FINAL BILL REPORT

SHB 2367

C 91 L 18

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Establishing a child care collaborative task force.

Sponsors: House Committee on Early Learning & Human Services (originally sponsored by Representatives Reeves, Slatter, Tharinger, Robinson, Kagi, Dolan, Kilduff, Chapman, Doglio, Riccelli and Stonier).

House Committee on Early Learning & Human Services

House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education

Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Background:

The Department of Commerce (COM) administers a variety of programs designed to enhance community and economic development. For example, the COM administers the Early Learning Facilities Revolving Account and is authorized to make grants and loans to school districts and other eligible organizations for early learning facilities. In addition, the COM provides staff support to a number of boards and councils including the Affordable Housing Advisory Board, the Public Works Board, and the Achieving a Better Life Experience Board.

Infant at Work Programs

Some workplaces have implemented programs that allow employees to bring infants to the workplace under certain conditions.  For example, the Department of Health (DOH) implemented an Infant at Work Program in 2015.  Upon approval by the DOH, an employee who is a new mother, father, or legal guardian may bring his or her infant between the ages of six weeks and six months to the work place.  The employee must take the infant home if the infant is sick, disruptive for a prolonged period of time, causes a distraction in the workplace, or prevents the parent from accomplishing work.

Summary:

The Department of Commerce (COM) must convene, facilitate, and staff a Child Care Collaborative Task Force (CCTF) to examine the effects of child care affordability and accessibility on the workforce and on businesses. The first meeting of the CCTF must occur by September 1, 2018. The CCTF expires on December 30, 2019.

The CCTF must develop policies and recommendations to incentivize employer-supported child care and improve child care access and affordability for employees. Employer-supported child care is defined as a licensed child care center operated at or near the workplace by an employer for the benefit of employees or financial assistance provided by an employer for an employee's licensed child care expenses.

The CCTF must report recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature by November 1, 2019. The report must include findings related to:

• options for the state to incentivize the provision of employer-supported and back-up child care by public and private employers;

• opportunities for streamlining permitting and licensing requirements for the development and construction of child care facilities;

• potential tax incentives for private businesses providing employer-supported child care;

• a model policy for the establishment of a "Bring Your Infant to Work" program for public and private sector employees; and

• policy recommendations that address racial, ethnic, and geographic disparity and disproportionality in service delivery and accessibility for families.

Membership.

The CCTF consists of the following 12 voting members appointed by the Governor:

• five representatives of private business;

• one representative from a union representing child care providers;

• one representative from the statewide child care resource and referral network;

• one representative of an organization representing the interests of licensed day care centers;

• one representative of a statewide nonprofit organization comprised of senior executives of major private sector employers;

• one representative of a nongovernmental private-public partnership supporting home visiting service delivery;

• one representative of a federally recognized tribe; and

• one representative from an association representing business interests.

In addition, one representative of each of the following agencies must serve as a non-voting member of the CCTF and provide data and information upon request:

• COM;

• Department of Children, Youth, and Families;

• Employment Security Department;

• Department of Revenue;

• Department of Social and Health Services; and

• Office of the Governor.

Additional non-voting members of the CCTF include two members of the Senate, two members of the House of Representatives, and the following Governor-appointed members:

• three representatives from the child care industry. At least one of the child care industry representatives must be a provider from a rural community. The three representatives must include: One licensed child day care center provider; one licensed family day care provider; and one representative of family, friend, and neighbor child care providers;

• two representatives of economic development organizations; one located east of the crest of the Cascade mountains, and one located west of the crest of the Cascade mountains;

• four representatives of advocacy organizations representing parents, early learning, foster care youth, and expanded learning opportunity interests;

• one representative from an association representing statewide transit interests;

• one representative of an institution of higher education; and

• one representative of a nonprofit organization providing training and professional development for family day care providers and family, friend, and neighbor child care providers.

Members of the CCTF must be reimbursed for travel expenses.

Votes on Final Passage: