SENATE BILL REPORT

ESB 5478

BYSenators Rinehart, Gaspard, Bender, Bauer, Moore, Fleming, Williams, Talmadge, DeJarnatt and McDermott; by request of Office of the Governor and Superintendent of Public Instruction

Changing provisions relating to school-based day care.

Senate Committee on Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 9, 1987; February 10, 1987

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators Gaspard, Chairman; Bauer, Vice Chairman; Rinehart, Vice Chairman; Bailey, Bender, Patterson.

Senate Staff:Marcia Costello (786-7419)

                  March 11, 1987

AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 10,  1987

BACKGROUND:

A Task Force on Children's Day Care was formed by the Governor by Executive Order No. EO 85-05 on July 5, 1985.  The mission of the Task Force was to study key issues in day care and to advise the Governor and Legislature and the public on actions which might impact day care issues.

Included in the Task Force Report issued in December of 1985 is a recommendation that rules and statutes pertaining to the involvement of public schools in day care be clarified to encourage the participation of local school districts.

A recent opinion of the Office of the Attorney General (AGO 1987 No. 1) indicates that:  (1) school districts have authority to provide programs that offer care for children; (2) the facilities of the district may be used for this purpose; (3) school district funds may be used for the operation of child care programs and for the construction or remodeling of facilities to house such programs; and (4) that school districts are authorized to charge fees for child care services.

SUMMARY:

So long as funds other than the state basic education appropriation and the state transportation appropriation are used, school districts are allowed to contract with public and private entities to provide child care and instruction to children on the school site or elsewhere.  In addition, school districts may provide for the reduction or waiver of charges for the care based on the financial ability of the parent or guardian to pay for the services.  School districts may also transport the children involved in such a program using district owned or contracted vehicles.  No child under the age of three shall be transported unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: Ann Daley, Office of the Governor; Bill Daley, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction; Della Grainger, South Central School District; Margie Reeves, Washington Alliance Concerned with School Age Parents; Jerry Wasson, Department of Social and Health Services; Pat Thibaudeau, Washington Women United; Mike Doubleday, City of Seattle; Ginny Kappenman, Highline School District