SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    SB 6259

            AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 6, 1992

Brief Description:  Requiring the superintendent of public instruction to establish a before‑and‑after‑school child care program.

SPONSORS: Senators Moore, Skratek and Pelz

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6259 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass. 

      Signed by Senators Bailey, Chairman; Erwin, Vice Chairman; Murray, Pelz, Rinehart, and Talmadge.

Staff:  Mich'l Prentice Needham (786‑7439)

Hearing Dates: February 6, 1992

BACKGROUND:

School boards have statutory authority to provide before- and after-school child care and vacation care for the children residing in their district.  Some districts currently contract for such services with agencies like the YMCA.

The State of Hawaii passed legislation in 1990 creating the After-School Plus (A+) Program, requiring all public schools with at least 20 eligible students to provide after-school care for children in grades kindergarten through six.  Children are eligible if their parents work, attend school, or participate in a job training program.  The monthly fee is $25.

SUMMARY:

The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) is required to create a before- and after-school child care program and each school district is required to provide the program for eligible children in grades kindergarten through six beginning in the 1992-93 school year.

The program shall be available to children in grades kindergarten through six whose parents are employed, or whose single parent is working, attending school, or participating in a job training program.  Fees will be no more than 10 percent of the program cost.  Waivers will be available for families at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty line.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

All sections after section 1 are deleted.  The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Department of Social Health Services, and the Child Care Coordinating Committee are required to develop a plan for implementation of a before-and-after-school child care program, and submit the plan to the Legislature by December 1, 1992.

Appropriation:  $235,500,000

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested January 31, 1992

TESTIMONY FOR:

It is high time we placed a greater emphasis on school-aged care and meeting the needs of our school children and their parents.  School-based care is especially critical for those students that are homeless.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:

Citizens don't want socialized child care provided for all children.  Families should accept the responsibility for their own children, and schools should be responsible for basic education only.

TESTIFIED:  PRO:  Priscilla Scheldt, OSPI; Margie Reeves, Washington Association for the Education of Young Children; CON:  Chris Shardelman, citizen; Erika Cranmer, citizen