Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Appropriations Subcommittee on Education

SB 5809

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.

Brief Summary of Bill

Makes the Home Visiting Services Account (HVSA) a fully appropriated account.
Directs all federal funds received by the Department of Early Learning (DEL) for home visiting to be deposited into the HVSA.
The DEL is designated as lead agency for home visiting.

Background:

In 2006 the Legislature established the Department of Early Learning (DEL). At this time it also established a private-public partnership, Thrive by Five Washington (Thrive), to focus on supporting the state's investments in early learning.

In 2010 the Legislature established the Home Visiting Services Account (HVSA), which is administered by the DEL. The HVSA is appropriated for administrative expenses and non-appropriated for all other expenses. The account contains a combination of state and federal funds used for home visiting activities aimed at enhancing child development and well-being, reducing the incidence of child abuse and neglect, and promoting school readiness. Expenditures from the HVSA can only be made after private matching funds raised by Thrive are committed and available.

The DEL contracts with Thrive to administer home visiting programs funded through the HVSA. Thrive funds home visiting programs using a competitive bid process.

Summary of Bill:

The HVSA is changed to be a fully appropriated account. All federal funds received by the DEL for home visiting must be deposited into the HVSA. The DEL is designated as overseeing the account and is named the lead agency for home visiting system development, while Thrive is directed to administer the home visiting service delivery system and support funded programs. The DEL's director and Thrive will determine annually the private match rate for public funds in the HVSA. The requirement that private funds be available at the time of public expenditure is removed. Thrive must report to the DEL regularly to demonstrate sufficient investment of private match funds into the HVSA. Thrive shall fund programs through a competitive bid process or in compliance with regulations of the funding source. Provisions related to transitional funding of home visiting programs prior to June 30, 2012, are removed.