SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6687

BYSenators Rinehart, Bailey and Bauer

Requiring enhancement of early childhood education and assistance programs.

Senate Committee on Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 2, 1990

Senate Staff:Susan Mosborg (786-7439)

AS OF FEBRUARY 2, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Some longitudinal studies have shown that comprehensive early childhood education and assistance programs reduce the long-term costs to society of special education, unemployment, welfare, corrections, and teen pregnancy.  Washington's Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) was established in 1986.  ECEAP and Head Start currently serve 32 percent of all eligible children, three and four-year olds whose families live below the poverty line.

SUMMARY:

An early childhood education account is created in the state treasury.  The Legislature is directed to appropriate to the account, for each biennium, not less than 1 percent of the amount appropriated to:  (1) substance abuse prevention and intervention programs;  (2) adult corrections and juvenile rehabilitation programs;  (3) education remediation including special education, learning assistance programs, educational clinics, and dropout prevention programs;  (4) training and retraining programs for chronically unemployed and underemployed persons;  and (5) welfare and job training programs for families with dependent children, including AFDC and the Family Independence Program.

Funds in the account are to be spent only on the ECEAP program, and only after appropriation.

Funds shall not be used to replace current funding for ECEAP or other children's programs.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:   none

Fiscal Note:    requested