FINAL BILL REPORT

2SSB 6051

                              C 430 L 89

BYSenate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Anderson, Cantu, Stratton, Smith, Thorsness, McMullen, Wojahn, Lee and Bailey)

Promoting employer involvement in the development of child care services and facilities.

Senate Committee on Economic Development & Labor and Committee on Ways & Means

House Committe on Trade & Economic Development

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

As the role of women in the workforce continues to grow dramatically, the availability of quality, affordable child care is viewed more and more as crucial to the stability of the family and the economic health of businesses in the state.  There are not enough child care services to meet the needs of working parents, and those which do exist are often prohibitively expensive or inconveniently located. 

In 1987, the Legislature created a Coordinator for Child Care Resources in the Department of Social and Health Services, and directed the office to help encourage employer provided assistance for child care.  This legislation expires in June, 1989.

In 1988, the Legislature established a Child Care Coordinating Committee to help coordinate state agencies in this area and to provide recommendations to the Legislature regarding child care subsidy programs.  Currently, the major child care subsidy programs are: (1) assistance provided through AFDC; (2) assistance to low income, employed, and non-AFDC persons; (3) assistance to teenage parents completing their high school education or GED; (4) care for low income seasonal workers; and (5) care associated with Child Protective Services.

The Legislature created but did not fund a child care expansion grant fund to provide one-time start-up grants to persons, organizations, or schools for new child care facilities, or to expand existing facilities to handle children with special needs.

SUMMARY:

The Business Assistance Center in the Department of Trade and Economic Development is directed to prepare and disseminate information on child care options for employers, and to facilitate employer access to technical assistance which will enable the employers to provide child care services to their employees.

The child care facility fund is established, to be administered by a committee within the Business Assistance Center.  Public and private money may be deposited into the fund.

The committee will consist of five business and child care experts, and will make one-time grants, loans or loan guarantees of up to $25,000 to individuals, businesses and other organizations to start or improve a licensed child care facility.  Applicants for funds must describe in detail the child care needs of their particular area, why they need financial assistance from the state, how the assistance will be used to meet the described need, and their financial status, including other resources available to assure continued provision of the intended services.

Grant, loan, or loan guarantee recipients must report to the committee each year for two years on the status of their facility and program.

The development loan fund committee is directed to give higher priority to economic development projects that contain provisions for child care.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

     Senate   45    2

     House 97  0 (House amended)

     Senate          (Senate refused to concur)

     House           (House refused to recede)

Free Conference Committee

     House 97  0

     Senate   46    0

EFFECTIVE:May 15, 1989