HB 2582

HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 2582

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Reported by House Committee On:
Higher Education

Brief Description: Regarding child care at institutions of higher education.

Sponsors: Representatives Roberts, Hasegawa, Ormsby, Jarrett, Sells, Williams, Appleton, McIntire, Goodman, Green and Quall.

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 10 members: Representatives Wallace, Chair; Sells, Vice Chair; Anderson, Ranking Minority Member; Hankins, Hasegawa, Jarrett, McIntire, Roberts, Schmick and Sommers.

Background:

The Institutional Child Care Grant Program (Program) was established in 1999 to promote high-quality, accessible, and affordable child care for students attending the state's public colleges and universities. Grants were made available, on a competitive basis, to institutions of higher education requiring the college or university administration and the student government association at each receiving institution to match the grant amount received from the state. The Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB) was tasked with administering the grants to the public and four-year institutions. The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) administered the Program for community and technical colleges.

All of the public baccalaureate institutions have received funds since the Program began in 1999. The HECB awarded grants totaling $165,000 during the 2007-09 biennium, which represents $150,000 in 2007-09 biennial funding and $15,000 of carry over from the 2005-07 biennium. Four of the six public colleges and universities submitted proposals and received the following allocations to be used over the course of two years:

Each institution used the grants in various ways, but in general, funds were used to maintain affordability, add capacity by hiring additional staff and/or providing training to current staff, as well as expanding Program availability to different populations or during different hours.

Nineteen of the 34 community and technical colleges have been awarded funds through the Program. The SBCTC awarded grants totaling $100,000 during the 2007-09 biennium. Grants ranging from $11,000 to $30,000 were awarded to the community colleges of Bellevue, Edmonds, Green River, Skagit Valley, and South Seattle.

During the 2006-07 academic year, the student government associations at the public baccalaureate institutions contributed over $2 million to support child care programs on their campuses. Wait lists for child care programs ranged from 58 students at Central Washington University to over 700 at the University of Washington.

Summary of Substitute Bill:

The HECB and the SBCTC must award child care grants on a competitive or matching basis. Separate sections of law are created for the HECB and the SBCTC in order to clarify the powers and duties granted to each agency.

The HECB administers the Program for the four-year institutions and is required to proportionally distribute funds based on the financial support for child care received by the student government associations. A student government association at two- and four-year institutions may solicit funds from private organizations and through targeted fund raising campaigns as part of its financial support for child care programs.

The SBCTC administers the Program for the two year institutions. The SBCTC must establish granting guidelines consistent with the Legislature's desired outcome of creating more cooperative preschool programs and models that can be replicated at other institutions.

The HECB and SBCTC must each submit a report on child care at their respective institutions by December 2008 and every two years thereafter. The report must include an update on the status of Program design and implementation; the number of students using the Program; the identifiable unmet need; and the amount contributed by each university or college administration and student government association for the purposes of child care.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The substitute bill requires that the HECB proportionally distribute child care grants based on the financial support for child care received by student government associations. The substitute bill adds the provision that student government associations may solicit funds from targeted fund-raising campaigns. Finally, the substitute removes the requirement that the SBCTC and the HECB must report to the legislature in December 2009.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) Students would not have been able to complete their degrees without access to affordable, geographically proximate childcare. There is a need to expand programs, simply based on the lengthy wait lists at colleges and universities today. In addition, the unmet need might be greater than stakeholders know, since people may be dissuaded from applying given the long wait lists. Programs must be aligned to help train more staff and, in turn, expand access. Infant care is an especially important need. Policy makers are cautioned to guard against the possibility of using this Program to replace others that are currently operating and have proven effective.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Roberts, prime sponsor; Ursula Seeholzer, University of Washington-Tacoma; Laura Arras and Randy Shapiro, University of Washington; Lisa Newmann and John Michaelson, Edmonds Community College; Erin Brown, State Board for Community and Technical Colleges; Patricia Chantrill, Council of Faculty Representatives; Julie Su-hawn-eck, The Evergreen State College; Larry Ganders, Washington State University; Bryce McKibbon and Matthew Kreiling, Washington Student Lobby.