This act may be known and cited as the fair start for kids act.
The legislature finds that high quality child care and early learning is critical to a child's success in school and life. The legislature recognizes that COVID-19 has devastated the existing child care industry, making it unduly burdensome for families to find care. The legislature recognizes that without immediate action to support child care providers, and without expanded access to affordable child care, especially infant and school-age care, parents will not be able to return to work while children lose valuable learning opportunities. In order to bolster a full economic recovery, the legislature finds that every child deserves a fair start.
The legislature finds that access to affordable child care increases economic growth and labor force participation. The legislature further finds that an affordable, accessible system of high quality child care is necessary to the health of Washington's economy because employers benefit when parents have safe, stable, and appropriate care for their children. The legislature recognizes that too many working parents are forced to reduce their hours, decline promotional opportunities, or leave the workforce completely due to a lack of affordable and appropriate child care. The legislature finds that a report commissioned by the department of commerce in 2019 found that working parents in Washington forego $14,000,000,000 each year directly due to child care scarcity. The legislature recognizes that this disproportionally impacts women in the workforce and that in September 2020 alone, 78,000 men left the workforce, compared to 600,000 women.
The legislature finds that the scarcity of child care, exacerbated by COVID-19, most significantly impacts families furthest from opportunity. The legislature recognizes that there are additional barriers to accessing this foundational support for immigrant communities and families whose first language is not English, families who have children with disabilities, rural communities, or other child care deserts. The legislature recognizes that high quality, inclusive child care and early learning programs have been shown to reduce the opportunity gap for low-income children and black, indigenous, and children of color while consistently improving outcomes for all children both inside and outside of the classroom.
The legislature finds that without access to comprehensive, high quality prenatal to five services, children often enter kindergarten without the social-emotional, physical, cognitive, and language skills they need to be successful and fall behind their peers, facing compounding developmental challenges throughout their K-12 education. The legislature finds that cascading impacts of inaccessible child care and early learning programs create systemic barriers for children and their families that result in higher special education needs, greater likelihood of needing to repeat grades, increased child welfare and juvenile justice involvement, reduced high school graduation rates, limited postsecondary education attainment, and greater barriers to employment in adulthood.
The legislature finds the vast majority of child care providers are small businesses and nonprofit organizations. In addition to adhering to federal, state, and local regulations to ensure healthy and safe environments for children, the legislature recognizes that child care providers must ensure their employees are adequately compensated and supported. However, the legislature acknowledges that the reduced staffing ratios for health and safety, additional cost of personal protective equipment and extra cleaning supplies, increased use of substitutes needed during COVID-19-related absences, and increased technology demands during school closures from the pandemic are further straining the viability of the child care business model in Washington state.
The legislature finds that the health and stability of the early learning workforce is pivotal to any expansion of child care in Washington state. The legislature recognizes that the child care workforce, predominantly comprised of women of color, is structurally afflicted by low wages, limited or no health care, and a severe lack of retirement benefits. The legislature further recognizes that the threat of COVID-19 compounds these underlying issues, forcing providers to navigate increased stress, anxiety, and behavioral issues all while risking their lives to care for children. The legislature recognizes that families, friends, and neighbors who provide care are a critical component of the child care system. The legislature finds that child care workers are essential and deserve to be compensated and benefited accordingly.
Therefore, the legislature resolves to respond to the COVID-19 crisis by first stabilizing the child care industry and then expanding access to a comprehensive continuum of high quality early childhood development programs, including infant and school-age child care, preschool, parent and family supports, and prenatal to three services. The legislature recognizes this continuum as critical to meeting different families' needs and offering every child in Washington access to a fair start.
The legislature recognizes the strengths that multilingual, diverse early learning providers and caregivers contribute to early learning across the state. Therefore, the legislature intends to expand language access services to create an inclusive early learning system that specifically supports underserved providers.
The legislature intends to expand eligibility for existing child care and preschool programs to increase access. The legislature recognizes that expansion must be accompanied by an investment to make child care more affordable. Therefore, the legislature intends to eliminate copayments for low-income families and limit copayments for any family on subsidy to no more than seven percent of their income.
The legislature further intends to stabilize, support, and grow the diverse early learning workforce by funding living wages and affordable health benefits while providing training, infant and early childhood mental health consultation, shared business services, and a variety of other supports that recognize the critical role that early learning providers serve for all Washington children.
The legislature intends to accelerate Washington's economic recovery from the devastating impacts of COVID-19 by dramatically expanding access to affordable, high quality child care and preschool, in order to get parents back to work and provide every child with a fair start.
The fair start for kids account is created in the state treasury. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation.
Expenditures from the account may be used only for child care and early learning purposes, including but not limited to:
Increasing child care subsidy rates, with the goal of moving toward the full cost of providing high quality child care;
Expanding health care coverage through state sponsorship of child care workers on the Washington health benefit exchange and providing consumer assistance through navigators, as well as any other expansions of access to affordable health care for staff in child care centers, family home providers, outdoor nature-based care, and early childhood education and assistance program staff;
Increasing child care and early learning providers' compensation;
Supporting and expanding access to the early childhood education and assistance program to reach state-funded entitlement required in RCW 43.216.556;
Making child care affordable for families;
Providing resources and supports for family, friend, and neighbor caregivers that better reflect the full cost of care;
Providing professional development opportunities for child care and early learning providers;
Delivering infant and early childhood mental health consultation services;
Providing child care for school-age children and establishing prekindergarten through third grade systems coordinators at educational service districts;
Awarding grants and loans through the early learning facilities grant and loan program established under chapter 43.31 RCW;
Funding special designations in the working connections child care programs, early childhood education and assistance programs, and birth to three early childhood education and assistance programs including designations established in sections 302, 304, 305, and 404 of this act;
Supporting costs for transparent data collection and information technology systems operated by the department and department contractors, in particular, to ensure equitable systemic service provision and outcomes;
Providing access to learning technology;
Providing child care resource and referral services;
Conducting quality rating and improvement system activities through the early achievers program;
Expanding prenatal to three services and supports, including the birth to three early childhood education and assistance program and the in-home parent skill-based programs established in RCW 43.216.130;
Building and delivering a family resource and referral linkage system;
Allowing the exploration of options to provide regulatory relief and make licensing more affordable for child care providers;
Administering comprehensive shared services hubs to allow the ongoing pooling and shared use of services by licensed or certified child care centers and family home providers;
Training department staff to ensure consistent and equitable application of child care licensing and quality standards across the state including antibias and antiracist training;
Providing incentives for child care providers to become licensed;
Studying and evaluating options to incentivize business participation in child care and early learning systems;
Recognizing the benefits of the diverse workforce and facilitating communication in the three most commonly spoken languages by developing a language access plan that centers equity and access for immigrants, multilingual providers, caregivers, and families;
Supporting collectively bargained provisions for family child care providers subject to RCW 41.56.028. Subsidies funded under this act may be bargained by the appropriate entity; and
Providing start-up grants to eligible organizations as described in RCW 43.31.575 who provide or commit to providing the early childhood education and assistance program or working connections child care. Start-up grants must be used for one-time start-up costs associated with the start up of a new child care or early childhood education and assistance program site.
This section modifies existing section 43.216.075. Here is the modified chapter for context.
The council shall work in conjunction with the department to :
Assist in policy development and implementation that promotes alignment of private and public sector actions, objectives, and resources, with the overall goal of promoting school readiness for all children;
Provide recommendations annually to the governor and the legislature, beginning August 31, 2022, regarding the phased implementation of strategies and priorities identified in section 101 of this act, recognizing that system capacity must be developed and revenue expanded in order to achieve the stated goal in subsection (1) of this section;
Maintain a focus on racial equity and inclusion in order to dismantle systemic racism at its core and contribute to statewide efforts to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty;
Maintain a focus on inclusionary practices for children with disabilities;
Partner with nonprofit organizations to collect and analyze data and measure progress; and
Assist the department in monitoring and ensuring that the investments funded by the fair start for kids account created in section 101 of this act are designed to support the following objectives:
Advance racial equity and strengthen families by recognizing and responding to the growing diversity of our state's population;
Promote access to affordable, high quality child care and early learning opportunities for all families, paying particular attention to the needs of rural and other underserved communities;
Promote kindergarten readiness by enhancing child development, including development of social-emotional skills, and eliminating exclusionary admissions practices and disproportionate removals in child care and early learning programs; and
Contribute to efforts to strengthen and grow our state's economy by supporting working parents as well as stabilizing and supporting the child care and early learning workforce.
In collaboration with the council, the department shall consult with its advisory groups and other interested stakeholders and shall submit a biennial report to the governor and legislature describing how the investments funded by the fair start for kids act have impacted the policy objectives stated in subsection (2)(f) of this section. The first report under this section is due September 15, 2023. The council shall include diverse, statewide representation from public, nonprofit, and for-profit entities. Its membership shall include critical partners in service delivery and reflect regional, racial, and cultural diversity to adequately represent the interests of all children and families in the state.
Councilmembers shall serve two-year terms. However, to stagger the terms of the council, the initial appointments for twelve of the members shall be for one year. Once the initial one-year to two-year terms expire, all subsequent terms shall be for two years, with the terms expiring on June 30th of the applicable year. The terms shall be staggered in such a way that, where possible, the terms of members representing a specific group do not expire simultaneously.
The council shall consist of members essential to coordinating services statewide prenatal through age five, as follows:
In addition to being staffed and supported by the department, the governor shall appoint one representative from each of the following: The department of commerce, the department of health, the student achievement council, and the state board for community and technical colleges;
One representative from the office of the superintendent of public instruction, to be appointed by the superintendent of public instruction;
The governor shall appoint leaders in early childhood education to represent critical service delivery and support sectors, with at least one individual representing each of the following:
i.
A representative of a head start, early head start, or migrant/seasonal head start program;
ii. A representative of **educational service districts**;
iii. A **provider** responsible for programs under section 619 **of the federal individuals with disabilities education act;**
iv. **A representative of the state agency responsible for** part C of the federal individuals with disabilities education act;
v. A representative of the early childhood education and assistance program;
vi. A representative of licensed family **home** providers;
vii. A representative of child care centers;
viii. A representative from the home visiting advisory committee established in RCW 43.216.130;
ix. **An infant or early childhood mental health expert;**
x. **A family, friend, and neighbor caregiver;**
xi. **A representative from prenatal to three services;**
xii. **A pediatrician; and**
xiii. **A representative of the statewide child care resource and referral organization;**
d. Two members of the house of representatives, one from each caucus, to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and two members of the senate, one from each caucus, to be appointed by the majority leader in the senate and the minority leader in the senate;
e. Two parents, one of whom serves on the department's parent advisory group, to be appointed by the governor;
f. One representative of the private-public partnership created in RCW 43.216.065, to be appointed by the partnership board;
g. One representative from the **Washington state** developmental disabilities **council**;
h. Two representatives from early learning regional coalitions;
i. **Up to five representatives** of underserved communities who have a special expertise or interest in high quality early learning, one to be appointed by each of the following commissions:
i. The Washington state commission on Asian Pacific American affairs;
ii. The Washington state commission on African American affairs;
iii. The Washington state commission on Hispanic affairs;
iv. **The Washington state women's commission; and**
v. **The Washington state office of equity;**
j. Two representatives designated by sovereign tribal governments, one of whom must be a representative of a tribal early childhood education assistance program or head start program;
k. **One representative from the office of equity established under chapter 43.06D RCW;**
l. **One representative from the women's commission established under chapter 43.119 RCW;**
m. One representative from the Washington federation of independent schools;
n. One representative from the Washington library association;
o. One representative from a statewide advocacy coalition of organizations that focuses on early learning**;**
p. **One representative from an association representing statewide business interests and one representative from a regional business coalition;**
q. **One representative of an advocacy organization for immigrants and refugees;**
r. **One representative of an organization advocating for expanded learning opportunities and school-age child care programs; and**
s. **One representative from the union representing the largest number of child care providers**.
