BILL REQ. #:  H-0930.1 

Read first time 01/28/09.   Referred to Committee on Early Learning & Children's Services.

     AN ACT Relating to promoting continuity of care for children enrolled in early learning and care programs receiving working connections child care subsidies; amending RCW 74.08A.340; adding a new section to chapter 43.215 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that continuity of care in children's early learning and preschool environments promotes the positive attachments and nurturing relationships children need for healthy development across multiple domains. The legislature also finds that the primary mechanisms through which children acquire school readiness skills are the social relationships children form with their caregivers. The legislature further finds that when subsidized child care systems are structured to promote continuity of care for children, low-income parents are also supported in their efforts to achieve goals relating to education, employment, self-sufficiency, and asset building. Supporting parents in these efforts can improve the family's well-being and reduce reliance on public supports. The legislature intends to reform components of Washington's subsidized child care system by developing and implementing a system of subsidized child care that promotes continuity of care for children; is affordable for parents needing financial assistance; and is uncomplicated and predictable for providers.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 43.215 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The department shall establish and implement policies for the working connections child care program. Policies for the expenditure of funds constituting the working connections child care program shall be consistent with the outcome measures defined in RCW 74.08A.410 and the standards established in this section intended to promote continuity of care for children.
     (2) Eligibility determinations and authorizations for working connections subsidies shall be effective for twelve months unless a parent or caregiver reports a change in circumstances necessitating reauthorization prior to the end of the twelve-month period. This requirement shall be phased in as follows:
     (a) Beginning in fiscal year 2010, the twelve-month authorization will take effect for parents with children enrolled in an early childhood education and assistance program, a head start program, or an early head start program; and
     (b) Beginning in fiscal year 2012, the twelve-month authorization will take effect for all parents with children enrolled in a program receiving a working connections subsidy.
     (3) The maximum amount of the working connections monthly parent copay for all children combined in the parent's household shall be not more than ten percent of the household's monthly gross income. This standard shall be phased in as follows according to the program in which the child is enrolled at the time of eligibility determination under subsection (2) of this section:
     (a) Beginning in fiscal year 2010, the ten percent copay limit will take effect for parents with children enrolled in an early childhood education and assistance program, a head start program, or an early head start program; and
     (b) Beginning in fiscal year 2012, the ten percent copay limit will take effect for all parents with children enrolled in a program of care receiving a working connections subsidy.
     (4) Beginning in fiscal year 2010, the number of child absence days for which a provider is eligible to receive a working connections subsidy for a child's care shall be not fewer than ten days each month.

Sec. 3   RCW 74.08A.340 and 2008 c 329 s 922 are each amended to read as follows:
     The department of social and health services shall operate the Washington WorkFirst program authorized under RCW 74.08A.200 through 74.08A.330, 43.330.145, 43.215.545, and 74.25.040, and chapter 74.12 RCW within the following constraints:
     (1) The full amount of the temporary assistance for needy families block grant, plus qualifying state expenditures as appropriated in the biennial operating budget, shall be appropriated to the department each year in the biennial appropriations act to carry out the provisions of the program authorized in RCW 74.08A.200 through 74.08A.330, 43.330.145, 43.215.545, and 74.25.040, and chapter 74.12 RCW.
     (2)(a) The department may expend funds defined in subsection (1) of this section in any manner that will effectively accomplish the outcome measures defined in RCW 74.08A.410 with the following exception: Beginning with the 2007-2009 biennium, funds that constitute the working connections child care program, child care quality programs, and child care licensing functions.
     (b) Beginning in the 2007-2009 fiscal biennium, the legislature shall appropriate and the departments of early learning and social and health services shall expend funds defined in subsection (1) of this section that constitute the working connections child care program, child care quality programs, and child care licensing functions in a manner that is consistent with section 2 of this act and the outcome measures defined in RCW 74.08A.410.
     (c) No more than fifteen percent of the amount provided in subsection (1) of this section may be spent for administrative purposes. For the purpose of this subsection, "administrative purposes" does not include expenditures for information technology and computerization needed for tracking and monitoring required by P.L. 104-193. The department shall not increase grant levels to recipients of the program authorized in RCW 74.08A.200 through 74.08A.330 and 43.330.145 and chapter 74.12 RCW, except as authorized in the omnibus appropriations act for the 2007-2009 biennium.
     (3) The department shall implement strategies that accomplish the outcome measures identified in RCW 74.08A.410 that are within the funding constraints in this section. Specifically, the department shall implement strategies that will cause the number of cases in the program authorized in RCW 74.08A.200 through 74.08A.330 and 43.330.145 and chapter 74.12 RCW to decrease by at least fifteen percent during the 1997-99 biennium and by at least five percent in the subsequent biennium. The department may transfer appropriation authority between funding categories within the economic services program in order to carry out the requirements of this subsection.
     (4) The department shall monitor expenditures against the appropriation levels provided for in subsection (1) of this section. The department shall quarterly make a determination as to whether expenditure levels will exceed available funding and communicate its finding to the legislature. If the determination indicates that expenditures will exceed funding at the end of the fiscal year, the department shall take all necessary actions to ensure that all services provided under this chapter shall be made available only to the extent of the availability and level of appropriation made by the legislature.