H-1551.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 1935

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     1999 Regular Session

By Representatives Tokuda, Boldt, Ogden, Schual‑Berke, Lovick, Kessler, Kenney, Rockefeller, Murray, Scott, Edmonds, Conway, Kagi, Santos, Poulsen, Veloria and Lantz

Read first time 02/11/1999.  Referred to Committee on Appropriations.

Adjusting eligibility for early childhood assistance programs.

    AN ACT Relating to eligibility for early childhood assistance programs; and amending RCW 28A.215.110.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 28A.215.110 and 1994 c 166 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

    Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout RCW 28A.215.100 through 28A.215.200 and 28A.215.900 through 28A.215.908.

    (1) "Advisory committee" means the advisory committee under RCW 28A.215.140.

    (2) "Department" means the department of community, trade, and economic development.

    (3) "Eligible child" means a child not eligible for kindergarten whose family income is at or below one hundred thirty percent of the federal poverty level, as published annually by the federal department of health and human services, and includes a child whose family is eligible for public assistance, and who is not a participant in a federal or state program providing comprehensive services and may include children who are eligible under rules adopted by the department if the number of such children equals not more than ten percent of the total enrollment in the early childhood program.  Priority for enrollment shall be given to children from families with the lowest income or to eligible children from families with multiple needs.

    (4) "Approved programs" means those state-supported education and special assistance programs which are recognized by the department of community, trade, and economic development as meeting the minimum program rules adopted by the department to qualify under RCW 28A.215.100 through 28A.215.200 and 28A.215.900 through 28A.215.908 and are designated as eligible for funding by the department under RCW 28A.215.160 and 28A.215.180.

    (5) "Comprehensive" means an assistance program that focuses on the needs of the child and includes education, health, and family support services.

    (6) "Family support services" means providing opportunities for parents to:

    (a) Actively participate in their child's early childhood program;

    (b) Increase their knowledge of child development and parenting skills;

    (c) Further their education and training;

    (d) Increase their ability to use needed services in the community;

    (e) Increase their self-reliance.

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