The council shall be cochaired by two members, to be elected by the council for two-year terms and not more than one cochair may represent a state agency.
At the direction of the cochairs, the council may convene advisory groups, such as a parent caucus, to evaluate specific issues and report related findings and recommendations to the full council.
The council shall appoint two members and stakeholders with expertise in early learning to sit on the technical working group created in section 2, chapter 234, Laws of 2010.
Each member of the board shall be compensated in accordance with RCW 43.03.240 and reimbursed for travel expenses incurred in carrying out the duties of the board in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
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The council shall convene an early achievers review subcommittee to provide feedback and guidance on strategies to improve the quality of instruction and environment for early learning and provide input and recommendations on the implementation and refinement of the early achievers program. The subcommittee shall at a minimum provide feedback and guidance to the department and the council on the following:
Adequacy of data collection procedures;
Coaching and technical assistance standards;
Progress in reducing barriers to participation for low-income providers and providers from diverse cultural backgrounds, including a review of the early achievers program's rating tools, quality standard areas, and components, and how they are applied;
Strategies in response to data on the effectiveness of early achievers program standards in relation to providers and children from diverse cultural backgrounds;
Status of the life circumstance exemption protocols;
Analysis of early achievers program data trends**; and**
Other relevant early learning data, including but not limited to, progress in serving students with disabilities ages birth to five, including data on least restrictive environments.
The subcommittee must include consideration of cultural linguistic responsiveness when analyzing the areas for review required by (a) of this subsection.
The subcommittee shall include representatives from child care centers, family child care, the early childhood education and assistance program, contractors for early achievers program technical assistance and coaching, tribal governments, the organization responsible for conducting early achievers program ratings, and parents of children participating in early learning programs, including working connections child care and early childhood education and assistance programs. The subcommittee shall include representatives from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
The council shall report its findings and recommendations annually to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature by August 1st.
The department shall provide staff support to the council.
Beginning July 1, 2023, and subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, rates paid under sections 302, 305, and 404 of this act and RCW 43.216.578 must be adjusted every two years according to an inflationary increase. The inflationary increase must be calculated by applying the rate of the increase in the inflationary adjustment index to the rates established in sections 302, 305, and 404 of this act and RCW 43.216.578. Any funded inflationary increase must be included in the rate used to determine inflationary increases in subsequent years. For the purposes of this section, "inflationary adjustment index" means the implicit price deflator averaged for each fiscal year, using the official current base rate, compiled by the bureau of economic analysis, United States department of commerce.
It is the intent of the legislature to increase working families' access to affordable, high quality child care and to support the expansion of the workforce to support businesses and the statewide economy.
By July 1, 2025, a family is eligible for working connections child care when the household's annual income is at or below 75 percent of the state median income adjusted for family size and:
The child receiving care is: (i) Aged 13 years or younger; or (ii) aged 19 years or younger and has a verified special need according to department rule or is under court supervision; and
The household meets all other program eligibility requirements.
By July 1, 2025, and subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, a family is eligible for working connections child care when the household's annual income is above 75 percent of the state median income and is at or below 100 percent of the state median income adjusted for family size and:
The child receiving care is: (i) Aged 13 years or younger; or (ii) aged 19 years or younger and has a verified special need according to department rule or is under court supervision; and
The household meets all other program eligibility requirements.
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Beginning date:
If the household's income is:
Then the household's copayment is not to exceed:
Beginning July 1, 2021
At or below 36 percent of the state median income
Waived to the extent allowable under federal law
Beginning July 1, 2021
Above 36 percent and at or below 50 percent of the state median income
$65
Beginning July 1, 2023
Above 50 percent and at or below 60 percent of the state median income
$165
Beginning July 1, 2025
Above 60 percent and at or below 75 percent of the state median income
$215
b. The department shall adopt a copayment model based on available revenue for households with annual incomes above 75 percent of the state median income and at or below 100 percent of the state median income. The model must calculate a copayment for each household that is no greater than seven percent of the household's countable income within this income range.
c. The department may adjust the copayment schedule to comply with federal law.
This section modifies existing section 43.216.136. Here is the modified chapter for context.
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. These policies shall focus on supporting school readiness for young learners. Policies for the expenditure of funds constituting the working connections child care program must be consistent with the outcome measures established by the department and the standards established in this section intended to promote stability, quality, and continuity of early care and education programming.
As recommended by P.L. 113-186, authorizations for the working connections child care subsidy are effective for twelve months beginning July 1, 2016.
A household's 12-month authorization begins on the date that child care is expected to begin.
If a newly eligible household does not begin care within 12 months of being determined eligible by the department, the household must reapply in order to qualify for subsidy.
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The department shall establish and implement policies in the working connections child care program to allow eligibility for families with children who:
(A) Received child protective services as defined and used by chapters 26.44 and 74.13 RCW;
(B) Received child welfare services as defined and used by chapter 74.13 RCW; or
(C) Received services through a family assessment response as defined and used by chapter 26.44 RCW;
ii. Have been referred for child care as part of the family's case management as defined by RCW 74.13.020; and
iii. Are residing with a biological parent or guardian.
b. **Families** who are eligible for working connections child care pursuant to this subsection do not have to keep receiving services identified in this subsection to maintain twelve-month authorization.
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a full-time student of a community, technical, or tribal college and is enrolled in: (i) A vocational education program that leads to a degree or certificate in a specific occupation**;**
ii. **An associate degree program; or**
iii. **A registered apprenticeship program**.
b. An applicant or consumer is a full-time student for the purposes of this subsection if he or she meets the college's definition of a full-time student.
c. Nothing in this subsection is intended to change how applicants or consumers are prioritized when applicants or consumers are placed on a waitlist for working connections child care benefits.
d. **Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the department may extend the provisions of this subsection (4) to full-time students who are enrolled in a bachelor's degree program or applied baccalaureate degree program.**
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The department must extend the homeless grace period, as adopted in department rule as of January 1, 2020, from a four-month grace period to a twelve-month grace period.
