S-4239               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 6531

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1988 Regular Session

By Senators Niemi, Kiskaddon, Stratton, Garrett, Bauer, Fleming, McMullen and Talmadge

Read first time 1/25/88 and referred to Committee on Children & Family Services.

AN ACT Relating to child care; creating a new section; and making appropriations.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature recognizes that the state employment sector needs an adequate child care system.  An adequate child care system will enable recipients of aid to families with dependent children to gain economic independence.

          The legislature is aware that the low subsidy rate for day care providers hampers the availability and quality of child care.  The legislature intends to consider varied rates for child care depending on the child's age and the area of the state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     (1) There is appropriated from the general fund‑-state appropriation to the department of social and health services for the biennium ending June 30, 1989, the sum of two million seven hundred eighty thousand dollars effective July 1, 1988, or so much thereof as may be necessary, solely for payment rate increases for the regular day care and reservation day care programs.  The department shall establish a new rate structure for these programs.  In developing the new rate structure, consideration shall be given to the following:

          (a) Reimbursing providers on a child-slot basis;

          (b) Providing child care for high school completion without regard to income;

          (c) Establishing maximum income eligibility for employment day care at seventy percent of the state median income adjusted for family size; and

          (d) Establishing rates which vary by child age and area of the state.

          (2) There is appropriated from the general fund‑-state appropriation to the department of social and health services for the biennium ending June 30, 1989, the sum of six hundred sixty thousand dollars effective July 1, 1988, or so much thereof as may be necessary, solely for a day care subsidy program.  The department may provide a monthly subsidy no greater than fifty dollars per child to licensed day care providers caring for children of recipients of aid to families with dependent children‑-regular.  Subsidies shall not be provided for children whose parents are employed less than full time.