SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5026

BYSenators 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)

                  February 15, 1989

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES, FEBRUARY 15, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Following legislative direction, in 1987 the Department of Social and Health Services 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.

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:

Language is revised to clarify the department's responsibility to develop a resource and referral system which would operate at the county or multicounty level, but would be linked to a statewide network staffed by the coordinator's office.

The local systems must carry out needs assessments, resource development, provide training, technical assistance, resource and referral, and parent information and training.  They must also compile data regarding child care needs and availability for future planning and development.

The expiration date for the office of child care resources coordinator is extended from June 30, 1989 to June 30, 1991.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The state coordinator is responsible for compiling data collected by local resource and referral systems. 

Local agency responsibilities are made permissive rather than mandatory.

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; 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