SENATE BILL REPORT

ESSB 5026

BYSenate Committee on Children & Family Services (originally sponsored by Senators Kreidler, Smith, Stratton, Rinehart, Wojahn and Sutherland)

Expanding child care resources and information.

Senate Committee on Children & Family Services

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 24, 1989; February 15, 1989

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5026 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

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

Senate Staff:Carol Pedigo (786-7417)

                  April 17, 1989

House Committe on Human Services

AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 14, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Following legislative direction, in 1987 the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) appointed a child care resources coordinator.  The coordinator is responsible for administering grants to local communities for use in information and referral systems, and for the creation of a data bank from which local systems can obtain data about licensed child care.  In implementing this bill, it was discovered that the bill was somewhat unclear regarding the extent of the local communities' involvement.

This program was first established by legislation which was not codified.  Since the program has long-term usefulness it has been suggested that the legislation be placed in statute.

Although the department receives a small amount of federal funds for resource and referral programs, such funds can only be used for planning, not operations.

SUMMARY:

The DSHS Office of Child Care Resources Coordinator is directed to:  (1) develop county or multi-county resource and referral organizations, involving community child care advocates on the boards of these organizations; (2) organize these organizations into a statewide system; (3) seek public or private funding and administer grants to create these organizations; (4) provide licensing information to resource and referral organizations around the state; (5) coordinate training and technical assistance to providers and staff; (6) collect information regarding insurance and other funding sources for child care related services; (7) award grants up to $25,000 to the local organizations; (8) compile data about local needs for future planning and development; and (9) provide information to, and assist the Washington State Child Care Partnership within the Department of Trade and Economic Development.

An appropriation to the Office of Child Care Resources Coordinator of $45,000 is made for start-up operating grants for local resource and referral organizations.

Appropriation:    $45,500 from general fund

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: FOR:  Senator Kreidler, sponsor; Deborah Robbins, Seattle Child Care Referral Services; Lonnie Johns-Brown, Washington State NOW and Child Care Works for Washington; Karen Tvedt, DSHS (neutral); Julie Nelson, Washington Family Child Care and Thurston County Child Care Action Council; Margie Reeves, Child Care Action Council and Washington Association for the Education of Young Children; Pat Thibedeau, Washington Women United; Kip Tokuda, Washington Council for Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect; Ruth Kagi, State Child Care Coordinating Committee; Joan Poliak, Washington Council for Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect; Sadikifu Akina-James, King County Child Care Coordinator

HOUSE AMENDMENTS:

DSHS is required to staff the Child Care Coordinating Committee and adopt rules regarding the distribution of child care expansion grants.

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.

Under current law, 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, or children needing weekend or night time care.  New language qualifies a provider for a grant if they care for children of low-income working parents or children 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 for whom the center must provide care.  The current grant limitation of $10,000 is increased to $25,000.

A new chapter is created in statute consolidating new and existing laws affecting child care.

The appropriation is eliminated.