SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 6118

BYSenate Committee on Children & Family Services (originally sponsored by Senators Wojahn, Anderson, Fleming, Rinehart, Garrett, Talmadge, Stratton, Deccio and Bauer)

Providing for the establishment of state child care policy.

Senate Committee on Children & Family Services

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 26, 1988; February 1, 1988

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6118 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

      Signed by Senators Kiskaddon, Chairman; Bailey, Vice Chairman; Fleming, Garrett, Stratton.

Senate Staff:Jean Soliz (786-7755)

                  February 4, 1988

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 5, 1988

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6118 as recommended by Committee on Children & Family Services be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators McDonald, Chairman; Bauer, Cantu, Fleming, Gaspard, Lee, Moore, Newhouse, Saling, Talmadge, Vognild, Williams, Zimmerman.

Senate Staff:Jan Sharar (786-7715)

                  March 4, 1988

AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 11, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Washington provides child care assistance through several agencies, but has no coordinating entity to monitor for efficient use of state resources.  No statutory child care policy has been set by the Legislature to guide the agencies, employers and consumers.

The need to expand and coordinate care systems for the children of workers is a phenomenon of modern labor force demographics similar to the shift in responsibility for care of the elderly.  A majority of mothers now are required to work in the paid labor force instead of in the home.

The labor market is experiencing a severe shortage of child care, both in terms of availability and affordability.  The shortage affects all working people with children, at all economic levels.  Experts are expressing serious concern about quality of care issues as well.

Child care programs are overburdened.  The subsidy program is inadequate and needs substantial change, according to all child care experts.  Pending federal legislation will assist states which have adequate safety standards and coordinating committees in place.

SUMMARY:

A child care policy is created which encourages the participation of families and business in operating and expanding the child care system to meet the needs of the labor market and assist families to gain economic independence.

The policy promotes the availability and affordability of culturally and developmentally appropriate child care in a variety of settings.

A child care coordinating committee is established to provide advisory coordination and communication between state agencies and to qualify for potential federal child care assistance funding.

The coordinating committee will also review and propose changes to the Department of Social and Health Services subsidy structure.  An emergency appropriation is made to supplement the subsidy program until the structure is revised for the next biennium.

A child care expansion grant fund is created to provide one- time grants for the purpose of starting child care facilities or expanding existing facilities to accommodate special needs children.

Employers may receive a Business and Occupations tax decrease if they provide on-site child care.  They must use capital investments for which they received a tax benefit for a minimum of five years.

Appropriation:    $400,000

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested February 4, 1988

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Senate Committee - Testified: CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES: Bill Daley, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction; Judy Konopaski, Washington Association for the Education of Young Children; Pat Thibaudeau, Washington Women United; Jean Ameloxen, and Mary Frost, Department of Community Development; Mike Von Rodgers, Child Care Action Council; Jon Leveque, Alliance for Children, Youth & Families; Kip Tokuda, Washington State Council for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect; Ruth Kagi, League of Women Voters of Washington

Senate Committee - Testified: WAYS & MEANS:  Pat Thibaudeau (for)

HOUSE AMENDMENT:

Intent language is added to encourage parents to care for and nurture their children through traditional methods of parental care at home.

The Department of Social and Health Services shall provide staff support for the coordinating committee within available resources only, and the department is required to use any appropriate federal funds that become available to support the coordinating committee.

An additional duty is placed on the coordinating committee, requiring a review and recommendations on the options for establishing an allocation for day care facilities when constructing state buildings.

Provisions are removed which would have allowed a B&0 tax deduction for employers who provide direct child care services to employees.

The appropriations section is removed.