SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 2556

As Passed Senate, March 6, 2020

Title: An act relating to providing regulatory relief for early learning providers.

Brief Description: Providing regulatory relief for early learning providers.

Sponsors: House Committee on Human Services & Early Learning (originally sponsored by Representatives Dent, Corry, Eslick, Caldier, Klippert, Jenkin, Griffey, McCaslin, Mosbrucker, Gildon, Dufault and Tharinger).

Brief History: Passed House: 2/13/20, 97-0.

Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 2/24/20, 2/28/20 [DP-WM].

Ways & Means: 2/29/20, 3/02/20 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed Senate: 3/06/20, 48-0.

Majority Report: Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

Signed by Senators Wellman, Chair; Wilson, C., Vice Chair; Hawkins, Ranking Member; Holy, Hunt, McCoy, Mullet, Padden, Pedersen, Salomon and Wagoner.

Staff: Ailey Kato (786-7434)

Majority Report: Do pass.

Signed by Senators Rolfes, Chair; Frockt, Vice Chair, Operating, Capital Lead; Mullet, Capital Budget Cabinet; Braun, Ranking Member; Brown, Assistant Ranking Member, Operating; Honeyford, Assistant Ranking Member, Capital; Becker, Billig, Carlyle, Conway, Darneille, Dhingra, Hasegawa, Hunt, Keiser, Liias, Muzzall, Pedersen, Schoesler, Van De Wege, Wagoner, Warnick and Wilson, L..

Staff: Sarah Emmans (786-7478)

Background: Staff Qualifications. Under DCYF rules, new staffing qualifications for licensed child care providers went into effect on August 1, 2019.

Lead teachers and family home licensees must have an initial certificate or equivalent within five years or five years from being employed or promoted into these positions. Lead teachers in centers and family home licensees must progress toward a short certificate or equivalent. They must receive the short certificate within two years of receiving the initial certificate or seven years from being employed or promoted into these positions.

Under DCYF rules, an initial certificate is 12 quarter credits and covers foundational content for early learning professionals. The short certificate is the initial certificate plus eight quarter credits.

In August 2019, DCYF announced a partnership with the Imagine Institute, Child Care Aware of Washington, and the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) to develop and offer a community-based training series.

Early Learning Core Competencies. In 2012, DCYF adopted core competencies for early care and education professionals. DCYF was required to incorporate the core competences into all appropriate professional development opportunities. The core competencies must be reviewed and updated every five years.

Summary of First Substitute Bill: By July 1, 2021, DCYF must implement a noncredit-bearing, community-based training pathway for licensed child care providers to meet professional education requirements associated with child care licensure. It is an alternative to existing credit-bearing pathways.

DCYF must consult with certain stakeholders in the development and implementation of the community-based training pathway.

The community-based training pathway must:

• align with adopted early learning core competencies;

• be available in multiple languages;

• include culturally relevant practices;

• be available at a low cost, not to exceed $250 per person; and

• be accessible in rural and urban settings.

DCYF must allow licensed child care providers until at least August 1, 2026, to comply with child care licensing rules that require an initial certificate or short certificate, or complete community-based trainings.

DCYF and SBCTC must collaborate with representatives of local community and technical colleges to develop a plan to allow community-based training to qualify for college credit. DCYF must submit the plan by December 1, 2021.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Early Learning & K-12 Education): PRO: Child care providers are facing a workforce shortage. When there are too many regulations on child care providers, they go underground and are not licensed. This bill will help child providers meet new educational requirements and provides an alternative to college. College can be too fast-paced and overwhelming for some. Community-based training will be accessible, during convenient times, culturally relevant, rigorous, in-person, and located throughout the state. When child care providers are well trained, they can greatly impact children's future. This bill will expand access to quality child care.

Persons Testifying (Early Learning & K-12 Education): PRO: Representative Tom Dent, Prime Sponsor; Cate Bridenstine, The Imagine Institute; Julie Schroath, Washington Childcare Centers Association; Nimco Bulale, OneAmerica; Allison Krutsinger, DCYF; Ryan Pricco, Child Care Aware of Washington.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Early Learning & K-12 Education): No one.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Ways & Means): PRO: This bill is the result of a lot of work between advocates and DCYF. This bill will help get more providers in the industry, especially at a time when new educational requirements have really been a barrier for people to hire assistant teachers. This bill will allow providers to access community-based trainings in the language spoken in their community. The trainings will be more accessible than just going through community and technical colleges. The SEIU has to translate materials in Somali, Spanish, and American Sign Language. Provider diversity really helps serve kids that child care providers are caring for. These providers should be able to access professional development in a way that is culturally and linguistically appropriate.

Persons Testifying (Ways & Means): PRO: Erin Haick, SEIU 925.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Ways & Means): No one.