HOUSE BILL REPORT

                     SSB 5580

                     As Reported By House Committee on:

                               Human Services

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

Brief Description:  Establishing community‑based child care resource and referral agencies.

Sponsor(s):  Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Anderson, Bailey, L. Smith, McCaslin, Wojahn and A. Smith).

Brief History:

   Reported by House Committee on:

Human Services, April 3, 1991, DPA.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

HUMAN SERVICES

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.  Signed by 10 members:  Representatives Leonard, Chair; Riley, Vice Chair; Winsley, Ranking Minority Member; Tate, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Anderson; Beck; Brekke; Hargrove; Hochstatter; and H. Myers.

Staff:  David Knutson (786-7146).

Background:  To facilitate an integrated child care services system in local communities, linkages between consumers and child care providers need to be established or strengthened.  Growing work force participation of both parents, as well as other stresses on the family unit, create the need for quality child care.  Concerns include helping parents obtain the appropriate level of child care, increasing the supply of child care services available, and enhancing the training and support of providers to improve total quality of care.

Summary of Amended Bill:  Community-based child care resource and referral programs can seek funding through the office of the Child Care Resources Coordinator.  These programs will:  develop service plans that include such components as provision of child care services information to parents; participate with other community organizations and individuals in parent support and education efforts; support services and training for child care providers; enhance recruitment of licensed child care providers, especially in undeserved areas; offer technical assistance for employers offering child care benefits; serve as an information resource for employers and policy makers regarding child care supply and demand; and generate a collaborative description of community and regional demand for services.

Funding is collaborative among local community associations,  local government, employers, nonprofit organizations, consumers, and state and federal agencies.  The programs will request funding by grant, gift or appropriation from private and government sources.  A minimum of 25 percent local, public and private sector matching funds, which may be in-kind contributions of facilities and supplies, is required.  The act is made contingent upon funding in the budget.

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:  The 50 percent local match is reduced to a 25 percent local match.

Fiscal Note:  Not available.

Effective Date of Amended Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.  However, the bill is null and void unless funded in the budget.

Testimony For:  Increased funding for child care resource and referral programs is important to both working parents and employers.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Angela Rinaldo, child Care Action Council (pro); and Pat Dickason, Department of Social and Health Services (neutral).