For the purposes of this section, "homeless" means being without a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence as described in the federal McKinney-Vento homeless assistance act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 11434a) as it existed on January 1, 2020.
For purposes of this section, "authorization" means a transaction created by the department that allows a child care provider to claim payment for care. The department may adjust an authorization based on a household's eligibility status.
The legislature finds that eligibility guidelines for the national school lunch program require free meals for children with household incomes at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level and that this income level is approximately equivalent to 36 percent of the state median income for a household of three. The legislature further finds that eligibility guidelines require reduced-price meals for children with household incomes at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level and that this income level is approximately equivalent to 50 percent of the state median income for a household of three.
Therefore, the legislature intends to raise the maximum family income for children entitled to enroll in the early childhood education and assistance program to 36 percent of the state median income beginning July 1, 2026. Beginning in the 2030-31 school year, the legislature intends to raise the maximum family income for children entitled to enroll in this program to 50 percent of the state median income. It is the intent of the legislature to standardize income eligibility levels for assistance programs in order to help families and social workers better understand the benefits for which families qualify and to simplify and align state systems wherever feasible.
The legislature further intends to support educational service districts to help school districts partner with early childhood education and assistance program contractors and providers to expand access.
This section modifies existing section 43.216.505. Here is the modified chapter for context.
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout RCW 43.216.500 through 43.216.559, 43.216.900, and 43.216.901.
"Advisory committee" means the advisory committee under RCW 43.216.520.
"Approved programs" means those state-supported education and special assistance programs which are recognized by the department as meeting the minimum program rules adopted by the department to qualify under RCW 43.216.500 through 43.216.550, 43.216.900, and 43.216.901 and are designated as eligible for funding by the department under RCW 43.216.530 and 43.216.540.
"Comprehensive" means an assistance program that focuses on the needs of the child and includes education, health, and family support services.
"Eligible child" means a child who is at least three years old by the school year, is not age-eligible for kindergarten, is not a participant in a federal or state program providing comprehensive services, and who:
Has a family with financial need;
Is experiencing homelessness;
Has participated in early head start or a successor federal program providing comprehensive services for children from birth through two years of age, the early support for infants and toddlers program or received class C developmental services, the birth to three early childhood education and assistance program, or the early childhood intervention and prevention services program;
Is eligible for special education due to disability under RCW 28A.155.020;
Meets criteria under rules adopted by the department if the number of such children equals not more than ten percent of the total enrollment in the early childhood program. Preference for enrollment in this group shall be given to children from families with the lowest income, children in foster care, or to eligible children from families with multiple needs**; or**
Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, is Indian as defined in rule by the department after consultation and agreement with Washington state's federally recognized tribes pursuant to section 207 of this act and is at or below 100 percent of the state median income adjusted for family size.
"Family support services" means providing opportunities for parents to:
Actively participate in their child's early childhood program;
Increase their knowledge of child development and parenting skills;
Further their education and training;
Increase their ability to use needed services in the community;
Increase their self-reliance**; and**
Connect with culturally competent, disability positive therapists and supports where appropriate.
"Experiencing homelessness" means a child without a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence as described in the federal McKinney-Vento homeless assistance act (42 U.S.C., Chapter 119, Subchapter VI, Part B) as it existed on January 1, 2021.
"Family with financial need" means families with incomes at or below 36 percent of the state median income adjusted for family size until the 2030-31 school year. Beginning in the 2030-31 school year, "family with financial need" means families with incomes at or below 50 percent of the state median income adjusted for family size.
This section modifies existing section 43.216.512. Here is the modified chapter for context.
above 36 percent of the state median income but at or below 50 percent of the state median income adjusted for family size and the child meets at least one of the risk factor criterion described in subsection (2) of this section.
Children enrolled in the early childhood education and assistance program pursuant to this section must be prioritized for available funded slots according to a prioritization system adopted in rule by the department that considers risk factors that have a disproportionate effect on kindergarten readiness and school performance, including:
b.
Child welfare system involvement;
c. **Eligible for services under part C of the federal individuals with disabilities education act but not eligible for services under part B of the federal individuals with disabilities education act**;
d. Domestic violence;
e. English as a second language;
f. Expulsion from an early learning setting;
g. A parent who is incarcerated;
h. A parent with a **behavioral** health treatment need; and
i. Other risk factors determined by the department to be linked by research to school performance.
3.
Children enrolled in the early childhood education and assistance program under this section are not considered eligible children as defined in RCW 43.216.505 and are not considered to be part of the state-funded entitlement required in RCW 43.216.556.
The department shall adopt rules that allow a child to enroll in the early childhood education and assistance program, as space is available, when the child is not eligible under RCW 43.216.505 and the child turns three years old at any time during the school year when the child:
Has a family income at or below 50 percent of the state median income or meets at least one risk factor criterion adopted by the department in rule; and
Has received services from or participated in:
The early head start or a successor federal program providing comprehensive services for children from birth through two years of age;
The early support for infants and toddlers program or received class C developmental services;
The birth to three early childhood education and assistance program; or
The early childhood intervention and prevention services program.
Children enrolled in the early childhood education and assistance program under this section are not eligible children as defined in RCW 43.216.505 and are not part of the state-funded entitlement required in RCW 43.216.556.
The department must consult, and obtain the advice and consent of, the governing bodies of the state's federally recognized tribes in developing an agreed-upon definition of the term "Indian" for the purposes of RCW 43.216.505 and, by July 1, 2024, must adopt the definition in rule.
This section expires December 1, 2030.
This section modifies existing section 43.216.556. Here is the modified chapter for context.
Funding for the program of early learning established under this chapter must be appropriated to the department. The department shall distribute funding to approved early childhood education and assistance program contractors on the basis of eligible children enrolled.
The program shall be implemented in phases, so that full implementation is achieved in the 2026-27 school year.
Funding shall continue to be phased in until full statewide implementation of the early learning program is achieved in the 2026-27 school year, at which time any eligible child is entitled to be enrolled in the program. Entitlement under this section is voluntary enrollment.
