SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5521

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

        Human Services & Corrections, February 16, 1995

Title:  An act relating to child care administration.

Brief Description:  Modifying availability of child care subsidy programs.

Sponsors:  Senators Kohl and Quigley; by request of Department of Social and Health Services.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Human Services & Corrections:  2/7/95, 2/16/95 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5521 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Hargrove, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Fairley, Kohl, Long, Moyer, Palmer, Prentice, Schow, Smith and Strannigan.

Staff:  Dennis Martin (786-7403)

Background:  In 1992, the Department of Social and Health Services proposed a pilot program to localize the administration of non-AFDC child day-care programs.   The 1993 budget included a directive to the department to move to local administration of child care programs by July 1, 1994.

In 1994, the department recommended a pilot approach to localization be utilized to coincide with the creation of community networks.  The 1994 legislation required the department to report on its efforts to locally administer child care subsidy programs.

The department submitted a report to the Legislature in December 1994 with its proposal to begin a program to localize child care subsidy programs.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The Department of Social and Health Services, in consultation with the Family Policy Council, creates a design committee to advise the department and recommend the process for the transition to locally administered child care subsidy programs.  The membership of the committee is represented by various affected groups, including low-income parents, local government, community networks, and the child care coordinating committee.  By July 1, 1996, as many as six local communities are chosen to locally administer child care subsidy programs.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The substitute includes local government representatives on the design committee and clarifies that the design committee is an advisory committee to the department.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 31, 1995.

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

Testimony For:  The bill allows the department to proceed to local administration of child care subsidy program funds.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Elizabeth Thompson, WA State Child Care Resource and Referral Network (pro); Karen Tvedt, DSHS (pro).