S-4395.1 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 6501
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 54th Legislature 1996 Regular Session
By Senators Kohl, Hargrove, Long, Thibaudeau and McAuliffe
Read first time 01/16/96. Referred to Committee on Human Services & Corrections.
AN ACT Relating to the child care coordinating committee; amending RCW 74.13.090; creating new sections; and making an appropriation.
E IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that promoting quality child care and early childhood education services is a fundamental state policy. The legislature also finds that the quality of child care and early childhood education services is directly linked to the quality of education and training of persons providing early child care and education and school-age care. It is the intent of the legislature that the child care coordinating committee begin formulating a comprehensive career development plan for early child care and education and school-age care to promote equal access to education and training, uniform educational and training programs, and recognition of early child care and education and school-age care as a profession.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The child care coordinating committee shall research and submit proposals for a comprehensive career development plan for education and training in early child care and education and school-age care. In researching a plan, the committee shall:
(1) Review other state models and educational or institutional programs;
(2) Seek technical assistance or professional review as needed;
(3) Coordinate and facilitate seminars, hearings, conferences, or other state or local forums; and
(4) Address issues of credit equivalencies and articulation agreements between state educational institutions and programs, including four-year universities, community colleges, technical schools, and community-based programs.
The committee shall report to the legislature by July 1, 1997, its research on a comprehensive career development plan, proposals for creating a plan, including time and funding needs, and recommendations for implementation of a plan.
Sec. 3. RCW 74.13.090 and 1995 c 399 s 204 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) There is established a child care coordinating committee to provide coordination and communication between state agencies responsible for child care and early childhood education services. The child care coordinating committee shall be composed of not less than seventeen nor more than thirty-three members who shall include:
(a) One representative each from the department of social and health services, the department of community, trade, and economic development, the office of the superintendent of public instruction, and any other agency having responsibility for regulation, provision, or funding of child care services in the state;
(b) One representative from the department of labor and industries;
(c) One representative from the department of revenue;
(d) One representative from the employment security department;
(e) One representative from the department of personnel;
(f) One representative from the department of health;
(g) One representative from the higher education coordinating board;
(h) One representative from the state board of education;
(i) At least one representative of family home child care providers and one representative of center care providers;
(((h))) (j)
At least one representative of early childhood development experts;
(((i))) (k)
At least one representative of school districts and teachers involved in the
provision of child care and preschool programs;
(((j))) (l)
At least one parent education specialist;
(((k))) (m)
At least one representative of resource and referral programs;
(((l))) (n)
One pediatric or other health professional;
(((m))) (o)
At least one representative of college or university child care providers;
(((n))) (p)
At least one representative of a citizen group concerned with child care;
(((o))) (q)
At least one representative of a labor organization;
(((p))) (r)
At least one representative of a head start - early childhood education
assistance program agency;
(((q))) (s)
At least one employer who provides child care assistance to employees;
(((r))) (t)
Parents of children receiving, or in need of, child care, half of whom shall be
parents needing or receiving subsidized child care and half of whom shall be
parents who are able to pay for child care.
The named state agencies shall select their representative to the child care coordinating committee. The department of social and health services shall select the remaining members, considering recommendations from lists submitted by professional associations and other interest groups until such time as the committee adopts a member selection process. The department shall use any federal funds which may become available to accomplish the purposes of RCW 74.13.085 through 74.13.095.
The committee shall elect officers from among its membership and shall adopt policies and procedures specifying the lengths of terms, methods for filling vacancies, and other matters necessary to the ongoing functioning of the committee. The secretary of social and health services shall appoint a temporary chair until the committee has adopted policies and elected a chair accordingly. Child care coordinating committee members shall be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
(2) To the extent possible within available funds, the child care coordinating committee shall:
(a) Serve as an advisory coordinator for all state agencies responsible for early childhood or child care programs for the purpose of improving communication and interagency coordination;
(b) Annually review state programs and make recommendations to the agencies and the legislature which will maximize funding and promote furtherance of the policies set forth in RCW 74.13.085. Reports shall be provided to all appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1 of each year. At a minimum the committee shall:
(i) Review and propose changes to the child care subsidy system in its December 1989 report;
(ii) Review alternative models for child care service systems, in the context of the policies set forth in RCW 74.13.085, and recommend to the legislature a new child care service structure; and
(iii) Review options and make recommendations on the feasibility of establishing an allocation for day care facilities when constructing state buildings;
(c) Review department of social and health services administration of the child care expansion grant program described in RCW 74.13.095;
(d) Review rules regarding child care facilities and services for the purpose of identifying those which unnecessarily obstruct the availability and
affordability of child care in the state;
(e) Advise and assist the office of child care policy in implementing his or her duties under RCW 74.13.0903;
(f) Perform other functions to improve the quantity and quality of child care in the state, including compliance with existing and future prerequisites for federal funding; and
(g) Advise and assist the department of personnel in its responsibility for establishing policies and procedures that provide for the development of quality child care programs for state employees.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The sum of twenty-five thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1997, from the general fund to the department of social and health services for the purposes of section 2 of this act.
--- END ---