HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2268

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                       Human Services

Title:  An act relating to child care for school‑age children.

Brief Description:  Changing child care facility provisions.

Sponsors:  Representatives Brown, Wolfe, Dunshee, Leonard, Patterson, Orr, Conway, Wood, Thibaudeau, Karahalios, Dellwo, Finkbeiner, H. Myers, Lemmon, Flemming, Jones, Wineberry, King, Ogden, L. Johnson and J. Kohl.

Brief History:

Reported by House Committee on:

Human Services, January 24, 1994, DP.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 7 members:  Representatives Leonard, Chair; Thibaudeau, Vice Chair; Brown; Caver; Karahalios; Patterson; and Wolfe.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 3 members:  Representatives Cooke, Ranking Minority Member; Talcott, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; and Lisk.

Staff:  Dave Knutson (786-7146).

Background:  Through economic necessity or personal choice, most parents today work outside the family home.  Most children live either in families where both parents work outside the home or with a single parent who works outside the home.  Youth who do not have adult supervision before or after school are at risk of delinquency, alcohol or drug use, and other unacceptable behaviors.

Summary of Bill:  When reviewing funding requests for school construction and modernization projects, the State Board of Education is required to allocate priority points to school districts which implement or commit to implement before and after school child care programs.  The child care coordinating council will administer grant funds for before and after school child care programs.  Funds will be provided for this purpose for 24 months, after which the programs will be fully supported through fees, other revenue, and child care subsidy payments.  Funds may be used for up to 75 percent of a school district's or organization's program cost during the 24 months.  An appropriation of $1,850,000 is provided for start up grants and child care subsidies for low income families.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Appropriation:  The sum of $1,850,000 to the Department of Social and Health Services.

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

Testimony For:  With more working parents children need before and after school activities to keep them away from unacceptable activities.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Janet L. Frieling, Washington School Age Care Alliance; Peggy Papsdorf, Campaign For Working Families; and Deborah Ennis, YMCA of Greater Seattle.