BILL REQ. #:  S-0948.1 

Read first time 01/28/11.   Referred to Committee on Human Services & Corrections.

     AN ACT Relating to the use of an electronic benefit transfer system for the delivery of subsidized child care; 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 approximately two hundred thirty-one million dollars in general fund state dollars will be spent on the child care subsidy program during the 2011-2013 biennium. Maintaining integrity in this program is of the utmost importance in ensuring that finite state resources are being used in an appropriate manner. The legislature further finds that thirty-two percent of overpayments made in public assistance programs during fiscal year 2009 were in the working connections child care program requiring extensive state employee resources to recoup these overpayments. The legislature believes that a number of overpayments can be avoided in the future with the use of an electronic benefit transfer system to track a child's attendance at child care and to pay the subsidy to the provider.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 43.215 RCW to read as follows:
     By December 31, 2011, the department, with the assistance of the department of social and health services, shall develop and implement an electronic benefit transfer system to be used for the delivery of subsidized child care. The system shall be developed to allow the department to track time and attendance for any child for whom a child care provider is receiving a subsidy and to process subsidy payments to providers.