BILL REQ. #:  S-3609.1 

Read first time 01/15/14.   Referred to Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education.

     AN ACT Relating to the continuity and stability of child care; and amending RCW 43.215.135.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 43.215.135 and 2013 c 323 s 9 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) ((Beginning in fiscal year 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.)) A child is eligible for working connections child care for a twelve-month enrollment period and may not be deemed ineligible for any change in circumstance including but not limited to:
     (a) A change in family composition;
     (b) A change in a parent's or a caregiver's employment status;
     (c) A change in a parent's or a caregiver's employment status due to health, maternity or paternity leave, or other family leave condition provided for in chapter 49.78 RCW; or
     (d) A change in a parent's or a caregiver's income.
     (3) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, beginning September 1, 2013, working connections child care providers shall receive a five percent increase in the subsidy rate for enrolling in level 2 in the early achievers programs. Providers must complete level 2 and advance to level 3 within thirty months in order to maintain this increase.