BILL REQ. #:  S-0843.2 

Read first time 01/31/2007.   Referred to Committee on Higher Education.

     AN ACT Relating to child care programs for higher education students; amending RCW 28B.135.010 and 28B.135.030; and repealing RCW 28B.135.020.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 28B.135.010 and 1999 c 375 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     Two Washington accounts for student child care in higher education are established. The higher education coordinating board and the state board for community and technical colleges shall administer the programs. Through these programs the boards ((may)) shall award ((on a competitive basis)) child care grants to state institutions of higher education to ((encourage programs to address the need)) be used exclusively for high quality, accessible, and affordable child care for the children of students at higher education institutions. The child care grant for each institution shall be equal to the amount contributed by the ((university or college administration and)) student government association, or its equivalent((, of each institution receiving the award shall contribute financial support in an amount equal to the child care grant received by the institution)). Grant funds shall be expended only for the direct costs of providing child care for the children of students.

Sec. 2   RCW 28B.135.030 and 2005 c 490 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:
     The higher education coordinating board shall administer the program for four-year institutions of higher education. The state board for community and technical colleges shall administer the program for community and technical colleges. The higher education coordinating board and the state board for community and technical colleges shall have the following powers and duties in administering each program:
     (1) To adopt rules necessary to carry out the program;
     (2) ((To establish one or more review committees to assist in the evaluation of proposals for funding. The review committee shall include but not be limited to individuals from the Washington association for the education of young children and the child care resource and referral network;
     (3) To establish each biennium specific guidelines for submitting grant proposals consistent with the overall goals of the program. During the 1999-2001 biennium the guidelines shall be consistent with the following desired outcomes of 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 models that can be replicated at other institutions, creating a partnership between university or college administrations and student government, or its equivalent and increasing efficiency and innovation at campus child care centers;
     (4) To establish guidelines for an allocation system based on factors that include but are not limited to: The amount of money available in the trust fund; characteristics of the institutions including the size of the faculty and student body; and the number of child care grants received;
     (5))) To ((solicit grant proposals and)) provide information to the institutions of higher education about the program; and
     (((6))) (3) To establish reporting, evaluation, accountability, monitoring, and dissemination requirements for the recipients of the grants.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   RCW 28B.135.020 (Grants -- Eligibility -- Grant period) and 1999 c 375 s 2 are each repealed.