SENATE BILL REPORT

                            HB 1490

     AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES,

                         APRIL 2, 1993

Brief Description:  Providing for child care.

SPONSORS: Representatives Wineberry, Forner, Shin, Sheldon, King, Karahalios, J. Kohl and Anderson

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Talmadge, Chairman; Wojahn, Vice Chairman; Franklin, Fraser, McAuliffe, Moyer, Niemi, Prentice, Sheldon, and Winsley.

Staff:  Richard Rodger (786‑7461)

Hearing Dates: March 25, 1993; April 2, 1993

BACKGROUND:

Existing law calls upon the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to organize local child care resource and referral organizations into a statewide system.  DSHS has also established the office of the Child Care Resources Coordinator. Among other duties, this office has the responsibility of staffing the Child Care Coordinating Committee, coordinating with the child care community, leveraging public and private monies and distributing grants to local child care resource and referral organizations.

Current statutory language will limit grants to child care resource and referral organizations to a maximum of $25,000 after the 1991-93 biennium.

SUMMARY:

The importance of constructing partnerships at state and local levels in the provision of quality, affordable child care is established.  The role of the statewide child care resource and referral network in supporting community based programs, fostering statewide strategies and generating public/private partnerships is described.

The office of the Child Care Resources Coordinator is replaced with the office of Child Care Policy and its duties are clarified.  The $25,000 limitation on grants is removed.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

TESTIMONY FOR:

The $25,000 limitation on grants will destroy the statewide child care resource and referral network.  Other provisions of the bill are for technical cleanup.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Representative Wineberry, prime sponsor; Elizabeth Thompson, Ex. Dir. CCRRN (pro); John Breal (pro)