6226-S AMH WAYS H4514.1

SSB 6226  - H COMM AMD
     By Committee on Ways & Means

ADOPTED 02/29/2012

     Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

"Sec. 1   RCW 43.215.135 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 42 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The department shall establish and implement policies in the working connections child care program to promote stability and quality of care for children from low-income households. Policies for the expenditure of funds constituting the working connections child care program must be consistent with the outcome measures defined in RCW 74.08A.410 and the standards established in this section intended to promote continuity of care for children.
     (2) As a condition of receiving a child care subsidy or a working connections child care subsidy, the applicant or recipient must seek child support enforcement services from the department of social and health services, division of child support, unless the department finds that the applicant or recipient has good cause not to cooperate.
     (3) ((Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, an applicant or recipient of a child care subsidy or a working connections child care subsidy is eligible to receive that subsidy for six months before having to recertify his or her income eligibility. The six-month certification provision applies only if enrollments in the child care subsidy or working connections child care program are capped.
     (4)
)) Beginning in fiscal year ((2011, for families with children enrolled in an early childhood education and assistance program, a head start program, or an early head start program)) 2013, authorizations for the working connections child care subsidy shall be effective for twelve months unless a change in circumstances necessitates reauthorization sooner than twelve months. The twelve-month certification applies only if the enrollments in the child care subsidy or working connections child care program are capped.
     (((5) The department, in consultation with the department of social and health services, shall report to the legislature by September 1, 2011, with:
     (a) An analysis of the impact of the twelve-month authorization period on the stability of child care, program costs, and administrative savings; and
     (b) Recommendations for expanding the application of the twelve-month authorization period to additional populations of children in care.
))

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 43.215 RCW to read as follows:
     When an applicant or recipient applies for or receives working connections child care benefits, he or she is required to:
     (1) Notify the department of social and health services, within five days, of any change in providers; and
     (2) Notify the department of social and health services, within ten days, about any significant change related to the number of child care hours the applicant or recipient needs, cost sharing, or eligibility.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   This act takes effect July 1, 2012."

     Correct the title.

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