H-0753.1                  _______________________________________________

                                                      HOUSE BILL 1490

                              _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              53rd Legislature                             1993 Regular Session

By Representatives Wineberry, Forner, Shin, Sheldon, King, Karahalios, J. Kohl and Anderson

Read first time 01/29/93.  Referred to Committee on Human Services.

Providing for child care.

          AN ACT Relating to child care; amending RCW 74.13.0903; creating a new section; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that building a system of quality, affordable child care requires coordinated efforts toward constructing partnerships at state and community levels.  Through the office of child care policy, the department of social and health services is responsible for facilitating the coordination of child care efforts and establishing working partnerships among the affected entities within the public and private sectors.  Through these collaborative efforts, the office of child care policy encouraged the coalition of locally based child care resource and referral agencies into a state-wide network.  The state-wide network, in existence since 1989, supports the development and operation of community-based resource and referral programs, improves the quality and quantity of child care available in Washington by fostering state-wide strategies, and generates then nurtures effective public-private partnerships.  The state-wide network provides important training, standards of service, and general technical assistance to its locally based child care resource and referral programs.  The locally based programs enrich the availability, affordability, and quality of child care in their communities.

        Sec. 2.  RCW 74.13.0903 and 1991 sp.s. c 16 s 924 are each amended to read as follows:

          The office of ((the)) child care ((resources coordinator)) policy is established to operate under the authority of the department of social and health services.  The duties and responsibilities of the office ((shall)) include, but are not limited to, the following, within appropriated funds:

          (1) Staff and assist the child care coordinating committee in the implementation of its duties under RCW 74.13.090;

          (2) Work ((with)) in conjunction with the state-wide child care resource and referral network as well as local governments, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and community child care advocates to create local child care resource and referral organizations.  These organizations may carry out needs assessments, resource development, provider training, technical assistance, and parent information and training;

          (3) Actively seek public and private money for distribution as grants to ((potential or existing)) the state-wide child care resource and referral network and to existing or potential local child care resource and referral organizations((.  After the 1991‑93 fiscal biennium, no grant shall be distributed that is greater than twenty-five thousand dollars));

          (4) Adopt rules regarding the application for and distribution of grants to local child care resource and referral organizations.  The rules shall, at a minimum, require an applicant to submit a plan for achieving the following objectives:

          (a) Provide parents with information about child care resources, including location of services and subsidies;

          (b) Carry out child care provider recruitment and training programs;

          (c) Offer support services, such as parent and provider seminars, toy-lending libraries, and substitute banks;

          (d) Provide information for businesses regarding child care supply and demand;

          (e) Advocate for increased public and private sector resources devoted to child care; and

          (f) Provide technical assistance to employers regarding employee child care services;

          (5) Provide staff support and technical assistance to the state-wide child care resource and referral network and local child care resource and referral organizations;

          (6) ((Organize the local child care resource and referral organizations into a state-wide system;

          (7))) Maintain a state-wide child care ((referral)) licensing data bank and work with department of social and health services licensors to provide information to local child care resource and referral organizations about licensed child care providers in the state;

          (((8))) (7) Through the state-wide child care resource and referral network and local resource and referral organizations, compile data about local child care needs and availability for future planning and development;

          (((9))) (8) Coordinate with the state-wide child care resource and referral network and local child care resource and referral organizations for the provision of training and technical assistance to child care providers; and

          (((10))) (9) Collect and assemble information regarding the availability of insurance and of federal and other child care funding to assist state and local agencies, businesses, and other child care providers in offering child care services.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  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.

                                                           --- END ---