H-1353              _______________________________________________

                                                    HOUSE BILL NO. 605

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Representatives Jacobsen, Belcher, Niemi, Nelson, Appelwick, Allen, Cole and P. King

Read first time 2/4/87 and referred to Committee on Higher Education.

AN ACT Relating to child care; adding new sections to chapter 28B.16 RCW; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature recognizes that on-site child day care for employees of public and private organizations is a worthwhile pursuit.  To further the goals of affordable, accessible, and quality child care for working parents, the legislature intends to establish a self-supporting child care demonstration project for state employees of the University of Washington.  The legislature recognizes that appropriate child day care services may enhance productivity and lower absenteeism among state employees.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     The higher education personnel board, in conjunction with administration of the University of Washington and representatives of the University of Washington employee organizations shall identify an amount of suitable space in state-owned, state-leased, or University of Washington buildings in the University of Washington area of Seattle for use as child day care centers for the children of University of Washington employees.

          The higher education personnel board, in conjunction with the University of Washington administration shall establish a fair rental rate for the organization to pay for the space used.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     (1) The higher education personnel board shall conduct a needs assessment to determine the need for and interest in child day care facilities for the children of state employees at the University of Washington;

          (2) The higher education personnel board shall determine the number of children which may participate in the demonstration project required under sections 1 through 3 of this act; and

          (3) If the suitable space is determined to be available, the higher education personnel board shall contract with one or more organizations to operate child day care facilities for the children identified under this section.  Such facilities may be located in one or more buildings as identified under section 2 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     Sections 1 through 3 of this act are each added to chapter 28B.16 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     The sum of seventy-five thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1989, from the general fund to the higher education personnel board to conduct a needs assessment to determine the need for and interest in child day care services for state employees at the University of Washington and for start-up costs to implement this act.