SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5522

BYSenators Rinehart, Bailey, Murray and Lee

Permitting on-site day care for education employees.

Senate Committee on Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 8, 1989; February 27, 1989

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5522 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

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

Senate Staff:Leslie Goldstein (786-7424)

                  February 28, 1989

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 27, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Researchers conducting national surveys of employers with child care arrangements reported that being involved in child care helped increase recruiting, morale, productivity, and quality and helped decrease accident rates, absenteeism, tardiness and turnover.  In 1984, the Legislature provided for a self-supporting child care demonstration project for employees of state government.

SUMMARY:

A program is established to grant funds to selected school districts to establish self-supporting child care centers for school district employees. 

A report to the Legislature is due January 15, 1991.

The program expires June 30, 1991.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

In awarding grants, priority shall be given to school districts that provide care to a reasonable number of sick children, children with handicapping conditions, or infants.

The appropriation is reduced from $150,000 to $48,000.

Appropriation:    $48,000

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested February 7, 1989

Senate Committee - Testified: FOR:  Suzanne Griffin, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction; Lonnie Johns-Brown, Washington State National Organization of Women; Bob Fisher, Washington Education Association; Betsy Underwood, Montesano teacher; David Westberg, Operating Engineers; Karen Keish, Washington State Labor Council AFL-CIO; Pat Thibadeau, Washington Women United