S-0402.3  _______________________________________________

 

                         SENATE BILL 5344

          _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

 

By Senators Kohl, Long, Brown, Wood, Thibaudeau, Hargrove, McAuliffe, Winsley and Sheldon

 

Read first time 01/23/97.  Referred to Committee on Human Services & Corrections.

 

Requiring training for persons working with children at licensed child care facilities.



    AN ACT Relating to training for child care providers; amending RCW 74.13.090; adding new sections to chapter 74.13 RCW; creating new sections; making an appropriation; and providing an effective date.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.  The intent of this act is to improve the quality of care provided to the children in Washington state by:

    (1) Establishing uniform training and education requirements in the child care industry for personnel in state-licensed child care facilities;

    (2) Developing and expanding services and systems to enable all child care personnel in licensed child care facilities to receive fundamental training in early childhood and school-age care and education; and

    (3) Establishing the proper regulatory role of the state in assuring that delivery of child care is done by properly trained individuals and businesses.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  The legislature finds that:

    (1) Licensed child care services are delivered each day to as many as one hundred sixty thousand children between the ages of six weeks and twelve years, and that nearly half of Washington families with children under age six use licensed child care;

    (2) The enactment of federal welfare reform combined with the increase in the number of mothers with young children in the work force means that there will be an increasing need for additional child care workers;

    (3) The need for quality child care is especially acute for low-income families;

    (4) A statistically significant link exists between a child's receipt of high quality care from adults, especially in a child's early years, and avoidance of risk factors associated with social and educational failure;

    (5) Most child care workers are paid low wages and find training expenses to be a financial burden;

    (6) Mandatory training and education, provided in diverse settings, will improve the quality of care provided by child care employees as well as help attract and retain more qualified persons in the child care industry; and

    (7) There are more than ten thousand child care businesses in Washington state, many of which are established without previous business experience.  Establishment of a training requirement for child care center directors, program supervisors, and licensed family child-care providers will improve management and personnel practices and enhance their chances of having a successful business that provides a safe and positive environment for children.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 74.13 RCW to read as follows:

    (1)(a) Any licensee or person employed at a licensed child care facility who is counted in meeting department-required minimum staff-to-child ratios must successfully complete and provide documentation for twenty clock hours of department-approved training or two college quarter credits in age-appropriate early childhood and school-age care and education based on rules and guidelines adopted by the department and core competencies developed by the child care coordinating committee before working with children.  This requirement may be satisfied by training approved by the department that was taken within the five years before licensure, employment, or the effective date of this section, whichever occurs later.

    (b) Until January 1, 2004, the requirements of this subsection may be fulfilled within the first six months of employment in or new licensure of a child care facility, except that for persons employed at a licensed child care facility or licensed on the effective date of this section, the requirements of this subsection may be fulfilled within the first twelve months after the effective date of this section.

    (2) For the purposes of this section and section 4 of this act, "clock hours" means actual hours spent in instruction.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4.  A new section is added to chapter 74.13 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) In each year after fulfilling the requirements of section 3 of this act, any person employed at a licensed child care facility who is counted in meeting department-required minimum staff-to-child ratios must successfully complete and provide documentation of yearly department-approved continuing education of a minimum of ten clock hours of training or one college quarter credit in age-appropriate early childhood and school-age care and education based on rules and guidelines adopted by the department and core competencies developed by the child care coordinating committee.

    (2) Child care center directors, program supervisors, and family child care licensees must successfully complete and provide documentation of yearly department-approved continuing education of a minimum of ten clock hours of training or one college quarter credit based on rules and guidelines adopted by the department and core competencies developed by the child care coordinating committee.  Five clock hours of the continuing education shall be in age-appropriate early childhood and school-age care and education, and five clock hours shall be in program management and operation.  Satisfaction of the requirements of this subsection satisfies the requirements of subsection (1) of this section.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5.  A new section is added to chapter 74.13 RCW to read as follows:

