SENATE BILL REPORT

E2SHB 2471

BYHouse Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Cole, R. King, Walker, Scott, Anderson, Pruitt, Peery, Dorn, Rust, Basich, Nelson, G. Fisher, K. Wilson, Leonard, Prentice, Holland, Winsley, Wineberry, Phillips, P. King, Todd, Wang and Brekke)

Establishing a before and after school child care pilot program.

House Committe on Education

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 21, 1990; February 22, 1990

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

      Signed by Senators Bailey, Chairman; Lee, Vice Chairman; Anderson, Bender, Fleming, Gaspard, Murray, Rinehart.

Senate Staff:Leslie Goldstein (786-7424)

                  February 26, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 22, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Researchers on child care issues have found that about one-third of all American children between the ages of six and 13 are home alone for some time after school.  About 50 percent of the work force is now made up of single parent families and families with two parents working.  One family in six is headed by single, divorced or widowed women.

Currently, most school district before-and-after school child care programs are not licensed as child care providers through the Department of Social and Health Services.  As a result, low-income parents who are eligible for state subsidies for child care cannot use these subsidies for the school district programs.

SUMMARY:

Families who are eligible for a child care subsidy from the Department of Social and Health Services may use the subsidy to pay for before-and-after school child care provided by a school district.  Current licensing requirements established by the Department of Social and Health Services for child care facilities will not apply to the school based programs.

The Department of Social and Health Services and the Superintendent of Public Instruction shall jointly develop minimum standards for child care in schools.  The rules shall be presented to the State Board of Education for their review and adoption.  The Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Department of Social and Health Services shall also enter and sign an interagency agreement.  The rules and agreement shall be completed by September 1, 1990.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction may provide grants to school districts for before-and-after school child care programs.  The funds may only be used for start-up costs of new programs or expansion to new sites.  The grants may be used for needs assessments, planning and design of programs, equipment and materials, or capital improvements including portables.  The grants may be used for staff positions only for the first three months of employment. Grants may not be used for any costs incurred after the first 24 months of program operation.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall adopt rules to implement the grants for before-and-after school child care programs.  Criteria for selection of school districts must be based on local demand for services and, in particular, demand from low-income families.  School districts receiving grants must adopt a fee schedule based on projected costs of services.  They must submit an operating plan indicating that, within 24 months of initial operation, the program is expected to be self-supporting through fees and other local revenues.  The district must also provide a 25 percent match of funds or in-kind services, materials, supplies or use of facilities.

Implementation of this program is subject to an allocation in the appropriations act.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested February 6, 1990

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENTS:

School districts' authority to contract for services is expanded to include any governmental or nongovernmental organization.  The term "nonsectarian" is deleted.

Two additional grant programs are added:  (1) on-site child care for school employees; and (2) a model intergenerational child care program to provide child care to children under five whose mothers are under the age of 18.

Appropriation:  $48,000 to the Superintendent of Public Instruction for child care centers for school district employees; $49,000 to the Department of Community Development for the model intergenerational child care program.

Senate Committee - Testified: EDUCATION:  PRO:  Diane Olsen, Washington Children's Learning Centers; Lonnie Johns-Brown, Child Care Works for Washington; Ken Watson, Seattle Public Schools; Linda Thompson-Black, City of Seattle; Bill Cassidy, Tacoma Public Schools