HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESSB 6013

As Amended by the House

BYSenate Committee on Human Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators Kreidler and Wojahn)

Establishing the office of child care resources.

House Committe on Human Services

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendments.  (6)

      Signed by Representatives Brekke, Chair; Scott, Vice Chair; Leonard, H. Sommers, Sutherland and Wang.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (3)

      Signed by Representatives Moyer, Padden and Winsley.

House Staff:Jean Wessman (786-7132)

Rereferred House Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendments by Committee on Ways & Means and not by Committee on Human Services.  (22)

      Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Belcher, Braddock, Brekke, Bristow, Ebersole, Fuhrman, Grant, Grimm, Hine, Holland, McLean, McMullen, Nealey, Niemi, Peery, Sayan, Silver, L. Smith, H. Sommers, Sprenkle and B. Williams. 

House Staff:      Sandi Gray (786-7154)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 14, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Currently there is no central state-wide data bank or clearinghouse to provide information and referral on child care resources to interested parents or employers.  The changing demographic picture in Washington state reveals an increasing number of women with young children entering the work force. There is a growing need for a central office to deal with information about child care for this population.  In addition, a centralized data bank will assist many of the already existing local information and referral systems.

SUMMARY:

A child care resource coordinator is appointed within the Department of Social and Health Services. The coordinator is responsible for administration of federal or private grants to local communities for information and referral systems and for the creation of an information data bank from which local information and referral systems can obtain data about licensed child care.

The coordinator is also responsible for coordinating training and technical assistance for providers, creating a business outreach to assess and fulfill child care needs, fostering a public/private partnership and recommending statutory and administrative changes to the legislature and the Department of Trade and Economic Development to encourage child care provisions as part of economic development plans.

The act will expire June 30, 1989 unless extended by law.

Fiscal Note:      Attached.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Human Services)  Senator Mike Kreidler, sponsor of original bill.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  Senator Mike Kreidler, sponsor of original bill; Lonnie Johns-Brown, Washington Chapter, National Organization for Women;  Margie Reeves, Washington Association for the Education of Young Children.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Human Services)  None Presented.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Human Services)  A centralized location and office is necessary to provide a statewide information and referral system for the rapidly increasing demand for quality, affordable and available child care.  The state's private sector and economic development policies need to include child care considerations as an important part of the growth of the labor force.  The office will encourage these considerations by seeking funding sources to assist child care providers.  Parents and businesses will both profit from the establishment of this office.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  A centralized location and office is necessary to provide a statewide information and referral system for the rapidly increasing demand for quality, affordable and available child care.  The state's private sector and economic development policies need to include child care considerations as an important part of the growth of the labor force.  The office will encourage these considerations by seeking funding sources to assist child care providers.  Parents and businesses will both profit from the establishment of this office.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Human Services)  None Presented.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  None Presented.