READ FIRST TIME 03/10/03.   

     AN ACT Relating to consolidation of early learning and child care programs and services in the state; adding a new chapter to Title 74 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The legislature recognizes that:
     (a) Early learning and child care are an essential part of the daily lives of Washington families;
     (b) The state is involved in many early learning and child care programs and services that are administered through at least three state agencies;
     (c) A more cohesive and integrated early learning and child care system would result in greater efficiencies for the state and greater accessibility for the families that the programs are intended to serve; and
     (d) An effective system of governance would provide leadership, voice, and vision for early learning and child care in state government.
     (2) The legislature finds that the early years of a child's life are critical to the child's healthy brain development and that the quality of caregiving during the early years can significantly impact the child's intellectual and emotional growth and social adjustment.
     (3) It is therefore the purpose of this chapter to initiate the development of a seamless statewide system of programs and services. This system is not intended to impose any learning goals or program standards on families not associated with or partaking of the programs and services identified in this act, but rather is meant to provide support to families in preparing for and maintaining children's success in school.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   The governor and the superintendent of public instruction shall coordinate the administration of early learning and child care programs and services in the state.
     (1) For the purposes of this chapter, "early learning and child care programs and services" are limited to the following functions and entities:
     (a) State training and registry system investments;
     (b) State head start collaboration project;
     (c) Title 1B - Even Start Family Literacy Program;
     (d) Child and adult care food program;
     (e) IDEA part B special education for children three to five years of age;
     (f) IDEA part C early intervention for children birth through two years of age;
     (g) Title 1, part C migrant education preschool program;
     (h) Licensing of child care centers and homes;
     (i) Child care health inspections;
     (j) All programs financed and contracted through the child care development fund;
     (k) All child care and early learning activities authorized under chapter 74.13 RCW;
     (l) All state child care subsidy programs; and
     (m) Early childhood education and assistance program.
     (2) In administering the early learning and child care programs and services in the state, it is the intent of the legislature that the governor and the superintendent of public instruction coordinate and collaborate with all federally funded early learning and child care programs and services operating in the state, such as head start, 21st century community learning centers, early learning and child care programs funded under the no child left behind act, and before/after school programs for children under thirteen years of age.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   (1) There is established an early learning and child care task force within the office of the superintendent of public instruction to oversee the coordination of early learning and child care programs and services in the state. The task force shall be under the joint authority of the governor and the superintendent of public instruction. The focus of the task force shall be the identification of the most efficient system for the administration and fiscal management of early learning and child care programs and services in the state, including the consolidation of functions and entities of the programs listed in section 1, as appropriate. In conducting its work, the task force shall seek involvement from families, schools, community, and stakeholder groups involved with early learning and child care programs and services throughout the state.
     (2) It is intended that the membership of the task force include, but not be limited to, the following: (a) Individuals with expertise in the design and delivery of early learning and child care services in a school setting; (b) individuals with expertise in the design and delivery of early learning and child care services in both a nonprofit and for-profit licensed center and family home child care settings; (c) individuals who design and deliver early learning and child care programs and services, including representatives of higher education and state governmental agencies; and (d) individuals who are parents of children under thirteen years of age.
     For the purposes of this subsection, "parent" includes a legal guardian or other person standing in loco parentis, such as a grandparent or stepparent with whom the child lives, or a person who is legally responsible for the welfare of the child.
     (3) The task force shall consist of seventeen members as follows:
     (a) Five members recommended by the child care coordinating committee, jointly appointed by the governor and the superintendent of public instruction;
     (b) Four members appointed by the governor;
     (c) Four members appointed by the superintendent of public instruction; and
     (d) Four members of the legislature, one from each political caucus of the house of representatives to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and one from each political caucus of the senate to be appointed by the president of the senate, each of whom shall serve as ex officio, nonvoting members of the task force.
     (4) The governor and the superintendent of public instruction shall each appoint a cochair of the task force from among its membership. Vacancies in the membership of the task force shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments.
     (5) Nongovernmental members of the task force shall be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. Legislative members of the task force shall serve without additional compensation but shall be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 44.04.120 while attending sessions of the task force or on official business authorized by the task force.
     (6) Initial appointments to the task force shall be made no later than thirty days after the effective date of this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   (1) The governor and the superintendent of public instruction, in consultation with the early learning and child care task force, shall carry out the following tasks:
     (a) Creation of consistent aligned early learning goals for children younger than school age that address the multiple developmental aspects of young children, including cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical domains that are aligned with K-12 standards;
     (b) Creation of consistent alignment among different program standards for early learning programs and services;
     (c) Design of an integrated system of staffing and professional development for early learning and child care programs and services;
     (d) Identification of comprehensive, family-focused services to be provided by early learning and child care programs for children and families who need more intensive support;
     (e) Design of a plan to address barriers to the provision of early learning and child care services, such as issues relating to facilities and transportation; and
     (f) Develop recommendations to improve collaboration and integration between the early learning and child care system and the K-12 and higher education system.
     (2) The governor and the superintendent of public instruction, in consultation with the early learning and child care task force, shall develop a plan for implementation of the duties provided in subsection (1) of this section, and shall report that plan to the legislature by January 1, 2004.
     (3) By September 1, 2004, the governor and the superintendent of public instruction shall report to the legislature on the implementation of the consistent aligned early learning goals in subsection (1)(a) of this section. In carrying out the development of these goals, the governor and the superintendent of public instruction shall consult broadly with individuals and representatives of individuals described in section 3(2) of this act, and assure the involvement of the broad constituencies representing child care, early learning, and educational interests in the state.
     (4) By September 1, 2005, the governor and the superintendent of public instruction shall report to the legislature on the implementation of the duties provided in subsection (1)(b) through (e) of this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   (1) The early learning and child care task force shall develop a plan for coordination of the functions and entities listed in section 2 of this act, and shall include planning for consolidation of functions and entities, as appropriate. The early learning and child care task force shall present the plan to the governor and the superintendent of public instruction by December 15, 2003.
     (2) By January 1, 2004, the governor and the superintendent of public instruction shall report to the legislature the plan for coordination of the functions and entities provided in subsection (1) of this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   By January 2005, to the extent possible within available funds, the governor and the superintendent of public instruction shall implement the plan for coordination pursuant to section 4(2) of this act. The governor and the superintendent of public instruction shall report to the legislature on the implementation of the plan.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   The early learning and child care task force shall expire October 1, 2005.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8   Sections 1 through 7 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 74 RCW.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 9   If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 2003, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void.