percent and at or below 36 percent of the SMI | $65 |
| Above 36 percent and at or below 50 percent of SMI | $90 |
| Above 50 percent and at or below 60 percent of SMI | $115 ($165 beginning July 1, 2023) |
Beginning July 1, 2025, the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) must calculate a maximum monthly copayment of $215 for households with incomes above 60 percent and at or below 75 percent of the SMI. Subject to appropriations, the DCYF must adopt a copayment model for households with annual incomes above 75 percent of the SMI and at or below 85 percent of the SMI. The model must calculate a copayment for each household that is no greater than 7 percent of the household's countable income within this income range.
The DCYF may not require an applicant or consumer to meet work requirements as a condition of receiving the WCCC program benefits when the recipient is a full-time student of a community, technical, or tribal college; and enrolled in a vocational education program that leads to a degree or certificate in a specific occupation, an associate degree program, or a registered apprenticeship program. Subject to appropriations, the DCYF may waive work requirements for full-time students who are enrolled in a bachelor's degree or applied baccalaureate degree program.
Registered Apprenticeships.
Apprenticeship programs enable individuals to learn trades and occupations through on-the-job training and related supplemental instruction. Journey-level craft persons or trade professionals generally supervise on-the-job training. Employer- or union-sponsored schools or community or technical colleges offer the technical instruction.
Most registered apprenticeship programs take around two to five years to complete, and apprentices earn wages while learning their trade or occupation. Upon completing apprenticeship programs, apprentices receive completion certificates issued by the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council, which is the entity that establishes standards and registers apprenticeship programs.
Regardless of whether or not eligibility requirements are otherwise met, a person is eligible to receive WCCC program benefits for the first 12 months of the person's enrollment in a state registered apprenticeship when the person has a household income that does not exceed 85 percent of the SMI at the time of application.
The DCYF must adopt a copayment model for benefits granted to households with incomes above 60 percent and at or below 85 percent of the SMI.
The substitute bill removes the requirement that, in order to access the special eligibility rules for the WCCC program outlined in the underlying bill, a person in a state-registered apprenticeship must have been eligible for or receiving WCCC benefits for the 12 months immediately preceding enrollment in the apprenticeship.
(In support) The lack of affordable child care affects many families, especially those trying to build their lives through apprenticeships. Child care is a barrier to recruiting and retaining apprentices. Pay is inconsistent throughout apprenticeship programs and can jeopardize assistance eligibility and lead to economic insecurity. The unaffordability of daycare hinders many from completing apprenticeships, as they include mandatory unpaid trainings. This bill would make it possible for a trained family member to care for an apprentice's child and gain an income, or for children to be in safe and licensed care. Having children in safe and stable care will allow their parents to focus on their own safety when bridges and high rises are being built. It will also aid the effort to diversify those participating in the construction trades. More women are now participating in the trades. The state supports other people in postsecondary education on their way to a career, but apprentices are not supported the same way. Apprenticeship is a faster path to economic stability, so it makes sense to support this policy.
(Opposed) None.