HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESSB 5026

As Amended by the House

BYSenate Committee on Children & Family Services (originally sponsored by Senators Kreidler, Smith, Stratton, Rinehart, Wojahn and Sutherland)

Expanding child care resources and information.

House Committe on Human Services

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendments.  (11)

      Signed by Representatives Bristow, Chair; Scott, Vice Chair; Moyer, Ranking Republican Member; Tate, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Anderson, Brekke, Hargrove, Leonard, Padden, Raiter and Winsley.

House Staff:Jean Wessman (786-7132)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 13, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Following legislative direction, in 1987 the Department of Social and Health Services appointed a child care resources coordinator.  The coordinator is responsible for administering grants to local communities for use in information and referral systems, and for the creation of a data bank from which local systems can obtain data about licensed child care.  In implementing this bill, it was discovered that the bill was somewhat unclear regarding the extent of the local communities' involvement.

Although the department receives a small amount of federal funds for resource and referral programs, such funds can only be used for planning, not operations.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is directed to:  1) staff the child care coordinating committee, (2) develop local resource and referral organizations, involving community child care advocates, local governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations; (3) seek public or private funding and administer grants of more than $25,000 to assist these organizations; (4) adopt rules regarding the distribution of grants; (5) coordinate training and technical assistance to providers, staff and local resource and referral systems; (6) organize these organizations into a statewide system; (7) provide licensing information to resource and referral organizations around the state; (8) compile data about local needs for future planning and development; and (9) collect information regarding insurance and other funding sources for child care related services.

The Legislature declares its intent to increase availability of child care services, especially for low-income families, and to improve child care quality by providing training and support services to child care providers.

The rule-making authority of the Secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services is clarified to encompass child care services.

The child care expansion grant fund monies may be used to make capital improvements on existing child care facilities, including family day care homes.  To be eligible to receive a grant, a person, school or organization must agree to serve a reasonable number of sick or handicapped children, infants, children needing weekend or night time care, children of low-income working parents and those whose costs of care are subsidized by the department.  For each grant provided, the department will designate the specific number or percentage of children listed above to whom the provider must care for.  The grant limitation of $10,000 is increased to $25,000.

A new chapter is created in statute consolidating new and existing laws affecting child care.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Senator Niemi, Sponsor; Ruth Kagi, Washington State Child Care Coordinating Committee; Deborah Robins, Washington State Child Care Research and Referral; and Sadikifu Z Akina Janes, King County.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The duties of the Child Care Resource Coordinator created in 1987 should be codified since they are an ongoing responsibility of DSHS.  Local resource and referral systems are integral to providing quality and affordable child care.  Child care is one of the most important requirements for our changing society where the majority of families have parents employed outside the home.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Yeas 94; Absent 3; Excused 1

Absent:     Representatives Fraser, Haugen and Rasmussen

Excused:    Representative Gallagher