FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 452

                                  C 487 L 87

BYRepresentatives Locke, Cole, Wang, Belcher, O'Brien, Pruitt, Leonard, Unsoeld, McMullen and Miller; by request of Governor Gardner and Superintendent of Public Instruction

Changing provisions relating to school-based day-care.

House Committe on Education

Rereferred House Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations

Senate Committee on Education

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

The authority of school districts, under the Nursery School Act, to provide day-care services has been widely debated.  On January 6, 1987, the Attorney General issued an opinion stating that school districts have authority to provide programs that offer day-care for children, including children not enrolled as students of the school district.  However, school districts need legislative authority to contract for provision of day-care services with public or private entities; to establish sliding scale fee schedules, reduced fee schedules or fee waivers for the cost of such services to individuals; or to provide transportation for children to the program using school district transportation services.

SUMMARY:

School districts may contract for the provision of child care by public or private entities.  These contractors may provide all or part of the management and operation of the child care program at the school district site or elsewhere.

School districts may base charges on the cost of services.  They may provide for a reduction or waiver of charges in individual cases based on financial ability or parents' volunteer activities.  Basic education funds appropriated by the state may not be used to provide day- care.

School districts may provide transportation for children enrolled in the child care program using district-owned school buses and other motor vehicles, or by contracting for such transportation.  However, a school district may not use state school transportation funds for school-based day-care programs.  When transportation is provided for children in school-based day-care programs, no child three years of age or younger may be transported unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      House 61  36

      Senate    27    22(Senate amended)

      House 64  33(House concurred)

EFFECTIVE:July 26, 1987