wa-law.org > bill > 2025-26 > HB 2689 > Substitute Bill
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.
A family is eligible for working connections child care when the household's annual income is at or below 60 percent of the state median income adjusted for family size and:
The child receiving care is: (i) Less than 13 years of age; or (ii) less than 19 years of age and has a verified special need according to department rule or is under court supervision; and
The household meets all other program eligibility requirements established in this chapter or in rule by the department as authorized by RCW 43.216.055 or 43.216.065 or any other authority granted by this chapter.
3.
Beginning November 1, 2024, when an applicant or consumer is a member of an assistance unit that is eligible for or receiving basic food benefits under the federal supplemental nutrition assistance program or the state food assistance program the department must determine that the household income eligibility requirements in this section are met.
The department must adopt rules to implement this section, including an income phase-out eligibility period.
The department may not consider the citizenship status of an applicant or consumer's child when determining eligibility for working connections child care benefits.
The income eligibility requirements in subsection (2) of this section does not apply to households eligible for the working connections child care program under RCW 43.216.808 and 43.216.814.
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.
[Empty]
Beginning July 1, 2026, child care subsidy base rates must achieve the 85th percentile of market, as established by the most recent market rate survey published before May 20, 2025, for licensed or certified child care providers.
Beginning July 1, 2027, child care subsidy base rates must achieve the 75th percentile of market for licensed or certified child care providers. The state and the exclusive representative for family child care providers must enter into bargaining over the implementation of the subsidy rate increase under this subsection.
[Empty]
In order for the market rate survey to be considered valid for the purpose of informing future rate increases under subsection (2)(b) of this section, the market rate survey must achieve a provider response rate of 65 percent or higher for each child care subsidy rate region.
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.
By October 1, 2026, the department of children, youth, and families shall adopt rules related to child care provider subsidy payments that allow licensed or certificated child care centers who accept state subsidy payments to claim:
A full month of payment for a child who has 10 or fewer absences in a month within the authorization period based on the attendance log from an approved electronic attendance system; and
A half month of payment for a child who has attended at least one day in a month within the authorization period, but has 11 or more absences, based on the attendance log from an approved electronic attendance system.
For purposes of this section, absences do not include days when the provider is closed due to holidays, professional training days, or allowable closure days.
This section expires July 1, 2027.
The department shall adopt rules related to child care provider subsidy payments that allow child care providers who accept state subsidy payments to claim:
A full month of payment for a child who has 10 or fewer absences in a month within the authorization period based on the attendance log from an approved electronic attendance system; and
A half month of payment for a child who has attended at least one day in a month within the authorization period, but has 11 or more absences, based on the attendance log from an approved electronic attendance system.
For purposes of this section, absences do not include days when the provider is closed due to holidays, professional training days, or allowable closure days.
Beginning July 1, 2026, licensed or certified child care providers may not receive a child care subsidy rate that is different than the rate for the subsidy region in which the provider is located.
Section 4 of this act takes effect July 1, 2027.
Except for section 4 of this act, this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.