H-0953.2                  _______________________________________________

                                                      HOUSE BILL 1559

                              _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              53rd Legislature                             1993 Regular Session

By Representatives Brown, Wolfe, Ballasiotes, Flemming, Riley, Kessler, Linville, Thibaudeau, Leonard, J. Kohl, Mastin, Wang, Jones, Pruitt, Karahalios, Campbell, Johanson, Quall, G. Fisher, Cothern, L. Johnson, Kremen and H. Myers

Read first time 02/01/93.  Referred to Committee on Human Services.

Developing a plan for school-aged child care programs.

          AN ACT Relating to school-aged child care programs; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that a large proportion of school-aged children in the state of Washington are not under the care and supervision of an adult before and after school and during school vacations while their parents work or are engaged in educational programs.  As a result, the health, safety, and well-being of these children are at considerable risk during these hours.  The legislature recognizes the need to encourage and facilitate the development of school-aged child care programs throughout the state for the benefit of the state's families.  The legislature, therefore, intends to develop a plan for a state-wide system of school-aged child care programs.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  The child care coordinating committee established under RCW 74.13.090 shall develop a plan for a state-wide system of school-aged child care programs.  The child care coordinating committee shall ensure the involvement of school-aged child care providers, either public or private, or both, including those who are not current members of the child care coordinating committee, in the development of the plan.  The plan must include, but is not limited to:

          (1) A statement of the current need for before-and-after school and school vacation care programs in this state;

          (2) Identification of the children that should be targeted for school-aged child care programs;

          (3) How local communities can involve parents and interested groups in identifying and addressing local needs for school-aged child care programs;

          (4) Standards for quality programming during the hours of operation of school-aged child care;

          (5) Recommendations for school-aged child care health and safety standards;

          (6) Recommendations for the administration of the programs, including transportation if recommendations include off-site care programs;

          (7) Recommendations regarding funding and parent-pay policies; and

          (8) Recommendations on the policy and role of the state in school-aged child care programs.

          The child care coordinating committee shall submit its plan to the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 1993.

                                                           --- END ---