1491-S2 AMH KAGI PAIA 041

2SHB 1491 - H AMD TO  H AMD (H-2266.1/15) 232

By Representative Kagi

ADOPTED 03/09/2015

    On page 26, after line 30, insert the following:

    "NEW SECTION. Sec. 16. A new section is added to chapter 43.215 RCW to read as follows:

    (1)(a) A joint select committee on the early achievers program is established with members as provided in this subsection.

    (i) Chair and ranking minority member of the house of representatives appropriations committee;

    (ii) Chair and ranking minority member of the senate ways and means committee;

    (iii) Chair and ranking minority member of the house of representatives early learning and human services committee; and

    (iv) Chair and ranking minority member of the senate early learning and K-12 education committee.

    (b) The committee shall choose its chair or cochairs from among its legislative membership. The chairs of the house of representatives appropriations committee and the senate ways and means committee shall convene the initial meeting of the committee. 

    (2) Between July 1, 2017 and December 1, 2017 the early achievers joint select committee shall review the demand and availability of licensed or certified child care family homes and centers, approved early childhood education and assistance programs, head start programs, and family, friend, and neighbor caregivers by geographic region, including rural and low-income areas. This review shall specifically look at the following:

    (a) The geographic distribution of these child care programs by type of program, programs that accept state subsidy, enrollment in the early achievers program, and early achievers rating levels; and  

    (b) The demand and availability of these child care programs for major ethnic populations.  

    (3) By December 1, 2017 the early achievers joint select committee shall make recommendations to the legislature on the following:

    (a) The sufficiency of funding provided for the early achievers program;

    (b) The need for targeted funding for specific geographic regions or major ethnic populations; and

    (c) Whether to modify the deadlines established in RCW 43.215.135 for purposes of the early achievers program mandate established in RCW 43.215.100.

    (4) Staff support for the committee must be provided by the senate committee services and the house of representatives office of program research.

    (5) Legislative members of the committee must be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 44.04.120.

    (6) The expenses of the committee must be paid jointly by the senate and the house of representatives. Committee expenditures are subject to approval by the senate facilities and operations committee and the house of representatives executive rules committee, or their successor committees.

    (7) The committee shall report its findings and recommendations to the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 2017.

    (8) This section expires December 1, 2018."

    Renumber the remaining sections consecutively and correct any internal references accordingly. Correct the title.

EFFECT: Creates a Joint Select Committee on the Early Achievers program to review the following:

· The demand and availability of licensed or certified child care family homes and centers, approved Early Childhood Education and Assistance programs, Head Start programs, and family, friend, and neighbor caregivers by geographic region, including rural and low-income areas;

· The geographic distribution of these child care programs by type of program, enrollment in the Early Achievers program, and Early Achievers rating levels; and 

· The demand and availability of these child care programs for major ethnic populations.

By December 1, 2017 the Early Achievers Joint Select Committee shall make recommendations to the legislature on the following:

· The sufficiency of funding provided for the early achievers program;

· The need for targeted funding for specific geographic regions; and

· Whether to modify the deadlines established in RCW 43.215.135 for purposes of the early achievers program mandate established in RCW 43.215.100.

Membership of the Joint Select Committee on the Early Achievers program includes the following:

· Chair and ranking minority member of the House of Representatives Appropriations committee;

· Chair and ranking minority member of the Senate Ways and Means committee;

· Chair and ranking minority member of the House of Representatives Early Learning and Human Services committee; and

· Chair and ranking minority member of the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education committee.

--- END ---