SENATE BILL REPORT

                            HB 1559

     AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES,

                         APRIL 1, 1993

Brief Description:  Developing a plan for school‑aged child care programs.

SPONSORS: Representatives Brown, Wolfe, Ballasiotes, Flemming, Riley, Kessler, Linville, Thibaudeau, Leonard, J. Kohl, Mastin, Wang, Jones, Pruitt, Karahalios, Campbell, Johanson, Quall, G. Fisher, Cothern, L. Johnson, Kremen and H. Myers

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Talmadge, Chairman; Wojahn, Vice Chairman; Deccio, Franklin, Hargrove, McAuliffe, Moyer, Prentice, Quigley, Sheldon, and Winsley.

Staff:  Joanne Conrad (786‑7472)

Hearing Dates: April 1, 1993

BACKGROUND:

The past 20 years has seen a shift in the workforce, from a single wage-earner family to a two-career or single parent model.  One effect of this demographic shift is that school- aged children are frequently without adult supervision during some nonschool hours.  The child care delivery system has not been able to address all of the needs of children in these situations, and concern exists about their well-being.

SUMMARY:

The Child Care Coordinating Committee develops a plan for a statewide system of school-aged child care programs.  The plan includes a statement of needs; identification of target children and ideas for local community involvement; program quality standards; health, safety, funding and policy recommendations; and a report to the Legislature by December 1, 1993.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

TESTIMONY FOR:

Quality child care for school-aged children is difficult to find.  Many children are home alone, or on the streets and at risk.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  PRO:  Rep. Brown, prime sponsor; Kathleen Michael, Kid's Base; Meg Sundseth, Kid's Base; Denise Reed, YMCA, Olympia