School districts and approved community‑based early learning providers may contract with the department to provide services under the program. The department shall collaborate with school districts, community‑based providers, and educational service districts to promote an adequate supply of approved providers.
This section modifies existing section 43.216.749. Here is the modified chapter for context.
It is the intent of the legislature to systemically increase child care subsidy rates over time until rates are equal to the full cost of providing high quality child care.
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By July 1, 2021, child care subsidy base rates must achieve the 75th percentile of market for licensed or certified child care providers.
By July 1, 2023, child care subsidy base rates must achieve the 85th percentile of market for licensed or certified child care providers.
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to recommend subsidy rates at levels that are sufficient to compensate licensed or certified child care providers for the full costs of providing high quality child care. The department shall consider adjusting rates to reflect cost-of-living factors at the zip code level, grouped by categories such as rural, suburban, or urban**.**
b. **The department shall build upon the work of the child care collaborative task force to evaluate options to support access to affordable health care insurance coverage for licensed or certified child care providers.**
c. **Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to interfere with, impede, or in any way diminish the right of employees to bargain collectively with their employers through representatives of their choosing in order to establish wages or other conditions of work in excess of the applicable minimum under the provisions of this chapter**.
Rates for the early childhood education and assistance program shall be established as follows:
For the 2021-22 through 2022-23 school years, rates must be set at a level at least seven percent higher than the rates established in section 225, chapter 415, Laws of 2019.
For the 2023-24 school year, rates shall be set at a level at least 10 percent higher than the rates established in section 225, chapter 415, Laws of 2019.
It is the intent of the legislature that rate increases shall be informed by the department's 2020 early childhood education and assistance program rate study.
This section expires June 30, 2027.
The department shall administer two complex needs funds to promote inclusive, least restrictive environments and to support contractors and providers serving children who have developmental delays, disabilities, behavioral needs, or other unique needs. One fund must support early childhood education and assistance program contractors, providers, and birth to three early childhood education and assistance programs, and one fund must support licensed or certified child care providers, license-exempt child care programs.
Support may include staffing, programming, therapeutic services, and equipment or technology support. Additional support may include activities to assist families with children expelled or at risk of expulsion from child care, and to help families transition in and out of child care.
By July 1, 2022, the department shall provide supports to aid eligible providers in providing trauma-informed care. Trauma-informed care supports may include:
Additional compensation for staff who have an infant and early childhood mental health or other child development specialty credential;
Trauma-informed professional development and training;
The purchase of screening tools and assessment materials;
Supportive services for children with complex needs that are offered as fee-for-service within local communities; or
Other related expenses.
The department must adopt rules to implement this section.
For the purposes of this section, "eligible provider" means: (a) An employee or owner of a licensed or certified child care center accepting state subsidy; (b) an employee or owner of a licensed family home provider accepting state subsidy; (c) a contractor or provider of the early childhood education and assistance program or birth to three early childhood education and assistance program; (d) a license-exempt child care program; or (e) an early achievers coach.
By July 1, 2022, the department shall establish a dual language designation and provide subsidy rate enhancements or site-specific grants for licensed or certified child care providers who are accepting state subsidy; early childhood education and assistance program contractors; or birth to three early childhood education and assistance program contractors. It is the intent of the legislature to allow uses of rate enhancements or site-specific grants to include increased wages for individual staff who provide bilingual instruction, professional development training, the purchase of dual language and culturally appropriate curricula and accompanying training programs, instructional materials, or other related expenses.
The department must consult with a culturally and linguistically diverse stakeholder advisory group to develop criteria for the dual language designation.
The department must adopt rules to implement this section.
In order to expand the supply of critically needed after-hours care to meet the needs of parents and caregivers and a round-the-clock economy, the department of children, youth, and families, in consultation with diverse stakeholders, must develop a rate model for nonstandard child care hours and submit the model to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature by January 1, 2022.
This section expires June 30, 2022.
Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the department shall distribute early childhood equity grants to eligible applicants. Eligible applicants include play and learn groups, licensed or certified child care centers and family home providers, license-exempt child care programs, and early childhood education and assistance program contractors. The equity grants are intended to serve as a step toward expanding access to early learning statewide and transforming Washington's early learning system to make it more inclusive and equitable. The department shall administer the early childhood equity grants to support inclusive and culturally and linguistically specific early learning and early childhood and parent support programs across the state.
The department must conduct an equitable process to prioritize grant applications for early childhood equity grant assistance. An eligible applicant may receive an early childhood equity grant once every two years. When conducting the equitable grant process, the department must:
Solicit project applications from a racially and geographically diverse pool of eligible applicants statewide;
Provide application materials in the five most commonly spoken languages in the state and broadly communicate using a variety of strategies to reach diverse communities;
Require applicants to demonstrate their proposed uses of early childhood equity grant funds to incorporate either inclusive practices or culturally and linguistically supportive and relevant practices, or both, into early learning program design, delivery, education, training, and evaluation; and
Provide technical assistance to any applicant who needs it.
This section adds a new section to an existing chapter 43.330. Here is the modified chapter for context.
Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the department, in collaboration with the department of children, youth, and families, shall provide or contract to provide remote or in-person technical assistance to employers interested in supporting their employees' access to high quality child care.
Technical assistance may include guidance related to:
Operating a licensed child care center at or near the workplace for the benefit of employees;
Financing and construction of a licensed child care center at or near the workplace for the benefit of employees;
Providing financial assistance to employees for licensed or certified child care providers and license-exempt child care program expenses;
Encouraging access and support for low-wage employees;
Sponsoring dependent care flexible spending accounts for employees; and
Developing a "bring your infant to work" program and other family-friendly work policies for employees.
The department shall administer or contract for infant and early childhood mental health consultation services to child care providers and early learning providers participating in the early achievers program.
Infant and early childhood mental health consultation services must be delivered in coordination with the consultants provided under RCW 43.216.090.
