HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1749

             As Reported By House Committee on:

                       Human Services

Title:  An act relating to parent education.

Brief Description:  Establishing the parent as first teacher program.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Spanel, Leonard, Pruitt, Winsley, Brekke, Anderson, Beck, R. King, Jacobsen, Wineberry and Rasmussen.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Human Services, March 4, 1991, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

HUMAN SERVICES

Majority Report: That Substitute House Bill No. 1749 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 10 members:  Representatives Leonard, Chair; Winsley, Ranking Minority Member; Tate, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Anderson; Beck; Brekke; Hargrove; Hochstatter; R. King; and H. Myers.

Staff:  David Knutson (786-7146).

Background:  First time parents often do not have the information about the normal growth and development of babies.  Some parent education programs exist through community colleges and other organizations at the local level.

Summary of Substitute Bill:   The Department of Community Development will award funds to agencies or organizations to provide parents with a first teacher pilot program.  The agencies or organizations providing this service will provide parent education and resource material for children, age birth to three.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The program is provided for first-time parents with children age birth to three, instead of children age birth through three.  The substitute bill drops the requirement that developmental screening be conducted on children participating in the program.  An internal reference is corrected in the title.

Fiscal Note:  Requested February 29, 1991.

Appropriation:  Yes.

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

Testimony For:  Parents of young children often receive limited or no education on caring for and raising their children.  Parents who receive this information will have a solid base to build a successful family.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Laurie Lippold, Children's Home Society; Margaret Casey, Children's Budget; and Mary Murphy, League of Women's Voters.