AN ACT Relating to encouraging companies to assist in the provision of child care; amending RCW 43.31.512; adding new sections to chapter 43.31 RCW; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that there is a shortage of available quality child care because of the growing number of working persons who need child care assistance. This causes problems for the families and for economic development generally. Child care provided by employers or assisted by employers has advantages for both the employer and the employee and his or her family. The advantages for the employer include lower absenteeism, lower job turnover, and a more productive employee. The advantages for the employee include accessibility to the child by a parent during the workday, coordination of the child care center with the employee's work hours, and a higher assurance of quality care for the child.

(2) The legislature also finds that employer-provided or employer-assisted child care provides significant public benefits by contributing to a more stable and productive workforce, to quality care for children, and to a more stable family. Property owners who provide facilities for companies can also make a significant contribution by providing child care assistance.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) A company may apply to the child care facility fund for a loan guarantee, loan, or grant, or request a grant for reimbursement for money spent or space provided for child care or for assisting off-site child care programs.

(2) For on-site child care space provided by a single company, the available grant is three dollars per square foot, per year for space provided exclusively for child care. An additional one dollar per square foot, per year may be granted for each of the following provided by each child care facility: (a) A quality outside play area, (b) sick leave, vacation, and health benefits for employees of the child care facility, (c) care for handicapped children, and (d) after one year of operation, accreditation by the national association of the education of young people.

(3) For centrally located on-site or off-site child care space that is provided jointly by two or more companies, the available grant is based on the criteria in subsection (2) of this section but is prorated between the companies providing the child care.

(4) For assisting off-site child care that does not fall under subsection (2) or (3) of this section, such as subsidizing local child care centers, establishing or subsidizing a local family child care home network, or otherwise working with community organizations to provide child care services, the available grant is up to twenty-five percent of the amount expended.

(5) The grants under sections 1 through 4 of this act are per child care facility or program established or assisted by a company. A company may receive grants for one or more child care facilities or programs.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) The loan guarantees, loans, or grants available under section 2 of this act are available only if the child care provided meets all the state and local requirements regarding the provision of child care, including licensing and operating the child care facility.

(2) The child care facility may, when space is available, provide care for the children of persons not employed by the company requesting the credit under section 2 of this act. However, the company's involvement in child care shall be generally proportionate to the expected needs of the employees, or in the case of a property owner, to the expected needs of employees of companies located on the property.

(3) Grants under section 2 of this act are not available when any space provided for child care is not donated.

(4) Grants under section 2 of this act shall be limited to a maximum of three hundred square feet per full-time child. The number of full-time children shall be certified by the company as of December 1st of each year. For the purposes of this subsection, "full-time child" is a child that receives child care for an average of at least six hours per day.

Sec. 4. Section 7, chapter 430, Laws of 1989 and RCW 43.31.512 are each amended to read as follows:

The child care facility fund committee shall award loan guarantees, loans or grants to those persons, businesses, or organizations meeting the minimum standards set forth in this chapter or under sections 1 through 3, chapter -- (H-3280/90), Laws of 1990 who will best serve the intent of the chapter to increase the availability of high quality, affordable child care in Washington state. The committee shall promulgate rules regarding the application for and disbursement of loan guarantees, loans, or grants from the fund, including loan terms and repayment procedures. At a minimum, such rules shall require an applicant to submit a plan which includes a detailed description of:

(1) The need for a new or improved child care facility in the area served by the applicant;

(2) The steps the applicant will take to serve a reasonable number of handicapped children as defined in ((~~chapter 72.40~~)) RCW 28A.13.010, sick children, infants, children requiring night time or weekend care, or children whose costs of care are subsidized by government;

(3) Why financial assistance from the state is needed to start or improve the child care facility;

(4) How the guaranteed loan, loan, or grant will be used, and how such uses will meet the described need;

(5) The child care services to be available at the facility and the capacity of the applicant to provide those services; and

(6) The financial status of the applicant, including other resources available to the applicant which will ensure the continued viability of the facility and the availability of its described services.

Recipients shall annually for two years following the receipt of the loan guarantee, loan, or grant, submit to the child care facility fund committee a report on the facility and how it is meeting the child care needs for which it was intended.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. Sections 1 through 3 of this act are each added to chapter 43.31 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.