The department shall provide, or contract with an entity to provide, reflective supervision and professional development for infant and early childhood mental health consultants to meet national competency standards.
As capacity allows, the department may provide access to infant and early childhood mental health consultation services to caregivers and licensed or certified, military, and tribal early learning providers, license-exempt family, friend, and neighbor care providers, and families with children expelled or at risk of expulsion from child care.
This section modifies existing section 43.216.090. Here is the modified chapter for context.
By July 1, 2021, the department of children, youth, and families must have or contract for one infant and early childhood mental health consultation coordinator and must enter into a contractual agreement with an organization providing coaching services to early achievers program participants to hire at least 12 qualified infant and early childhood mental health consultants. The department shall determine, in collaboration with child care aware of Washington, where the additional consultants should be sited based on factors such as the total provider numbers overlaid with indicators of highest need. The infant and early childhood mental health consultants must support early achievers program coaches and child care providers by providing resources, information, and guidance regarding challenging behavior and expulsions and may travel to assist providers in serving families and children with severe behavioral needs.
Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the department, in consultation with community-based programs, shall provide or contract to provide, or both, resources and supports for inclusive and culturally and linguistically relevant play and learn groups. Play and learn groups offer parents and other caregivers culturally responsive opportunities to support their children's early learning, build relationships that reduce isolation and encourage socialization, and promote kindergarten readiness.
Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the department shall provide professional development supports to aid eligible providers in reaching the professional education and training standards adopted by the department. Professional development supports may include:
Department-required trainings for child care providers conducted by department-approved trainers;
Trainings for license-exempt family, friend, and neighbor child care providers conducted by department-approved trainers;
Early achievers scholarships;
Community-based training pathways and systems developed under RCW 43.216.755; and
Other professional development activities such as training content maintenance, data collection and reporting, trainer recruitment, retention, program monitoring, and trainings delivered by department-approved trainers on topics such as small business management, antibias and antiracist training, providing care for children with developmental disabilities, social-emotional learning, implementing inclusionary practices in the early learning environment, infant and toddler care, dual language program development, and providing trauma-informed care.
For the purposes of this section, "eligible provider" means: (a) An employee or owner of a licensed or certified child care center or outdoor nature-based care; (b) an employee or owner of a licensed family home provider accepting state subsidy; (c) a contractor or provider of the early childhood education and assistance program or birth to three early childhood education and assistance program; or (d) an early achievers coach.
The legislature finds that parental relationships and healthy interactions in the first few years of life help shape the development of babies' and toddlers' brains and bodies. Eighty percent of the brain is developed by the age of three and parents are a child's first teachers.
The legislature finds that the federal family first prevention services act (P.L. 115-123) offers the state the opportunity to leverage federal funding for certain programs, including in-home parent skill-based programs, substance use disorder support, and mental health interventions. Culturally relevant, evidence-based programs that may qualify for these federal funds are limited. Therefore, state support may be necessary to serve traditionally underrepresented communities and increase positive engagement from parents and caregivers of children from before birth to age three.
The legislature finds that small teacher-child ratios for infant and toddler care, as well as the existence of child care deserts with low levels of access to care for the birth to three age group, contribute to higher expenses for providers and families with babies and young children.
Therefore, the legislature intends to expand parent and family education and support, incentivize the provision of infant and toddler care, and make early therapeutic and preventative services more readily available to families and young children.
Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the department shall administer a prenatal to three family engagement strategy to support expectant parents, babies and toddlers from birth to three years of age, and their caregivers.
Components of the prenatal to three family engagement strategy must include supports and services to improve maternal and infant health outcomes, reduce and mitigate trauma, promote attachment and other social-emotional assets, strengthen parenting skills, and provide early supports to help maximize healthy and robust childhood development and reduce isolation. Services and supports may include:
In-home parent skill-based programs and training established in RCW 43.216.130;
Facilitated play and learn groups;
Parent peer-support groups, including groups designed for families with children with complex needs; families whose primary home language is not English; incarcerated parents; families coping with substance use disorder or mental health support needs; black, indigenous, and families of color; or other specific needs; and
Other prenatal to age three programs and services.
Continuity of services for babies and toddlers are important for early childhood brain development. Therefore, the services and supports described in this section may be made available to biological parents, foster parents, kinship care providers, and other family, friend, and neighbor caregivers.
This section modifies existing section 43.216.578. Here is the modified chapter for context.
Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the department shall administer a birth to three early childhood education and assistance program for eligible children under thirty-six months old. Funds to implement the program may include a combination of federal, state, or private sources.
The department may adopt rules to implement the program and may waive or adapt early childhood education and assistance program requirements when necessary to allow for the operation of the birth to three early childhood education and assistance program. The department shall consider early head start rules and regulations when developing the provider and family eligibility requirements and program requirements.
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The birth to three early childhood education and assistance program must be delivered through child care centers and family home providers who meet minimum licensing standards and are enrolled in the early achievers program.
The department must determine minimum early achievers ratings scores for participating contractors.
4.
To be eligible for the birth to three early childhood education and assistance program, a child's family income must be at or below 50 percent of the state median income and the child must be under thirty-six months old.
The legislature finds that our state suffers from an extreme shortage of infant child care, impacting the ability of parents to participate in the workforce. Further, parents returning to work after using paid family leave to care for a new child struggle to find readily available, high quality care during a time of critical growth and brain development for young children. Therefore, the legislature intends to incentivize the provision of high quality infant care.
By July 1, 2022, the department shall provide an infant rate enhancement for licensed or certified child care providers and birth to three early childhood education and assistance program contractors who are:
Accepting state subsidy;
In good standing with the early achievers quality rating and improvement system; and
Caring for a child between the ages of birth and 11 months.
To the extent practicable, parties should consider in collective bargaining agreements, beginning in the 2021-2023 fiscal biennium, implementation of a rate structure similar to the provisions in this section.
Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the department shall administer early therapeutic and preventative services and programs, such as the early childhood intervention and prevention services program, and other related services for children who are:
Between the ages of birth and five years; and
Referred by a child welfare worker, a department of social and health services social worker, a primary care physician, a behavioral health provider, or a public health nurse due to: (i) Risk of child abuse or neglect; (ii) exposure to complex trauma; or (iii) significant developmental delays.
Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the department shall make all reasonable efforts to deliver early therapeutic and preventative services and programs statewide. These services and programs must focus first on children and families furthest from opportunity as defined by income and be delivered by programs that emphasize greater racial equity.
This section modifies existing section 43.84.092. Here is the modified chapter for context.
All earnings of investments of surplus balances in the state treasury shall be deposited to the treasury income account, which account is hereby established in the state treasury.
The treasury income account shall be utilized to pay or receive funds associated with federal programs as required by the federal cash management improvement act of 1990. The treasury income account is subject in all respects to chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for refunds or allocations of interest earnings required by the cash management improvement act. Refunds of interest to the federal treasury required under the cash management improvement act fall under RCW 43.88.180 and shall not require appropriation. The office of financial management shall determine the amounts due to or from the federal government pursuant to the cash management improvement act. The office of financial management may direct transfers of funds between accounts as deemed necessary to implement the provisions of the cash management improvement act, and this subsection. Refunds or allocations shall occur prior to the distributions of earnings set forth in subsection (4) of this section.
Except for the provisions of RCW 43.84.160, the treasury income account may be utilized for the payment of purchased banking services on behalf of treasury funds including, but not limited to, depository, safekeeping, and disbursement functions for the state treasury and affected state agencies. The treasury income account is subject in all respects to chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for payments to financial institutions. Payments shall occur prior to distribution of earnings set forth in subsection (4) of this section.
Monthly, the state treasurer shall distribute the earnings credited to the treasury income account. The state treasurer shall credit the general fund with all the earnings credited to the treasury income account except:
The following accounts and funds shall receive their proportionate share of earnings based upon each account's and fund's average daily balance for the period: The abandoned recreational vehicle disposal account, the aeronautics account, the Alaskan Way viaduct replacement project account, the brownfield redevelopment trust fund account, the budget stabilization account, the capital vessel replacement account, the capitol building construction account, the Central Washington University capital projects account, the charitable, educational, penal and reformatory institutions account, the Chehalis basin account, the Chehalis basin taxable account, the cleanup settlement account, the Columbia river basin water supply development account, the Columbia river basin taxable bond water supply development account, the Columbia river basin water supply revenue recovery account, the common school construction fund, the community forest trust account, the connecting Washington account, the county arterial preservation account, the county criminal justice assistance account, the deferred compensation administrative account, the deferred compensation principal account, the department of licensing services account, the department of retirement systems expense account, the developmental disabilities community services account, the diesel idle reduction account, the drinking water assistance account, the administrative subaccount of the drinking water assistance account, the early learning facilities development account, the early learning facilities revolving account, the Eastern Washington University capital projects account, the education construction fund, the education legacy trust account, the election account, the electric vehicle account, the energy freedom account, the energy recovery act account, the essential rail assistance account, The Evergreen State College capital projects account, the fair start for kids account, the ferry bond retirement fund, the fish, wildlife, and conservation account, the freight mobility investment account, the freight mobility multimodal account, the grade crossing protective fund, the public health services account, the state higher education construction account, the higher education construction account, the higher education retirement plan supplemental benefit fund, the highway bond retirement fund, the highway infrastructure account, the highway safety fund, the hospital safety net assessment fund, the Interstate 405 and state route number 167 express toll lanes account, the judges' retirement account, the judicial retirement administrative account, the judicial retirement principal account, the limited fish and wildlife account, the local leasehold excise tax account, the local real estate excise tax account, the local sales and use tax account, the marine resources stewardship trust account, the medical aid account, the money-purchase retirement savings administrative account, the money-purchase retirement savings principal account, the motor vehicle fund, the motorcycle safety education account, the multimodal transportation account, the multiuse roadway safety account, the municipal criminal justice assistance account, the oyster reserve land account, the pension funding stabilization account, the perpetual surveillance and maintenance account, the pilotage account, the pollution liability insurance agency underground storage tank revolving account, the public employees' retirement system plan 1 account, the public employees' retirement system combined plan 2 and plan 3 account, the public facilities construction loan revolving account, the public health supplemental account, the public works assistance account, the Puget Sound capital construction account, the Puget Sound ferry operations account, the Puget Sound Gateway facility account, the Puget Sound taxpayer accountability account, the real estate appraiser commission account, the recreational vehicle account, the regional mobility grant program account, the resource management cost account, the rural arterial trust account, the rural mobility grant program account, the rural Washington loan fund, the sexual assault prevention and response account, the site closure account, the skilled nursing facility safety net trust fund, the small city pavement and sidewalk account, the special category C account, the special wildlife account, the state investment board expense account, the state investment board commingled trust fund accounts, the state patrol highway account, the state reclamation revolving account, the state route number 520 civil penalties account, the state route number 520 corridor account, the statewide broadband account, the statewide tourism marketing account, the supplemental pension account, the Tacoma Narrows toll bridge account, the teachers' retirement system plan 1 account, the teachers' retirement system combined plan 2 and plan 3 account, the tobacco prevention and control account, the tobacco settlement account, the toll facility bond retirement account, the transportation 2003 account (nickel account), the transportation equipment fund, the transportation future funding program account, the transportation improvement account, the transportation improvement board bond retirement account, the transportation infrastructure account, the transportation partnership account, the traumatic brain injury account, the University of Washington bond retirement fund, the University of Washington building account, the voluntary cleanup account, the volunteer firefighters' and reserve officers' relief and pension principal fund, the volunteer firefighters' and reserve officers' administrative fund, the vulnerable roadway user education account, the Washington judicial retirement system account, the Washington law enforcement officers' and firefighters' system plan 1 retirement account, the Washington law enforcement officers' and firefighters' system plan 2 retirement account, the Washington public safety employees' plan 2 retirement account, the Washington school employees' retirement system combined plan 2 and 3 account, the Washington state patrol retirement account, the Washington State University building account, the Washington State University bond retirement fund, the water pollution control revolving administration account, the water pollution control revolving fund, the Western Washington University capital projects account, the Yakima integrated plan implementation account, the Yakima integrated plan implementation revenue recovery account, and the Yakima integrated plan implementation taxable bond account. Earnings derived from investing balances of the agricultural permanent fund, the normal school permanent fund, the permanent common school fund, the scientific permanent fund, and the state university permanent fund shall be allocated to their respective beneficiary accounts.
