SENATE BILL REPORT
SHB 2367
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
As of February 16, 2018
Title: An act relating to establishing a child care collaborative task force.
Brief Description: Establishing a child care collaborative task force.
Sponsors: House Committee on Early Learning & Human Services (originally sponsored by Representatives Reeves, Slatter, Tharinger, Robinson, Kagi, Dolan, Kilduff, Chapman, Doglio, Riccelli and Stonier).
Brief History: Passed House: 2/09/18, 69-29.
Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 2/19/18.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION |
Staff: Ailey Kato (786-7434)
Background: Commerce. This department is charged with advising the Governor and the Legislature on community and economic development matters. It administers a variety of programs including the early learning facilities grant and loan program and provides staff support to certain boards, councils, and work groups.
Child Care Licensing. The Department of Early Learning (DEL) currently oversees child care licensing, which will be transferred to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families on July 1, 2018. According to DEL's website, more than 6000 family home providers and child care center programs are licensed in the state.
Child Care Workforce Development Technical Work Group (CCWDT Work Group). The 2017-19 operating budget created the CCWDT Work Group to develop recommendations to support increased child care workforce wages, reduce turnover, enable child care providers to recruit more qualified educators, and maintain the diversity of the current workforce. The CCWDT Work Group must issue a report with recommendations and an implementation plan by December 1, 2018.
Summary of Bill: Commerce must convene and facilitate the Task Force to examine the effects of child care affordability and accessibility on the workforce and on businesses. Commerce must convene the first meeting by September 1, 2018.
The Task Force includes certain voting members appointed by the Governor. It also includes certain nonvoting members including four legislative members, agency representatives, and members appointed by the Governor. Commerce may invite additional representatives to participate as nonvoting members.
The Task Force must develop policies and recommendations to incentivize employer-supported child care and improve child care access and affordability for employees. The Task Force must evaluate current available data including, but not limited to:
child care market rate survey reports, including data related to the geographic distribution of licensed child care providers and the demand for, cost, and availability of such providers;
best practices for employer-supported child care; and
research related to the economic and workforce impacts of employee access to high quality, affordable child care.
The Task Force must report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature, by November 1, 2019, which must include:
options for the state to incentivize the provision of employer-supported child care and back-up child care by public and private employers;
opportunities for streamlining permitting and licensing requirements to facilitate the development and construction of child care facilities;
potential tax incentives for private businesses providing employer-supported child care;
a model policy for the establishment of a "bring your infant to work" program for public and private sector employees; and
policy recommendations that address racial, ethnic, and geographic disparity and disproportionality in service delivery and accessibility to services for families.
Back-up child care means a temporary child care arrangement that is provided when normal child care arrangements are unavailable.
Employer-supported child care includes:
licensed child care centers operated at or near the workplace by an employer for the benefit of employees; or
financial assistance provided by an employer for licensed child care expenses incurred by an employee.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: Yes.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.