SENATE BILL REPORT

ESHB 1719

As Passed Senate - Amended, April 11, 2017

Title: An act relating to updating certain department of early learning advising and contracting mechanisms to reflect federal requirements, legislative mandates, and planned system improvements.

Brief Description: Updating certain department of early learning advising and contracting mechanisms to reflect federal requirements, legislative mandates, and planned system improvements.

Sponsors: House Committee on Early Learning & Human Services (originally sponsored by Representatives Lovick, Dent, Kagi, Senn and Frame; by request of Department of Early Learning).

Brief History: Passed House: 3/01/17, 98-0.

Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 3/21/17, 3/27/17 [DPA].

Floor Activity:

Passed Senate - Amended: 4/11/17, 45-4.

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.

Signed by Senators Zeiger, Chair; Fain, Vice Chair; Rolfes, Ranking Minority Member; Billig, Mullet, Rivers and Warnick.

Staff: Ailey Kato (786-7434)

Background: Early Learning Advisory Council (ELAC). ELAC advises the Department of Early Learning (DEL) on statewide early learning issues that would build a comprehensive system of quality early learning programs and services for Washington's children and families by assessing needs and the availability of services, aligning resources, developing plans for data collection and professional development of early childhood educators, and establishing key performance measures. ELAC must work in conjunction with DEL to develop a statewide early learning plan.

ELAC must consist of not more than 23 members, which are listed in current law. The federal Head Start Act requires states receiving a collaboration grant to establish a state advisory council with representatives from nine types of state or local entities.

Home Visiting. Home visiting programs are voluntary services offered to expectant parents and families with new babies and young children to support the physical, social, and emotional health of the child. DEL is the lead state agency for home visiting system development. DEL may not exceed an average of 4 percent in administrative costs in any two consecutive fiscal years.

Since 2013, a nongovernmental private-public partnership has administered home visiting programs funded by the Home Visiting Services Account (HVSA) and provided implementation support functions to funded programs. Nongovernmental private-public partnership means an entity registered as a nonprofit corporation in Washington state with a primary focus on early learning, school readiness, and parental support, and an ability to raise a minimum of $5 million in contributions. This partnership is known as Thrive Washington.

Summary of Amended Bill: Early Learning Advisory Council. Certain responsibilities of ELAC are removed and replaced with the responsibilities of contributing to the ongoing efforts of building a comprehensive system of quality early learning programs and services for young children and families and assisting in policy development and implementation.

ELAC members must include critical partners in service delivery and be essential to coordinating services statewide, prenatal through age five. ELAC must consist of 30 members and include representatives from the following:

• Early Childhood Education and Assistance program;

• licensed family day care providers;

• child day care centers;

• Home Visiting Advisory Committee;

• developmental disabilities community;

• early learning regional coalitions;

• Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs;

• Washington State Commission on African-American Affairs;

• Washington State Commission on Hispanic Affairs;

• tribal Early Childhood Education and Assistance program or Head Start program;

• Washington Library Association; and

• a statewide advocacy coalition of organizations that focuses on early learning.

Representatives from DEL, the Office of Financial Management, and the Department of Social and Health Services are removed. The two members of the Senate must be appointed by the majority leader in the Senate and the minority leader in the Senate, rather than the President of the Senate. Not more than one co-chair of ELAC may represent a state agency.

Home Visiting Private-Public Partnership. The nongovernmental private-public partnership must support, rather than administer, home visiting programs and provide support functions. DEL must administer home visiting programs, and administrative costs may not exceed an average of 10 percent, rather than 4 percent, in any two consecutive fiscal years.

The legislative intent that 50 percent of the HVSA be matched by the private-public partnership each fiscal year is eliminated, as are the reporting requirements related to achieving the targeted match.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Engrossed Substitute House Bill: The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard. PRO: This bill will help get the correct membership of ELAC, which provides critical advice and feedback to DEL. It is important that there is a representative from the developmental disabilities community.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative John Lovick, Prime Sponsor; Frank Ordway, Dept. of Early Learning.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.