ESHB 2519 -
By Committee on Ways & Means
ADOPTED 03/07/2014
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
"NEW SECTION. Sec. 1 A new section is added to chapter 26.44 RCW
to read as follows:
(1) The family assessment response worker must assess for child
safety and child well-being when collaborating with a family to
determine the need for child care, preschool, or home visiting services
and, as appropriate, the family assessment response worker must refer
children to preschool programs that are enrolled in the early achievers
program and rate at a level 3, 4, or 5 unless:
(a) The family lives in an area with no local preschool programs
that rate at a level 3, 4, or 5 in the early achievers program;
(b) The local preschool programs that rate at a level 3, 4, or 5 in
the early achievers program are not able to meet the needs of the
child; or
(c) The child is attending a preschool program prior to
participating in family assessment response and the parent or caregiver
does not want the child to change preschool programs.
(2) The family assessment response worker may make child care
referrals for nonschool-aged children to licensed child care programs
that rate at a level 3, 4, or 5 in the early achievers program
described in RCW 43.215.100 unless:
(a) The family lives in an area with no local programs that rate at
level 3, 4, or 5 in the early achievers program;
(b) The local child care programs that rate at a level 3, 4, or 5
in the early achievers program are not able to meet the needs of the
child; or
(c) The child is attending a child care program prior to
participating in family assessment response and the parent or caregiver
does not want the child to change child care programs.
(3) The family assessment response worker shall, when appropriate,
provide referrals to high quality child care and early learning
programs.
(4) The family assessment response worker shall, when appropriate,
provide referrals to state and federally subsidized programs such as,
but not limited to, licensed child care programs that receive state
subsidy pursuant to RCW 43.215.135; early childhood education and
assistance programs; head start programs; and early head start
programs.
(5) Prior to closing the family assessment response case, the
family assessment response worker must, when appropriate, discuss child
care and early learning services with the child's parent or caregiver.
If the family plans to use child care or early learning services,
the family assessment response worker must work with the family to
facilitate enrollment.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2 No later than December 31, 2014, the
department of social and health services and the department of early
learning shall jointly develop recommendations on methods by which the
department of social and health services and the department of early
learning can better partner to ensure children involved in the child
welfare system have access to early learning services and
developmentally appropriate child care services and report these
recommendations to the governor and appropriate legislative committees.
Sec. 3 RCW 43.215.405 and 2013 2nd sp.s. c 16 s 4 are each
amended to read as follows:
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in
this section apply throughout RCW 43.215.400 through ((43.215.450,
43.215.455, 43.215.456,)) 43.215.457((,)) and 43.215.900 through
43.215.903.
(1) "Advisory committee" means the advisory committee under RCW
43.215.420.
(2) "Approved programs" means those state-supported education and
special assistance programs which are recognized by the department as
meeting the minimum program rules adopted by the department to qualify
under RCW 43.215.400 through 43.215.450 and 43.215.900 through
43.215.903 and are designated as eligible for funding by the department
under RCW 43.215.430 and 43.215.440.
(3) "Comprehensive" means an assistance program that focuses on the
needs of the child and includes education, health, and family support
services.
(4) "Department" means the department of early learning.
(5)(a) "Eligible child" means a child not eligible for kindergarten
whose family income is at or below one hundred ten 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; a child
eligible for special education due to disability under RCW 28A.155.020;
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, children in foster care, or to eligible children
from families with multiple needs.
(b) Subject to the availability of appropriations specifically for
this purpose, the department may include as an eligible child, a child
who is not otherwise receiving services under (a) of this subsection,
but is receiving child protective services under RCW 26.44.020(3), or
family assessment response services under RCW 26.44.260. If included
as an eligible child, these children shall receive priority services
under (a) of this subsection.
(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.
Sec. 4 RCW 43.215.405 and 2014 c . . . s 3 (section 3 of this
act) are each amended to read as follows:
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in
this section apply throughout RCW 43.215.400 through 43.215.457 and
43.215.900 through 43.215.903.
(1) "Advisory committee" means the advisory committee under RCW
43.215.420.
(2) "Approved programs" means those state-supported education and
special assistance programs which are recognized by the department as
meeting the minimum program rules adopted by the department to qualify
under RCW 43.215.400 through 43.215.450 and 43.215.900 through
43.215.903 and are designated as eligible for funding by the department
under RCW 43.215.430 and 43.215.440.
(3) "Comprehensive" means an assistance program that focuses on the
needs of the child and includes education, health, and family support
services.
(4) "Department" means the department of early learning.
(5)(((a))) "Eligible child" means a child not eligible for
kindergarten whose family income is at or below one hundred ten 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; a child
eligible for special education due to disability under RCW 28A.155.020;
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, children in foster care, or to eligible children
from families with multiple needs.
(((b) Subject to the availability of appropriations specifically
for this purpose, the department may include as an eligible child, a
child who is not otherwise receiving services under (a) of this
subsection, but is receiving child protective services under RCW
26.44.020(3), or family assessment response services under RCW
26.44.260. If included as an eligible child, these children shall
receive priority services under (a) of this subsection.))
(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.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5 Section 4 of this act takes effect June 30,
2018."
ESHB 2519 -
By Committee on Ways & Means
ADOPTED 03/07/2014
On page 1, line 2 of the title, after "programming;" strike the remainder of the title and insert "amending RCW 43.215.405 and 43.215.405; adding a new section to chapter 26.44 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an effective date."
EFFECT: Removes certain dates. Allows, instead of requires, a family assessment response worker to make child care referrals for nonschool-age children to certain licensed child care programs that rate at a level 3, 4, or 5. Requires a family assessment response (FAR) worker to, when appropriate, provide referrals to certain child care programs, instead of making every effort. States that prior to closing the family assessment response case, the FAR worker must, when appropriate, discuss certain services, instead of requiring the FAR worker to discuss certain services. Removes the word successful from the FAR worker's obligation to facilitate service enrollment. Adds a new section requiring DSHS and DEL to jointly develop recommendations on methods by which DSHS and DEL can achieve certain goals and requires that these recommendations be reported. Removes children involved in the child welfare system from definition of eligible child as it relates to the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP). Restores current law definition of eligible child and priority services. Allows the department to include in the definition of eligible child, a child who is not otherwise receiving services under the ECEAP and who is either receiving child protective services (CPS) or FAR, subject to the availability of appropriations specifically for this purpose and gives the children receiving CPS or FAR services priority services under ECEAP until June 30, 2018.