[atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to expanding maternity care for at-risk mothers; adding new sections to chapter 74.09 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 82.04 RCW; creating a new section; making appropriations; and providing an effective date.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the maternity care access system has improved birth outcomes and reduced unintended pregnancies, contributing to the growth of a healthy and productive society. The legislature further finds that expanding the maternity care access system to serve some young children and their parents until the child's third birthday will further these outcomes, by strengthening at-risk families and lowering the incidence of child abuse and neglect.

The legislature recognizes that the community as well as the state bears the costs of unhealthy families, including poor academic achievement, low productivity, crime, social service demands, and medical care costs. Research demonstrates that voluntary home visiting programs can significantly reduce these costs.

The legislature finds that collaboration between the state, corporations, foundations, and individuals to encourage a nurturing environment for child growth and development will benefit both the public and private sectors. The legislature further finds that a partnership between the state and the private sector provides the strongest foundation for strengthening parent support programs. Thus, the legislature intends to provide a vehicle and incentives for individuals, corporations, and foundations to contribute to the state's efforts to improve the quality of life for children in our state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 74.09 RCW to read as follows:

The department shall, to the extent that funds are available, extend the existing maternity care access program that is designed to ensure healthy child development and to reduce child abuse and neglect. The program shall provide extended maternity care services to at-risk eligible persons and their children, up to age three, to the maximum extent allowable under the medical assistance program, Title XIX of the federal social security act.

For the purposes of this act, "extended maternity care services" means postpartum inpatient and outpatient medical care, case management, and support services, which may include health assessments, health and parent education, psychological assessment and counseling, outreach services, case management, nutritional assessment and counseling, and transportation. Assessment services may be provided by public health nurses or by supervised and trained lay personnel.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 74.09 RCW to read as follows:

The department shall phase in the extended coverage of at-risk children from birth to age three by providing services in one county with both an urban and a rural area. In developing a plan to phase in services, the department shall collaborate with organizations concerned with and having experience with maternity care, parent education, and child development.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 74.09 RCW to read as follows:

The department shall seek all necessary waivers from the federal government to allow for the extension of the existing maternity care access program to provide extended maternity care services to at-risk eligible persons and their children up to age three.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 74.09 RCW to read as follows:

The maternity care endowment fund is established in the custody of the state treasurer. Moneys received from private donations and funds received from other sources may be deposited into the endowment fund. At the request of the department, the treasurer shall release principal and earnings from the endowment fund to the department for the services authorized under chapter . . ., Laws of 1999 (this act). No appropriation is required for expenditures from the endowment fund. The earnings on the fund shall be used solely for the purposes included in this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. A new section is added to chapter 82.04 RCW to read as follows:

(1) There may be credited against the tax imposed by this chapter, any amount donated to the maternity care endowment fund, as created in section 5 of this act.

(2) The credits allowed under this section shall be equal to fifty percent of the amount donated by the person or company subject to taxation under this chapter. The total credits allowed under this section shall not exceed twenty million dollars of credits each fiscal year. Tax credits are available on a first‑come basis. The department shall keep a running total of all credits approved. If the amount submitted for a credit will cause the cap to be exceeded for the fiscal year, the department shall give a partial approval of the application, equal to the amount of remaining credit available for the fiscal year.

(3) Application for credits under this section shall be made to the department in a form and manner as required by the department. A person receiving approval must keep records necessary for the department to verify eligibility under this section. A person shall apply for the credit after making the donation.

(4) A person qualifying for the credit must take the credit against taxes due within two years of the date of qualification, or the credit is no longer valid. Any unused excess credit may be carried forward to future periods for a maximum of one year.

(5) The department shall allow accrual of tax credits to a successor if the business or firm is sold, assigned, conveyed, or otherwise transferred.

(6) No applicant is eligible for tax credits under this section in excess of the amount of tax that would otherwise be due under this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. (1) The sum of . . . . . . dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the general fund to the department of health for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000, to carry out the purposes of this act.

(2) The sum of . . . . . . dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the general fund to the department of health for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001, to carry out the purposes of this act. Expenditures under this section may not exceed the amount donated to the maternity care endowment fund established by section 5 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. This act takes effect August 1, 1999.