HOUSE BILL REPORT

                      HB 1166

                     As Reported By House Committee on:

                               Human Services

Title:  An act relating to community-based child care resource and referral agencies.

Brief Description:  Establishing a process for funding community‑based child care services referral and resource programs.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Wineberry, Miller, Leonard, Bowman, Brough, Locke, Ebersole, Hine, Brekke, Sprenkle, Anderson, Wilson, Wang, Winsley, R. King, Wood, Rasmussen, Dellwo, R. Johnson, Cole, Spanel, Scott, Kremen, Jones, Holland, Mitchell, G. Fisher and Orr.

Brief History:

   Reported by House Committee on:

Human Services, February 6, 1991, DP.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

HUMAN SERVICES

Majority Report: Do pass.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives Leonard, Chair; Riley, Vice Chair; Winsley, Ranking Minority Member; Tate, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Anderson; Beck; Hargrove; R. King; and H. Myers.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 1 member:  Representative Hochstatter. 

Staff:  David Knutson (786-7146).

Background:  In recent years, the Legislature established the Office of Child Care Resources Coordinator in the Department of Social and Health Services, the Child Care Coordinating Committee, and the Child Care Partnership which facilitates partnerships between the public and private sector regarding child care. The child care coordinator is required to seek money to operate a child care information and referral system, maintain a state-wide child care referral system, coordinate training and technical assistance to child care providers and gather information on the availability of insurance and funding to provide child care. 

Grants provided to local child care resource and referral organizations cannot exceed $25,000.00. 

Summary of Bill:  One million six hundred thousand dollars from the general fund-state is appropriated to increase the support of existing child care resource and referral programs and develop new programs.  The limitation of $25,000.00 per grant is lifted.  Community organizations must provide a local match equal to twenty-five percent of the funding for child care resource and referral agencies receiving state funds.

Fiscal Note:  Requested January 24, 1991.

Appropriation:  Yes.

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

Testimony For:  Finding child care is a difficult and time consuming process for working parents.  Single working parents and two income families rely on child care to allow parents to continue working.  The employer and employee    both benefit if parents are able to find affordable, accessible child care through an efficient child care resource and referral service.  The existing child care resource and referral network is unable to assist all the employers and parents requesting assistance.

Testimony Against:  Department of Social and Health Services cannot support this because of the appropriation.

Witnesses:  Ruth Kagi, Child Care Coordinating Committee; Margie Reeves and Lonnie Johns-Brown, Child Care Works for Washington; Ann Simons, Washington Women United; and Karen Tvedt, Department of Social and Health Services (against).