Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Early Learning & Human Services Committee |
HB 1719
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Updating certain department of early learning advising and contracting mechanisms to reflect federal requirements, legislative mandates, and planned system improvements.
Sponsors: Representatives Lovick, Dent, Kagi, Senn and Frame; by request of Department of Early Learning.
Brief Summary of Bill |
|
Hearing Date: 2/7/17
Staff: Dawn Eychaner (786-7135).
Background:
In 2006 the Legislature created a nongovernmental private-public partnership to support investments in early learning and ensure that every child in the state is prepared to succeed in school and in life. This partnership is known as Thrive Washington (Thrive).
Home visiting programs deliver voluntary services to children and families in the home or community and are designed to alleviate the effects of poverty and other risk factors on child development. The Department of Early Learning (DEL) contracts with Thrive for the administration of home visiting programs funded by the Home Visiting Services Account (HVSA). Thrive convenes an advisory committee to give advice regarding the distribution of funds from the HVSA.
The HVSA receives state, federal, and private funding for the support of home visiting services. The DEL may use an average of 4 percent of HVSA expenditures for program administration.
The Early Learning Advisory Council (ELAC) advises the DEL on statewide early learning issues. The ELAC has 23 members representing state agencies, the legislature, leaders in early childhood education, and other stakeholders.
Summary of Bill:
Responsibility for administering home visiting programs is transferred from the private-public partnership to the DEL. The percentage of HVSA expenditures that the DEL may use for program administration is increased from 4 percent to 10 percent.
The ELAC's responsibilities associated with assessing needs and availability of services, developing plans, establishing performance measures, and creating a statewide early learning plan are removed. The ELAC must contribute to ongoing early learning efforts and the provision of programs and services for children and families prenatal through age five.
The ELAC's membership is changed to:
remove the representatives of the Office of Financial Management, the Department of Social and Health Services, and the representative of the public private partnership.
add representatives from the Early Childhood Education Assistance Program (ECEAP), a licensed family day care, a child day care center, the home visiting advisory committee, the Washington Library Association, and appointees from the state commissions on Asian Pacific American Affairs, African-American Affairs, and Hispanic Affairs.
increase representation from sovereign tribal governments, including a representative of a tribal ECEAP or tribal head start program.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.