Any state agency that has independent authority over accounts or funds not statutorily required to be held in the state treasury that deposits funds into a fund or account in the state treasury pursuant to an agreement with the office of the state treasurer shall receive its proportionate share of earnings based upon each account's or fund's average daily balance for the period.
In conformance with Article II, section 37 of the state Constitution, no treasury accounts or funds shall be allocated earnings without the specific affirmative directive of this section.
This section modifies existing section 43.216.710. Here is the modified chapter for context.
The department shall:
Work in conjunction with the statewide child care resource and referral network as well as local governments, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and community child care advocates to create local child care resource and referral organizations. These organizations may carry out needs assessments, resource development, provider training, technical assistance, and parent information and training;
Actively seek public and private money for distribution as grants to the statewide child care resource and referral network and to existing or potential local child care resource and referral organizations;
Adopt rules regarding the application for and distribution of grants to local child care resource and referral organizations. The rules shall, at a minimum, require an applicant to submit a plan for achieving the following objectives:
Provide parents with information about child care resources, including location of services and subsidies;
Carry out child care provider recruitment and training programs, including training under RCW 74.25.040;
Offer support services, such as parent and provider seminars, toy-lending libraries, and substitute banks;
Provide information for businesses regarding child care supply and demand;
Advocate for increased public and private sector resources devoted to child care;
Provide technical assistance to employers regarding employee child care services; and
Serve recipients of temporary assistance for needy families and working parents with household incomes at or below 100 percent of the state median income;
Provide staff support and technical assistance to the statewide child care resource and referral network and local child care resource and referral organizations;
Maintain a statewide child care licensing data bank and work with department licensors to provide information to local child care resource and referral organizations about licensed or certified child care providers in the state;
Through the statewide child care resource and referral network and local resource and referral organizations, compile data about local child care needs and availability for future planning and development;
Coordinate with the statewide child care resource and referral network and local child care resource and referral organizations for the provision of training and technical assistance to child care providers;
Collect and assemble information regarding the availability of insurance and of federal and other child care funding to assist state and local agencies, businesses, and other child care providers in offering child care services;
Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, increase the base rate for all child care providers by ten percent;
Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, provide tiered subsidy rate enhancements to child care providers if the provider meets the following requirements:
The provider enrolls in quality rating and improvement system levels 2, 3, 4, or 5;
The provider is actively participating in the early achievers program;
The provider continues to advance towards level 5 of the early achievers program; and
The provider must complete level 2 within thirty months or the reimbursement rate returns the level 1 rate; and
Require exempt providers to participate in continuing education, if adequate funding is available.
This section modifies existing section 43.216.514. Here is the modified chapter for context.
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The department shall prioritize children for enrollment in the early childhood education and assistance program who are eligible pursuant to RCW 43.216.505.
A child who is eligible at the time of enrollment in the early childhood education and assistance program maintains program eligibility until the child begins kindergarten.
As space is available, children may be included in the early childhood education and assistance program pursuant to RCW 43.216.512.
This section modifies existing section 43.216.136. Here is the modified chapter for context.
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. These policies shall focus on supporting school readiness for young learners. Policies for the expenditure of funds constituting the working connections child care program must be consistent with the outcome measures established by the department and the standards established in this section intended to promote stability, quality, and continuity of early care and education programming.
As recommended by P.L. 113-186, authorizations for the working connections child care subsidy are effective for twelve months beginning July 1, 2016.
A household's 12-month authorization must begin on the date that child care is expected to begin.
If a newly eligible household does not begin care within 12 months of being determined eligible by the department, the household must reapply in order to qualify for subsidy.
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The department shall establish and implement policies in the working connections child care program to allow eligibility for families with children who:
(A) Received child protective services as defined and used by chapters 26.44 and 74.13 RCW;
(B) Received child welfare services as defined and used by chapter 74.13 RCW; or
(C) Received services through a family assessment response as defined and used by chapter 26.44 RCW;
ii. Have been referred for child care as part of the family's case management as defined by RCW 74.13.020; and
iii. Are residing with a biological parent or guardian.
b. **Families** who are eligible for working connections child care pursuant to this subsection do not have to keep receiving services identified in this subsection to maintain twelve-month authorization.
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Beginning August 1, 2020, the department may not require an applicant or consumer to meet work requirements as a condition of receiving working connections child care benefits when the applicant or consumer is:
A single parent;
A full-time student of a community, technical, or tribal college; and
Pursuing vocational education that leads to a degree or certificate in a specific occupation, not to result in a bachelor's or advanced degree.
An applicant or consumer is a full-time student for the purposes of this subsection if he or she meets the college's definition of a full-time student. The student must maintain passing grades and be in good standing pursuant to college attendance requirements.
Nothing in this subsection is intended to change how applicants or consumers are prioritized when applicants or consumers are placed on a waitlist for working connections child care benefits.
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The department must extend the homeless grace period, as adopted in department rule as of January 1, 2020, from a four-month grace period to a twelve-month grace period.
For the purposes of this section, "homeless" means being without a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence as described in the federal McKinney-Vento homeless assistance act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 11434a) as it existed on January 1, 2020.
For purposes of this section, "authorization" means a transaction created by the department that allows a child care provider to claim payment for care. The department may adjust an authorization based on a household's eligibility status.
If any part of this act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state, the conflicting part of this act is inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict and with respect to the agencies directly affected, and this finding does not affect the operation of the remainder of this act in its application to the agencies concerned. Rules adopted under this act must meet federal requirements that are a necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state.
If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 2021, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void.