FINAL BILL REPORT

2SHB 1344

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.

C 368 L 19

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Concerning child care access.

Sponsors: House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Reeves, Ryu, Sells, Valdez, Goodman, Robinson, Shewmake, Stonier, Macri, Kilduff, Leavitt and Pollet).

House Committee on Human Services & Early Learning

House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Background:

Department of Commerce.

The Department of Commerce (COM) administers the Child Care Collaborative Task Force (CCCTF). The CCCTF is tasked with examining the effects of child care affordability and accessibility on the workforce and on businesses and must report recommendations to the Governor and Legislature by November 1, 2019 regarding incentivizing employer-supported child care and improving child care access and affordability. The CCCTF expires on December 30, 2019.

Child Care Workforce Development Technical Work Group.

In 2018 the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) convened a Child Care Workforce Development Technical Work Group (Technical Work Group) to develop recommendations to support increased wages for child care providers, reduce turnover, enable child care providers to recruit more qualified educators, and maintain the diversity of the current workforce. The Technical Work Group's report with recommendations and an implementation plan was due to the Governor and the Legislature by December 1, 2018.

Working Connections Child Care.

To be eligible for subsidized child care through the Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) program, an applicant must have a household income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) and be engaged in approved work activities unless the family has received child welfare, child protective, or family assessment response services in the previous six months. Historically, the average monthly caseload of the WCCC program has been capped in the state operating budget at 33,000 households and certain populations have been identified for priority in the event of a waitlist.

Summary:

Child Care Data Collection and Reporting.

The COM must solicit one or more third parties to conduct a regional assessment of the child care industry in partnership with a statewide organization representing parents. The goal of the assessment is to better understand issues affecting child care access and affordability for families. The assessment must be submitted to the Governor, the Legislature, and the CCCTF by July 1, 2020, and must:

The COM may use a combination of private and public funds to conduct the assessment. The COM must collaborate with the DCYF's Office of Innovation, Alignment, and Accountability (OIAA) to use available data and rigorous research methods. The OIAA must assist with the preparation of the assessment.

The Office of Financial Management must partner with the COM, the OIAA, and the Health Care Authority to develop a survey of child care access and affordability issues for executive branch agency employees.  The survey must be made available to employees with children ages 12 and under by January 15, 2020.  An analysis of the survey data is to be included with the child care industry assessment report required of the COM by July 1, 2020.

Child Care Collaborative Task Force.

The CCCTF must be jointly convened by the COM and the DCYF.  The CCCTF membership is modified to:

The expiration date of the CCCTF is extended to July 1, 2021. Members serving on the CCCTF as of January 1, 2019, may continue to serve without reappointment.

Task Force Duties.

The CCCTF must:

The CCCTF must submit its findings and required implementation plan to the Governor and the Legislature by December 1, 2020.

By June 1, 2021, the CCCTF must deliver to the Governor and Legislature a strategy, timeline, and implementation plan to reach the goal of accessible and affordable child care for all families by 2025.

Department of Children, Youth, and Families.

By January 1, 2025, the DCYF must use the child care cost estimate model developed by the CCCTF to determine child care subsidy rates.

Votes on Final Passage:

House

72

24

Senate

25

20

(Senate amended)

House

75

19

(House concurred)

Effective:

July 28, 2019