H-4422

AN ACT Relating to before-and-after-school child care; amending RCW 74.13.085; adding a new section to 1991 sp.s. c 16 (uncodified); creating a new section; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that a significant number of school age children in the state of Washington are not under the care and supervision of an adult during the hours before and after school while their parents work or are engaged in job training and professional preparation programs. The legislature finds that these children are at risk and that the provision of before-and-after-school child care will promote not only the safety and welfare of these children, but their ability to learn and develop into healthy and productive citizens.

(2) It is the intent of the legislature to promote the growth, development, and safety of school age children by supporting the establishment of high quality before-and-after-school child care programs, in partnership with local governments and the private sector.

Sec. 2. RCW 74.13.085 and 1989 c 381 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

It shall be the policy of the state of Washington to:

(1) Recognize the family as the most important social and economic unit of society and support the central role parents play in child rearing. All parents are encouraged to care for and nurture their children through the traditional methods of parental care at home. However, there has been a dramatic increase in participation of women in the workforce which has made the availability of quality, affordable child care a critical concern for the state and its citizens. There are not enough child care services and facilities to meet the needs of working parents, the costs of care are often beyond the resources of working parents, and child care facilities are not located conveniently to work places and neighborhoods. Parents are encouraged to participate fully in the effort to improve the quality of child care services.

(2) Promote a variety of culturally and developmentally appropriate child care settings and services of the highest possible quality in accordance with the basic principle of continuity of care. These settings and services shall include, but not be limited to, family day care homes, ((~~mini-centers,~~)) centers and before-and-after-school child care programs located in or near public school((s)) buildings.

(3) Promote the growth, development and safety of children by working with community groups including providers and parents to establish standards for quality service, training of child care providers, fair and equitable monitoring, and salary levels commensurate with provider responsibilities and support services.

(4) Promote equal access to quality, affordable, socio-economically integrated child care for all children and families.

(5) Facilitate broad community and private sector involvement in the provision of quality child care services to foster economic development and assist industry.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to 1991 sp.s. c 16 (uncodified) to read as follows:

(1) The sum of two hundred sixty-four thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1993, from the general fund--federal to the department of social and health services for the development of before-and-after-school child care programs.

(2) The appropriation in this section from the federal child care block grant is subject to the following conditions and limitations:

(a) Before-and-after-school child care facility grant requests may be for expanding existing before-and-after-school child care programs or establishing new programs located in or near public elementary schools.

(b) Grantees under this section may include public school districts, educational service districts, or other governmental or nongovernmental not-for-profit organizations.

(i) Planning and design of facilities and programs;

(ii) Equipment, supplies, and materials of a noncapital nature, including but not limited to toys, office supplies, art supplies, and kitchen utensils; and

(iii) Operating expenses for the first six months of operation of a new before-and-after-school child care program.

(d) A grant under this section may be used to support no more than seventy-five percent of the costs of establishing a before-and-after-school child care program. A grantee may meet the local matching requirement under this subsection through contributions by private or public entities of materials, supplies, in-kind services, or physical facilities.

(3) The child care coordinating committee established under RCW 74.13.090 shall establish standards and criteria for the review and awarding of grants. The committee shall include relevant information regarding grants awarded under this section in the annual report to the legislature.