HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1778

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                       Human Services

Title:  An act relating to state employee child care.

Brief Description:  Establishing the office of state employee child care.

Sponsors:  Representatives Wolfe, Brown, Talcott, Leonard, Johanson, Kessler, Appelwick, Romero, Pruitt, H. Myers, Edmondson, Linville, Veloria, Anderson, Reams, Rust, Miller, Wang and J. Kohl.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Human Services, March 3, 1993, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 6 members:  Representatives Riley, Vice Chair; Brown; Karahalios; Patterson; Thibaudeau; and Wolfe.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 4 members:  Representatives Cooke, Ranking Minority Member; Talcott, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Lisk; and Padden.

Staff:  Jim Erlandson (786-7093).

Background:  In 1985, legislation was adopted that allows state owned and leased buildings to be used to provide child care for state employees. Initially, a self-supporting child care demonstration project was funded. Subsequently, in 1990, $600,000 was appropriated as part of the capital budget. That program was again funded on a wider basis in the current biennium, with grants and services being provided on a statewide basis. Some problems have arisen in the provision of these services because of the original laws' limitation to a demonstration program.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  This bill provides that a state agency may identify space it wishes to use for employee child care or that it may request the Department of General Administration to do so. It deletes language that confines state employee child care services to a demonstration program in the Olympia area and allows the state, with the approval of the Office of Financial Management, to provide space to non-profit state employee organizations at no charge or at a reduced charge.

Section 5 in subsection (4) promotes partnerships between agencies, employees, labor organizations and private employers in an effort to increase the availability of available, quality child care. It also assigns the responsibility for development of related policies to the director of the Department of Personnel, in consultation with the Child Care Coordinating Committee.

Section 7 amends existing laws to increase the Child Care Coordinating Committee to a maximum of 33 members, including representatives from the Department of Personnel and the Department of Health.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  This legislation provides for consultation with labor organizations and employee representatives by the director of the Department of Personnel, in making policies and procedures that address employee child care needs.

The substitute bill provides for input from the Child Care Coordinating Committee in the development of a budget allocation for state buildings.

Fiscal Note:  Requested February 9, 1993.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The state needs to continue to be in a lead role in advocating for employer assisted child care.  This legislation will allow state employees input and access to quality child care.

Testimony Against: None.

Witnesses:  Representative Wolfe, prime sponsor; Bev Hermanson, Washington Federation of State Employees; and Kerry Slattery, Washington Public Employees Association;