BILL REQ. #:  H-1516.2 

READ FIRST TIME 02/14/03.   

     AN ACT Relating to consolidation of early learning and child care programs and services in the state; adding a new chapter to Title 74 RCW; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The legislature recognizes that:
     (a) Early learning and child care are an essential part of the daily lives of Washington families;
     (b) The state is involved in many early learning and child care programs and services that are administered through at least three state agencies;
     (c) A more cohesive and integrated early learning and child care system would result in greater efficiencies for the state and greater accessibility for the families that the programs are intended to serve; and
     (d) An effective system of governance would provide leadership, voice, and vision for early learning and child care in state government.
     (2) The legislature finds that the early years of a child's life are critical to the child's healthy brain development and that the quality of caregiving during the early years can significantly impact the child's intellectual and emotional growth and social adjustment.
     (3) It is therefore the purpose of this chapter to initiate the development of a seamless statewide system of programs and services for early learning and child care that supports families in preparing for and maintaining children's success in school.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   The governor and the superintendent of public instruction shall jointly consolidate and administer early learning and child care programs and services in the state by September 1, 2007.
     (1) For the purposes of this chapter, "early learning and child care programs and services" are limited to the following functions and entities:
     (a) Child care quality investments administered by the division of child care and early learning in the department of social and health services;
     (b) State training and registry system investments;
     (c) Head start-state collaboration project;
     (d) Statewide child care resource and referral network;
     (e) Project even start;
     (f) Child and adult care food program;
     (g) Healthy child care Washington or its successor program;
     (h) Special education for individuals from three to five years of age;
     (i) Title 1, part C migrant education preschool set-aside;
     (j) Licensing of child care centers and homes;
     (k) Child care health inspections;
     (l) Child care coordinating committee;
     (m) All programs financed and contracted through the child care and development fund;
     (n) All child care and early learning activities authorized under chapter 74.13 RCW;
     (o) Working connections child care program;
     (p) Seasonal child care;
     (q) Teen parents child care;
     (r) Homeless child care;
     (s) Special needs child care;
     (t) Activities funded through part C of the federal individuals with disabilities education act;
     (u) Child care for inpatient alcohol and substance abuse treatment; and
     (v) Early childhood education and assistance program.
     (2) In consolidating and administering the early learning and child care programs and services in the state, it is the intent of the legislature that the governor and the superintendent of public instruction coordinate and collaborate with all federally funded early learning and child care programs and services operating in the state, such as head start, 21st century community learning centers, and after-school programs for children under thirteen years of age.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   (1) There is established an early learning and care task force within the office of the superintendent of public instruction to oversee the consolidation of early learning and child care programs and services in the state. The task force shall be under the joint authority of the governor and the superintendent of public instruction. The focus of the task force shall be the identification of the most efficient system for the administration and fiscal management of early learning and child care programs and services in the state. In conducting its work, the task force shall seek involvement from families and community and stakeholder groups involved with early learning and child care programs and services throughout the state.
     (2) It is intended that the membership of the task force include, but not be limited to, the following: (a) Individuals with expertise in the delivery of early learning and child care services in a school setting; (b) individuals with expertise in the delivery of early learning and child care services in both a nonprofit and for-profit licensed center and family home child care settings; (c) individuals who deliver early learning and child care programs and services, including representatives of state governmental agencies; and (d) individuals who are parents of children under thirteen years of age.
     For the purposes of this subsection, "parent" includes a legal guardian or other person standing in loco parentis, such as a grandparent or stepparent with whom the child lives, or a person who is legally responsible for the welfare of the child.
     (3) The task force shall consist of seventeen members as follows:
     (a) Five members recommended by the child care coordinating committee, jointly appointed by the governor and the superintendent of public instruction;
     (b) Four members appointed by the governor;
     (c) Four members appointed by the superintendent of public instruction; and
     (d) Four members of the legislature, one from each political caucus of the house of representatives to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and one from each political caucus of the senate to be appointed by the president of the senate, each of whom shall serve as ex officio, nonvoting members of the task force.
     (4) The governor and the superintendent of public instruction shall each appoint a cochair of the task force from among its membership. Vacancies in the membership of the task force shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments.
     (5) Nongovernmental members of the task force shall be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. Legislative members of the task force shall serve without additional compensation but shall be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 44.04.120 while attending sessions of the task force or on official business authorized by the task force.
     (6) Initial appointments to the task force shall be made no later than thirty days after the effective date of this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   (1) Duties of the early learning and care task force shall include, but not be limited to, development of the following:
     (a) Consistent aligned standards for children entering school and for early learning and child care programs and services that address the multiple developmental aspects of young children, including cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical;
     (b) An integrated system of staffing and professional development for early learning and child care programs and services;
     (c) Comprehensive, family-focused services to be provided by early learning and child care programs for children and families who need more intensive support;
     (d) An integrated system of collaboration and support between early learning, child care, and after-school providers and the K-12 and higher education systems; and
     (e) A plan to address barriers to consolidation, such as issues relating to facilities and transportation.
     (2) The task force shall develop a plan for implementation of the duties provided in subsection (1) of this section.     
     (3) By September 1, 2004, the task force shall report to the legislature on the implementation plan.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   (1) The early learning and care task force shall develop a plan for the consolidation of the following functions and entities:
     (a) Child care quality investments administered by the division of child care and early learning in the department of social and health services;
     (b) State training and registry system investments;
     (c) Head start-state collaboration project;
     (d) Statewide child care resource and referral network;
     (e) Project even start;
     (f) Child and adult care food program;
     (g) Healthy child care Washington or its successor program;
     (h) Special education for individuals from three to five years of age; and
     (i) Title 1, part C migrant education preschool set-aside.
     (2) By January 1, 2004, the task force shall report to the legislature with the plan for consolidation of the functions and entities provided in subsection (1) of this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   (1) By September 1, 2004, to the extent possible within available funds, the governor and the superintendent of public instruction shall implement the plan for consolidation developed by the early learning and care task force pursuant to section 5 of this act.
     (2) By September 1, 2005, to the extent possible within available funds, the governor and the superintendent of public instruction shall implement the plan developed by the early learning and care task force pursuant to section 4 of this act for the programs and services consolidated pursuant to subsection (1) of this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   (1) The early learning and care task force shall develop a plan for the consolidation of the following functions and entities:
     (a) Licensing of child care centers and homes;
     (b) Child care health inspections;
     (c) Child care coordinating committee;
     (d) All programs financed and contracted through the child care and development fund;
     (e) All child care and early learning activities authorized under chapter 74.13 RCW;
     (f) Working connections child care program;
     (g) Seasonal child care;
     (h) Teen parents child care;
     (i) Homeless child care;
     (j) Special needs child care;
     (k) Activities funded through part C of the federal individuals with disabilities education act;
     (l) Child care for inpatient alcohol and substance abuse treatment; and
     (m) Early childhood education and assistance program.
     (2) By September 1, 2006, the task force shall report to the legislature with the plan for consolidation of the functions and entities provided in subsection (1) of this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8   By September 1, 2007, to the extent possible within available funds, the governor and the superintendent of public instruction shall:
     (1) Implement the plan for consolidation developed by the early learning and care task force pursuant to section 7 of this act; and
     (2) Implement the plan developed by the early learning and care task force pursuant to section 4 of this act for the programs and services consolidated pursuant to subsection (1) of this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 9   The early learning and care task force shall expire on October 1, 2006.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 10   Sections 1 through 9 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 74 RCW.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 11   This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.