SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6118

BYSenators 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)

                  February 8, 1988

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS, FEBRUARY 5, 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 committee shall propose changes to the child care subsidy structure to the Department of Social and Health Services and the Legislature by January 1, 1989.  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.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The coordinating committee is expanded to include a representative of two and four year college child care providers.  The functions of the committee are clarified to provide for communication and efficiency between state agencies, rather than to review the substance of state programs.  The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is required to choose original (nonagency) committee members from lists provided by professional associations and other interest groups.

Language is omitted which would have required the coordinating committee to plan to bring the child care subsidy rate levels equal to the actual cost of providing care by 1992.

Employers who receive a tax decrease because they provide on- site child care must use capital investments for which they received a tax benefit for a minimum of five years.

Expansion grants must be screened by the Department of Community Development for business activity and fire safety standards before the DSHS awards the grants.

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)