HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 ESHB 2528

                       As Passed House

                      February 14, 1992

Title:  An act relating to before-and-after-school child care.

Brief Description:  Supporting the establishment of before‑and‑after‑school child care programs.

Sponsor(s):  By House Committee on Human Services (originally sponsored by Representatives H. Myers, Winsley, Riley, Leonard, R. King, Hargrove, Beck, Anderson, H. Sommers, Heavey, Miller, Wineberry, Jones, Paris, Franklin, Orr, Wang, Scott, J. Kohl, Roland, Bray, Ogden, Cooper, Pruitt, O'Brien, Hine, Rasmussen and Brekke).

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Human Services, February 3, 1992, DPS;

Appropriations, February 10, 1992, DPS(HS-A APP);

Passed House, February 14, 1992, 92-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

HUMAN SERVICES

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 10 members:  Representatives Leonard, Chair; Riley, Vice Chair; Winsley, Ranking Minority Member; Tate, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Anderson; Beck; Hargrove; Hochstatter; R. King; and H. Myers.

Staff:  Bonnie Austin (786-7107).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report: The substitute bill by Committee on Human Services be substituted therefor and the substitute bill as amended by Committee on Appropriations do pass.  Signed by 26 members:  Representatives Locke, Chair; Inslee, Vice Chair; Spanel, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Minority Member; Morton, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appelwick; Belcher; Bowman; Braddock; Brekke; Carlson; Dorn; Ebersole; Hine; Lisk; May; Mielke; Nealey; Peery; Pruitt; Rust; D. Sommers; H. Sommers; Valle; Vance; and Wang.

Staff:  Wayne Kawakami (786-7384).

Background:  Many school age children are left unsupervised before-and-after-school while their parents are working or involved in employment-related activities.  These children are referred to as "latchkey" children.  One reason that these children are left alone is that there are not enough affordable, high quality child care centers for them.

Resources for these children are limited.  The Camp Fire Program in south King County operates "Phone Friend," a phone line available from 2:30 to 6:00 pm for latchkey children, and also offers training classes on staying at home alone.  However, this is not enough for less mature children who may be at risk.  It is estimated that there are 56,000 latchkey children in King County alone, between the ages of eight and 13.

In response to this and other child care needs, Congress in 1991 enacted the Child Care and Development Block Grant Program which provided $750 million to the states.  New funds to Washington under the block grant and other federal child care programs total $31 million.  While most of the block grant money is targeted to child care for low income families, approximately 19 percent of the block grant must be used for before and after school or early childhood development programs.

Summary of Bill:  The promotion of before-and-after-school child care programs located in or near public school buildings is established as state policy.  Mini-centers are deleted from current policy.

A before-and-after-school child care facility grant program is established. Grants may be used to expand existing programs or to establish new programs in or near public elementary schools.  Public school districts, educational service districts, governmental, and nonprofit organizations may apply for these grants.  A local match of 25 percent is required when establishing a new program.

Grants may be used for planning and design of facilities and programs, equipment, supplies, materials, and operating expenses for the first six months of a new program.  The Child Care Coordinating Committee will establish grant standards and report to the Legislature on grants awarded.

The Department of Social and Health Services is authorized to fund before-and-after-school child care programs within available federal funds.

Fiscal Note:  Requested January 24, 1992.

Appropriation:  Removed.

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

Testimony For:  (Human Services):  This is the top priority of Child Care Works for Washington.  These federal dollars are needed for before-and-after-school programs to serve the urgent needs of latchkey children.  Children as young as first grade are on their own after school and need programs to ensure their safety as well as their development.

(Appropriations):  Federal dollars are needed for before-and-after-school child care to serve the needs of latchkey children.  There is a shortage of capacity for these services.  This bill is a top priority of the Child Care Works of Washington.

Testimony Against:  (Human Services):  None.

(Appropriations):  None.

Witnesses:  (Human Services):  Lonnie Johns-Brown, Child Care Works for Washington; Sharon Foster, citizen; and Margaret Casey, The Children's Alliance.

(Appropriations): Representative Holly Myers, Prime Sponsor; and Lonnie Johns-Brown, Child Care Works of Washington.