    Before working with children, any licensee or person employed at a licensed child care facility who is counted in meeting department-required minimum staff-to-child ratios must successfully complete and provide current documentation for training based on rules and guidelines adopted by the department in:  Age-appropriate first aid; age-appropriate cardiopulmonary resuscitation; HIV/AIDS related conditions; and blood borne pathogens.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6.  A new section is added to chapter 74.13 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) The department, in collaboration with the child care coordinating committee and other community stakeholders, shall:

    (a) Design and administer a system for:  (i) The approval of training programs, including a requirement that training programs include an evaluation component; (ii) maintaining a registry for approved training programs; and (iii) maintaining a registry of approved training completed by licensees and child care workers;

    (b) Develop an implementation strategy enabling child care workers and administrators to meet the training required under sections 3 through 5 of this act;

    (c) Ensure that training resources for the early childhood and school-age care and education profession are coordinated and used efficiently;

    (d) Develop a system for tracking the approved training completed by persons under sections 3 through 5 of this act;

    (e) Develop and administer a system for the approval of training programs and maintenance of a registry of approved trainings; and

    (f) Develop and administer a program providing scholarships, grants, loans, or other subsidies to low-income persons for the purpose of receiving approved training.

    (2) The department may contract with public or private entities to provide services with regard to the maintenance of registries for training programs and child care workers.

    (3) Training approved by the department may be provided by a community-based entity or an institution of higher education.

 

    Sec. 7.  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)) thirty-seven members who shall include:

    (a) One representative each from:

    (i) The department of social and health services((,));

    (ii) 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)) (iii) The department of labor and industries;

    (((c) One representative from)) (iv) The department of revenue;

    (((d) One representative from)) (v) The employment security department;

    (((e) One representative from)) (vi) The department of personnel;

    (((f) One representative from)) (vii) The department of health;

    (((g))) (viii) The office of the superintendent of public instruction;

    (ix) The higher education coordinating board;

    (x) The state board for community and technical colleges; and

    (xi) Any other agency having responsibility for regulation, provision, or funding of child care services in the state;

    (b) At least one representative each of:

    (i) Family home child care providers ((and one representative of));

    (ii) Center care providers;

    (((h) At least one representative of)) (iii) Early childhood development experts;

    (((i) At least one representative of)) (iv) School districts and teachers involved in the provision of child care and preschool programs;

    (((j) At least one)) (v) Parent education specialists;

    (((k) At least one representative of)) (vi) Resource and referral programs;

    (((l) One)) (vii) Pediatric or other health professional;

    (((m) At least one representative of)) (viii) College or university child care providers;

    (((n) At least one representative of)) (ix) A citizen group concerned with child care;

    (((o) At least one representative of)) (x) A labor organization;

    (((p) At least one representative of)) (xi) A head start - early childhood education assistance program agency;

    (((q) At least one)) (xii) Employers who provide((s)) child care assistance to employees;

    (((r))) (xiii) 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)); and

    (xiv) Parents needing or receiving child care 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)) committee 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)) possible changes to the 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)) and recommend models for financing the child care system to promote affordable, accessible, and quality child care;

    (c) Review the department's ((of social and health services)) administration of the child care expansion grant program described in RCW 74.13.095;

    (d) Review rules and policies regarding child care facilities and services ((for the purpose of identifying those which)) to promote quality of care while avoiding rules and policies that may 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)) its 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. 8.  (1) The sum of one million eight hundred seventy-five thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1999, from the general fund to the department of social and health services for the purposes of implementing this act.

    (2) The appropriation in this section is subject to the following conditions and limitations:

    (a) One hundred thousand dollars of the appropriation is provided solely for implementation of sections 3 and 4 of this act;

    (b) One million two hundred seventy-five thousand dollars of the appropriation is provided solely for implementation of section 6 of this act; and

    (c) Five hundred thousand dollars of the appropriation is provided solely for scholarships, grants, loans, or other subsidies for low-income persons, who are legal residents of the United States, for the purpose of receiving approved training.  The department of social and health services shall establish suitable standards for awarding the scholarships, grants, loans, and other subsidies.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 9. Sections 3 and 4 of this act take effect January 1, 1999.

 


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