HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SSB 5277

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      Higher Education

Title:  An act relating to child care grants for state institutions of higher education.

Brief Description:  Creating programs for child care at institutions of higher education.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Higher Education (originally sponsored by Senators Kohl‑Welles, Hale, Shin, Brown, Patterson, Finkbeiner, Eide, Bauer, Swecker, Rasmussen, Sellar, Prentice and Winsley).

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Higher Education:  3/24/99, 4/2/99 [DP].

           Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

$Establishes a child care grant program for institutions of higher education.

$Allows the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges and the Higher Education Coordinating Board to award competitive two-year grants.

$Creates two accounts for student child care in the custody of the State Treasurer.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 6 members:  Representatives Carlson, Republican Co-Chair; Kenney, Democratic Co-Chair; Lantz, Democratic Vice Chair; Radcliff, Republican Vice Chair; Edmonds and Gombosky.

Minority Report:  Without recommendation.  Signed by 2 members:  Representatives Dunn and Esser.

Staff:  Marilee Scarbrough (786-7196).

Background:

Many college students with children say that their most frequent problems center around child care, both finding it and paying for it.  State financial support is not currently provided to encourage high quality, accessible, and affordable child care for students at higher education institutions.

Summary of Bill:

A grant program for student child care in higher education is established.  The Higher Education Coordinating Board and the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges will administer the program for their respective institutions. 

The boards may award competitive two-year grants to institutions of higher education.  The grants must be used to encourage programs for child care needs.  The institution receiving the grant must contribute a matching grant amount.

The boards shall adopt rules to carry out the program, establish committees to evaluate the proposals, and establish guidelines for grant proposals.  For the 1999-2001 biennium, the goals are increasing access to child care for students, addressing the demand for infant and toddler care, providing affordable child care alternatives, creating more cooperative preschool programs, creating modes that can be replicated at other institutions, creating a partnership between university or college administrations and student government and increasing efficiency and innovation at campus child care centers.

The boards will also establish guidelines for an allocation system, solicit grant proposals and establish reporting, evaluation accountability, and monitoring requirements.  Two accounts for student child care are established in the custody of the State Treasurer.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  This bill addresses an emerging and important need.  The composition of college student bodies is changing.  The student population is older and we have more students returning to school after starting a family.  In 1995, we conducted a survey of child care needs on college campuses.  The study confirmed a great need.  Some institutions have a two-year waiting list for student child care.  This bill requires a matching grant, the campus administration and the associated students must also generate funds for the child care program.  Without good child care, education is not an option for many parents.  Child care is in need of expansion.  This bill will help to leverage funds from the state.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles, prime sponsor; Kathryn Crum, Washington Student Lobby; Jessica Wesch, student from University of Washington; Virginia DeForest, American Association of University Women; Margie Reeves, League of Women Voters; Rhonda Coats, State Board for Community and Technical Colleges; Kim Merriman, The Evergreen State College; and George Durrie, Eastern Washington University.