6002-S AMS BILL BOGG 009

SSB 6002 - S AMD 541

By Senators Billig, Cleveland, McAuliffe, Frockt, Mullet, Rolfes

NOT ADOPTED 02/27/2014

    On page 86, line 7, increase the General Fund-State appropriation in FY 2015 by $10,000,000

    Adjust the total appropriations accordingly

On page 87, line 24, strike "352,085,000" and insert "362,085,000"

On page 88, line 6, after "audit." Insert the following:

"Authorizations for the working connections child care subsidy are effective for twelve months.  A child is eligible for working connections child care for a twelve-month enrollment period and may not be deemed ineligible due to any change in circumstance including, but not limited to, the following:
    (i) A change in family composition or household;
    (ii) A change in a parent's or a caregiver's employment status;
    (iii) A change in a parent's or a caregiver's employment status due to health, maternity or paternity leave, or other family leave condition as provided for in chapter 49.78 RCW; or
    (iv) A change in a parent's or a caregiver's income.
When an applicant or recipient applies for or receives working connections child care benefits, the applicant or recipient is required to notify the department of social and health services, within five days, of any change in providers."

    On page, 263, after line 15, insert the following:

"Sec. 910.  RCW 43.215.135 and 2013 c 323 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) The department shall establish and implement policies in the working connections child care program to promote stability and quality of care for children from low-income households.  Policies for the expenditure of funds constituting the working connections child care program must be consistent with the outcome measures defined in RCW 74.08A.410 and the standards established in this section intended to promote continuity of care for children.

    (2) Beginning in fiscal year 2013, authorizations for the working connections child care subsidy shall be effective for twelve months unless a change in circumstances necessitates reauthorization sooner than twelve months.  The twelve-month certification applies only if the enrollments in the child care subsidy or working connections child care program are capped.  However, during the 2013-15 fiscal biennium, a child shall not be deemed ineligible due to a change in circumstance during the twelve month period, as provided in the omnibus appropriations act.

    (3) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, beginning September 1, 2013, working connections child care providers shall receive a five percent increase in the subsidy rate for enrolling in level 2 in the early achievers programs.  Providers must complete level 2 and advance to level 3 within thirty months in order to maintain this increase."

EFFECT:  Requires the department of social and health services to establish 12 month authorizations for the Working Connections Child Care program during the 2013-15 fiscal biennium.

FISCAL IMPACT:  $10,000,000 general fund state in fiscal year 2015

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