HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 6118

As Amended by the House

BYSenate Committee on Children & Family Services (originally sponsored by Senators Wojahn, Anderson, Fleming, Rinehart, Garrett, Talmadge, Stratton, Deccio and Bauer)

Providing for the establishment of state child care policy.

House Committe on Human Services

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendment.  (8)

      Signed by Representatives Brekke, Chair; Scott, Vice Chair; Anderson, Leonard, Moyer, H. Sommers, Sutherland and Winsley.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (1)

      Signed by Representative Padden.

House Staff:John B. Welsh, Jr.  (786-7133)

Rereferred House Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendments by Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations without amendment by Committee on Human Services.  (15)

      Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Belcher, Braddock, Brekke, Bristow, Ebersole, Grant, Hine, McLean, Peery, Sayan, H. Sommers, Spanel, Sprenkle and Wang.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (1)

      Signed by Representative Fuhrman.

House Staff:      Sandi Gray (786-7136)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 3, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Washington provides child care assistance through several agencies, but has no coordinating entity to monitor for efficient use of state resources.  No statutory child care policy has been set by the Legislature to guide the agencies, employers and consumers.

The need to expand and coordinate care systems for the children of workers is a phenomenon of modern labor force demographics similar to the shift in responsibility for care of the elderly.  A majority of mothers now are required to work in the paid labor force instead of in the home.

The labor market is experiencing a severe shortage of child care, both in terms of availability and affordability.  The shortage affects all working people with children, at all economic levels.  Experts are expressing serious concern about quality of care issues as well.

Child care programs are overburdened.  The subsidy program is inadequate and needs substantial change, according to all child care experts.  Pending federal legislation will assist states which have adequate safety standards and coordinating committees in place.

SUMMARY:

A child care policy is created which encourages the participation of families and business in operating and expanding the child care system to meet the needs of the labor market and assist families to gain economic independence.

The policy promotes the availability and affordability of culturally and developmentally appropriate child care in a variety of settings.

A child care coordinating committee is established to provide advisory coordination and communication between state agencies and to qualify for potential federal child care assistance funding.  The committee shall propose changes to the child care subsidy structure to the Department of Social and Health Services and the Legislature by January 1, 1989, and review alternative models for child care services and options relating to day care facilities when constructing state buildings.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Human Services)  Senator Lorraine Wojahn; Lonnie Johns-Brown, Washington State National Organization for Women; and Pat Thibaudeau, Washington Women United.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  Senator Lorraine Wojahn; Pat Thibaudeau, Washington Women United; Karen Tvedt, Department of Social and Health Services; Margie Reeves, Washington Association for Young Children.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Human Services)  Sonnia Bean, Citizen.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  Sonnia Bean, Citizen.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Human Services)  The severe shortage of child care services may be alleviated to a degree by providing funds for increasing the number of child care services, and for increasing the subsidy rates for regular, seasonal and reservation day care programs.  There is a need to coordinate child care programs in state government with a child care coordinating committee.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  Same as in Committee on Human Services.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Human Services)  None Presented.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  The State should not encourage or facilitate employment of mothers outside the home.  Families and children are better served if children are not placed in child care.