HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1571

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                 Children & Family Services

Title:  An act relating to child care access.

Brief Description:  Providing child care payments to persons complying with P.L. 104‑193 and the Washington WorkFirst program.

Sponsors:  Representatives Tokuda, Boldt, Kagi, Gombosky, Conway, Murray, Ogden, Rockefeller, Kenney, Dickerson, Veloria, O'Brien, Santos, Haigh, Kessler, Stensen, Wood and Poulsen.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Children & Family Services:  2/10/99, 2/24/99 [DP].

                 Brief Summary of Bill

$Recipients of temporary assistance for needy families who are meeting work requirements are eligible to receive child care payments while enrolled in education programs.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 10 members:  Representatives D. Sommers, Republican Co-Chair; Tokuda, Democratic Co-Chair; Boldt, Republican Vice Chair; Kagi, Democratic Vice Chair; Campbell; Carrell; Dickerson; Eickmeyer; Kastama and Pflug.

Staff:  David Knutson (786-7146).

Background:

The Department of Social and Health Services provides child care on a sliding scale to recipients and former recipients of TANF when they are engaged in work and work-related activities.  Child care is not available if they are also attending a state technical or community college.

Summary of Bill:

Recipients of TANF who are meeting program work activity requirements and are attending a state community or technical college are eligible to receive child care benefits.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  Recipients of temporary assistance for needy families who are meeting work requirements and attending school should receive child care while in school.  The additional child care should be limited to recipients who are working and attending school.

Testimony Against:  None presented.

Testified: (In support)  Melissa Scott; and Lonnie Johns-Brown, Washington Association for Education of Young Children.

(In support with concerns) Russ Lidman, Employment Security Department; and Liz Dunbar, Department of Social and Health Services.