HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1584

BYRepresentatives Bristow, Kremen, Belcher, Brough, Valle, Wineberry, Sprenkle, Peery, Leonard, Cole, Appelwick, Ebersole, Winsley, R. Fisher, Wang, Miller, Pruitt, Todd, Jones, Rust, Scott, Jacobsen, Rasmussen, Spanel, Dorn, Crane, Basich and Phillips

Dealing with child care facilities.

House Committe on Human Services

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (7)

      Signed by Representatives Bristow, Chair; Scott, Vice Chair; Anderson, Hargrove, Leonard, Raiter and Winsley.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (3)

      Signed by Representatives Moyer, Ranking Republican Member; Padden and Tate.

House Staff:John B. Welsh (786-7133)

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

Majority Report:  The substitute bill by Committee on Human Services as amended by Committee on Appropriations be substituted therefor and the substitute bill as amended do pass. (16)

      Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Grant, Vice Chair; Appelwick, Braddock, Brekke, Bristow, Dorn, Ebersole, Hine, Peery, Rust, Spanel, Sprenkle, Valle, Wang and Wineberry.

Minority Report:  Do not pass. (3)

      Signed by Representatives Bowman, McLean and Padden.

House Staff:      Sandi Gray (786-7136)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS MARCH 4, 1989

BACKGROUND:

The Child Care Expansion grant fund was established in 1988 to award grants, limited to $10,000 on a one-time basis, for the purpose of starting child care facilities, or for making capital improvements to existing facilities, which serve handicapped children, sick children, infant care or children needing night care.  No monies were appropriated to this fund, and businesses are not eligible to receive grants.  Currently, there are 10 community-based child care resource and referral agencies in the state.  There is limited if any, financial support for child care provider training in the state.  Currently, the Department of Social and Health Services administers a Child Care Subsidy Program that subsidizes child care costs for low-income working families, children of migrant workers, and children receiving services through child protective or child welfare services. The program does not serve all eligible children because of funding limitations.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  The legislature declares its intent to increase availability of child care services, especially for low-income families, and improve quality by providing training and support services, and a new Chapter for child care services is established.

The rule-making authority of the Secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services governing day care services is clarified to encompass child care services.

The child care expansion grant fund offered to child care facilities accommodating handicapped children, sick children, infant care or children needing night care is expanded to include those providers who make a commitment to serve a reasonable number of such children including those children whose care is subsidized by the department. Businesses and business consortia are eligible to receive grants which must be matched by an amount equal to twice the amount of the grant. The grant limitation of ten thousand dollars is increased to twenty five thousand dollars.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  Consortia of businesses may be eligible for child care expansion grants upon a match of twice the grant amount.  Appropriation amounts are specified.

CHANGES PROPOSED BY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS:  The striking amendment declares that increasing the availability of child care, particularly for children with special needs, is a governmental function.  The Child Care Expansion Grant Fund is revised to remove eligibility of businesses and business consortia for grants.  In addition, as a condition for grants, the child care provider must commit to accept special needs children at the level designated by the department.  Technical corrections are made relating to the appropriations and recodification sections.

Appropriation:    $20,570,000 to the Department of Social and Health Services.

Fiscal Note:      Requested February 24, 1989.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Human Services) Vikke Pierson, Child Care Works for Washington; Joy Garrison, Washington Alliance Concern-School Aged Parents; Heather Canfield, Teen Parent; Deirdre Godfrey, Fair Budget Action Campaign; Lonnie Johns-Brown, National Organization of Women and Donna L. C. Fish, Teen Parent Advocate.

(Appropriations) Representative June Leonard; Lonnie Johns Brown, Child Care Works for Washington; Seline Chow, City of Seattle; Margie Reeves, Washington Association for the Education of Young Children; Pat Thibaudeau, Washington Women United.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Human Services) None Presented.

(Appropriations) None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Human Services) The demand for child day care services is far outpacing the supply as more mothers enter the work force.  Mothers have more opportunities to work due to a lower incidence of children and more education. Divorce and lower standards of living compel mothers to seek work as well. Only 35 percent of children needing day care services are being served.  Fifty eight percent of mothers with children under nine are working, and 55 percent of mothers with children under five are in the work force. Day care services are essential for children as learning is fostered as well as development of socialization skills. There is a real need for available, affordable and quality day care services.

(Appropriations) Payment of adequate rates and "slot-based" payments will ensure that low-income families have access to quality child care.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Human Services) None Presented.

(Appropriations) None Presented.