SENATE BILL REPORT

ESHB 1584

BYHouse Committee on Human Services (originally sponsored by Representatives 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

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Children & Family Services

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 22, 1989; March 30, 1989

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

      Signed by Senators Smith, Chairman; Craswell, Vice Chairman; Bailey, Stratton.

Senate Staff:Jennifer Strus (786-7472)

                  March 30, 1989

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES, MARCH 30, 1989

BACKGROUND:

The child care expansion grant fund was established in 1988, pursuant to SSB 6118.  Grants are 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 financial support for child care provider training in the state.

The Department of Social and Health Services administers a child care subsidy program for low-income working families, children of seasonal farm workers, and children receiving services through Child Protective Services or Child Welfare Services. The program does not serve all eligible children because of funding limitations.

SUMMARY:

The Legislature declares its intent to increase availability of child care services, especially for low-income families, and to improve child care quality by providing training and support services to child care providers.

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

The child care expansion grant fund monies may be used to make capital improvements on existing child care facilities, including family day care homes.  To be eligible to receive a grant, a person, school or organization must agree to serve a reasonable number of sick or handicapped children, infants, children needing weekend or night time care, children of low-income working parents and those whose costs of care are subsidized by the department.  For each grant provided, the department will designate the specific number or percentage of children listed above to whom the provider must care for.  The grant limitation of $10,000 is increased to $25,000.

When a grant is made to a private person or organization, the money shall be repaid to the fund if the child care facility ceases to provide child care earlier than the following:  one year for a grant up to $5,000; two years for a grant of $5,001 to $10,000; three years for a grant of $10,001 to $15,000; four years for a grant of $15,001 to $20,000; five years for a grant of $20,001 to $25,000.

$18,650,000 is appropriated to the department to increase subsidy rates.  Of that amount, $8,300,000 is provided for child care provider payments; $3,730,000 to expand the child care programs provided through CPS and CWS programs; $6,620,000 to expand child care services to children of low income employed parents.

$400,000 is appropriated to the expansion grant fund.  $1,000,000 is appropriated to the department solely for startup and operating funds to 10 local resource and referral agencies.  Grants are limited to $50,000 a year.  $500,000 is provided solely for support and training programs to assist providers.

$70,000 is provided to support the Child Care Coordinating Committee.

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

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENTS:

Businesses are permitted to deduct from their business and occupation tax the amount spent for capital and operation expenses to provide child care in an on-site facility for employees or to directly purchase child care services for their employees.

Child care providers who care for not more than three children, in addition to their own, need not be licensed by the Department of Social and Health Services if the following three requirements are met:  (1) the provider did not advertise or solicit children to care for; (2) the children either live in the provider's immediate neighborhood or their parents are established family friends of the provider; and (3) of the three children, not more than one is an infant.

Senate Committee - Testified: FOR:  Lyle Bates; Kim McNamera, Frank Russell Co.; Kathy DeWeese-Parkinson, East Vancouver Child Care; Tina Gravika, mother; Rev. Sammy Jamison, New Hope Child Care Center, Vancouver; Laura Getz, Director, Child Care Programs - Congregational Church; Helen Ensign, mother; Gladys Burns, League of Women Voters; Kevin Jackson, Executive Director, Crossroads Child Care Program; Lonnie Johns-Brown, NOW and Child Care Works for Washington; Claire Ward, family day care provider; Bartarn Davis, JTPA Program and Region 5 FIP Council