H-0318.5 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 1166
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 52nd Legislature 1991 Regular Session
By 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.
Read first time January 21, 1991. Referred to Committee on Human Services\Appropriations.
AN ACT Relating to community-based child care resource and referral agencies; amending RCW 74.13.0903; adding a new section to chapter 74.13 RCW; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature recognizes that an integrated child care services system is needed to ensure that planning and coordination of child care services occurs and that linkages between consumers and child care providers are established. The legislature finds that establishment of the office of the child care resources coordinator, the child care coordinating committee, and the child care partnership are first steps toward achieving an integrated child care system. Additional steps, including the support of existing community-based child care resource and referral programs, and the development of new child care resource and referral programs, must be taken to help parents obtain appropriate child care for their children, increase the supply of child care services, and improve the quality of child care services through training and support of child care providers.
The legislature intends that child care resource and referral services be provided in collaboration with local communities, employers, consumers, and state and federal agencies.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 74.13 RCW to read as follows:
(1) Persons or organizations may apply for funding to establish or operate a community-based child care resource and referral program through the office of the child care resources coordinator. In evaluating applications for funding, the coordinator shall consider the applicant's ability to offer, or make progress towards offering, the activities provided in subsection (2) of this section. The coordinator shall also consider the number of children under age twelve in the geographic area that will be served by the program when determining the level of funding for the program.
(2) Community-based child care resource and referral programs shall develop a service plan that includes the following components:
(a) Provide parents with information regarding child care, including but not limited to the location of child care services, information regarding child care licensing requirements, how to choose quality child care services, and the availability of funds to subsidize child care costs;
(b) Participate with other community agencies or organizations in the provision of parent support services, such as parent education classes and information on community services available to families;
(c) Provide support to child care providers, such as: Information regarding training opportunities, development of appropriate training as needed, resource libraries, toy lending libraries, meeting space, information regarding the operation of child care as a small business, and liaison with department child care licensors;
(d) Recruit licensed child care providers, emphasizing geographic or program areas that have an inadequate supply of child care services;
(e) In cooperation with the child care partnership established under this chapter, provide technical assistance to employers regarding employee child care benefits;
(f) Directly or through a coalition of child care resource and referral programs, provide information to local and state policy makers regarding child care supply and demand, and advocate for increased public and private sector resources for child care services; and
(g) Coordinate a local response to the demand for quality child care services, and participate in coordinated efforts for delivery of services to families.
(3) Twenty-five percent of the funding for community-based child care resource and referral agencies under this section shall be community matching funds provided by private or public entities in the community served by the program requesting funding. Contributions of materials, supplies, or physical facilities may be considered as all or part of the matching funds provided.
Sec. 3. RCW 74.13.0903 and 1989 c 381 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
The office of the child care resources coordinator is established to operate under the authority of the department of social and health services. The office shall, within appropriated funds:
(1) Staff and assist the child care coordinating committee in the implementation of its duties under RCW 74.13.090;
(2)
Work with local governments, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and community
child care advocates to create local child care resource and referral
organizations((. These organizations may carry out needs assessments,
resource development, provider training, technical assistance, and parent
information and training));
(3)
Actively seek public and private money for distribution as grants to potential
or existing ((local)) community-based child care resource and
referral ((organizations. No grant shall be distributed that is greater
than twenty‑five thousand dollars)) programs as provided in
section 2 of this act;
(4) ((Adopt
rules regarding the application for and distribution of grants to local child
care resource and referral organizations. The rules shall, at a minimum,
require an applicant to submit a plan for achieving the following objectives:
(a)
Provide parents with information about child care resources, including location
of services and subsidies;
(b)
Carry out child care provider recruitment and training programs;
(c)
Offer support services, such as parent and provider seminars, toy‑lending
libraries, and substitute banks;
(d)
Provide information for businesses regarding child care supply and demand;
(e)
Advocate for increased public and private sector resources devoted to child
care; and
(f)
Provide technical assistance to employers regarding employee child care
services;
(5))) Provide
staff support and technical assistance to local child care resource and
referral organizations;
(((6)
Organize the local child care resource and referral organizations into a state‑wide
system;
(7))) (5)
Maintain a state‑wide ((child care referral)) data bank of
licensed providers and work with department of social and health services
licensors to provide information to ((local)) community-based
child care resource and referral organizations about licensed child care providers
in the state;
(((8)))
(6) Through local resource and referral organizations, compile data
about local child care needs and availability for future planning and
development;
(((9)))
(7) Coordinate the provision of training and technical assistance to
child care providers; and
(((10)))
(8) Collect and assemble information regarding the availability of
insurance and of federal and other child care funding to assist state and local
agencies, businesses, and other child care providers in offering child care
services.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The sum of one million six hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1993, from the general fund to the department of social and health services for the purposes of this act.