SENATE BILL REPORT

EHB 1587

BYRepresentatives Nutley, Haugen, Braddock, Winsley, R. Fisher, Wang, Pruitt, Wineberry, Todd, Leonard, Jones, Rust, Jacobsen and Phillips

Encouraging the dispersion of child care facilities throughout Washington.

House Committe on Local Government

Senate Committee on Children & Family Services

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 16, 1989; March 30, 1989

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

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

Senate Staff:Jennifer Strus (786-7472)

                  March 30, 1989

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

BACKGROUND:

With the increasing demand for child care services in recent years, local land use planning and zoning codes are increasingly being perceived as barriers to the development of child care services.  Zoning ordinances are also perceived as encouraging the proliferation of unlicensed child care.

SUMMARY:

Each county, city and town that does not currently permit family day care homes to be located in a single family or residential zone, or a day care center to be located in a residential or commercial zone shall conduct a review of the need and demand for child care facilities.  The review must be completed by November 30, 1990, and a copy of the review must be sent to the Department of Community Development by December 31, 1990.

The Department of Community Development is to report the results of the local reviews to appropriate committees of the Legislature by January 31, 1991.  In consultation with various associations, the Department of Community Development shall develop a model ordinance by June 1, 1990, for the siting of child care facilities.

A family day care home is defined as a person providing care to six or fewer children in the person's family home.  A mini-day care center is defined as a person providing direct care for 12 or fewer children in a location other than the family home.  It also includes a person providing care to seven to 12 children in the person's family home.  A day care facility is defined as a child care facility for 13 or more children.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENTS: 

The Department of Community Development (DCD) and the Office of Child Care Resource Coordinator in the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) are responsible for developing the model ordinance by December 31, 1989.

By July 1, 1990, all counties, towns and cities must enact either the model ordinance or one developed by the local jurisdiction which accomplishes the same result as the model ordinance.

DCD and DSHS must report to the Legislature by January 31, 1991, on the local jurisdiction's progress in enacting the model or alternative ordinance and any problems associated with such enactment.

Senate Committee - Testified: Representative Busse Nutley, prime sponsor; Lonnie Johns-Brown, Child Care Works for Washington, NOW and Washington Association for the Education of Young Children (pro); Stan Finkelstein, Association of Washington Cities (pro)