SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6516

BYSenators Bailey, Stratton, Bauer and Bluechel

Providing for child care services for homeless families.

Senate Committee on Children & Family Services

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 24, 1990

Majority Report:     That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6516 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

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

Senate Staff:Lidia Mori (786-7755)

                January 24, 1990

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 5, 1990; February 6, 1990

Majority Report:     That Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 6516 be substituted therefor, and the second substitute bill do pass.

     Signed by Senators McDonald, Chairman; Amondson, Bailey, Bauer, Bluechel, Cantu, Fleming, Gaspard, Hayner, Johnson, Lee, Moore, Newhouse, Niemi, Saling, Smith, Talmadge, Williams, Wojahn.

Senate Staff:Mary Poole (786-7613)

                February 9, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS, FEBRUARY 6, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Families are the fastest growing group of the homeless population.  In 1988 to 1989, children represented 31 percent of the total homeless people housed by approximately 105 shelters throughout Washington.  More than half of the children served, or 7,593, are under age five.  The actual number of homeless children is higher since state funded shelters recorded 95,000 calls that were turned away.  A recent study found that of the homeless preschoolers examined, 47 percent were slow in language, physical or emotional development and at least half needed further psychiatric evaluation.  It is believed that child care services for homeless children will improve their physical, social, emotional and cognitive functioning and therefore prevent later educational and social failures.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is directed to contract with eligible providers for specialized child care and respite care for children of homeless parents.  A minimum of $25,000 per fiscal year is allocated to providers in any county that had at least one hundred children under the age of five served in emergency shelters the preceeding year.  If a county had less than one hundred children under the age of five served in emergency shelters the preceeding year, the minimum allocation is $10,000.  Providers are required to demonstrate that licensed child care and respite child care are available for children under the age of six.  Homeless parents of children are afforded an appropriate place to leave their children while seeking or maintaining employment, attending treatment, searching for housing or needing respite.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The child care for homeless children program will be reviewed by the Senate Children and Family Services Committee on or before January 10, 1992, and will terminate on June 30, 1992.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SECOND SUBSTITUTE:

The appropriation of $1,374,400 is removed.  The provisions in the bill are made contingent on funding the budget.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:   none

Fiscal Note:    requested

Effective Date:July 1, 1990

Senate Committee - Testified:   CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES:  FOR:  Ann Bourden, Clark County Department of Community Services; Ed Petersen, Snohomish County Task Force on Homelessness; Al Thomas, Volunteers of America; Cheri McCoubrey, Morningsong Child Care; Billie Young, City of Seattle; Nancy Stokeley; Maura Bird; Margaret Casey; Roxanne Bryson, People for Peoples Issues; Margie Krantz

Senate Committee - Testified:   WAYS & MEANS:  Nancy Ashley, Homeless Children's Network