Advocacy

WAEYC Public Policy Report

Submitted by:  Nancy Spurgeon

This information was updated on Friday 3/24/23.

The Washington State Senate just released their proposed operating budget. Here are some of the budget highlights:

• $456.7 million to improve and grow Working Connections Child Care, the state’s childcare subsidy program. These investments will ensure early learning providers are receiving market-rate payments for their services, expand access to affordable care for childcare workers themselves, and abolish the exclusion of undocumented children from the Working Connections Child Care system.
• $215 million to ensure the long-term stability of the state’s paid family and medical leave program, which has seen unprecedented growth in the program’s first three years 
• $105.8 million for enhancements to ECEAP – the state’s preschool program that provides essential care and education to little learners preparing for kindergarten. 
• $27.7 million for outreach and multilingual application supports to improve access to the Working Families Tax Credit 

The Washington State House Released their proposed operating budget on Monday the 27^th

• Early  Learning house budget details will be in the next Public Policy reports

HB1199

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1199&Initiative=false&Year=2023

Addressing licensed childcare in common interest communities.

Prohibits “common interest communities” such as a private community with a Homeowners Association from banning or limiting the use of a home, building or space for a licensed childcare center or family home.

Scheduled for executive session in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice: 3/22 @ 6 PM

Update:

Mar 22 – Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 6:00 PM.

LAW – Majority; do pass with amendment(s). 

Minority; without recommendation. 

Mar 24Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

HB 1550

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1550&Year=2023&Initiative=false

Assisting eligible children in need of additional preparation to be successful in kindergarten by establishing the Transition to Kindergarten program

Provides legislative authorization and regulations for the Transition to Kindergarten Program

In the House; Third reading, passed; yeas, 74; nays, 22; absent, 0; excused, 2.

Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education: 3/22 @ 1:30 PM

Update:

Mar 27 – Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education at 1:30 PM. 

EDU – Majority; do pass with amendment(s).  Minority; do not pass. 

Minority; without recommendation.  And refer to Ways & Means.

Mar 28 – Referred to Ways & Means.

Mar 31 – Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 12:30 PM (Subject to change). 

HB 1590

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1590&Year=2023&Initiative=false

Concerning the membership and subcommittees of the oversight board for the Department of Children, Youth, and families.

Amends the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) Oversight Board to relax age requirements for certain positions and adds an expert on education in juvenile justice facilities.

In the House: Third reading, passed; yeas, 96; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused,

Scheduled for executive session in the Senate Committee on Human Services: 3/21 @ 10:30 AM

Update:

Mar 23 – Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

HB 1292 Companion Bill SB5252

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1292&Initiative=false&Year=2023

Making modifications necessary to comply with federal regulations regarding dissemination of federal bureau of investigation criminal history record information.

Updates state regulations regarding background checks to meet federal regulations. These checks are for applicants and employees of entities that work with vulnerable populations such as childcare workers.

Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Human Services, Youth, & Early Learning: 3/24 @ 8 AM

Update:

Mar 24 – Executive action taken in the House Committee on Human Services, Youth, & Early Learning at 8:00 AM.  – Majority; do pass with amendment(s). 

SB5225

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5225&Initiative=false&Year=2023

Increases access to childcare by providing subsidy eligibility to families involved in therapeutic court, bans limiting eligibility based on immigration status and authorizes child care subsidy eligibility for dependents of child care employees, awaits a hearing in the 

Update:

 Apr 1 – Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 9:00 AM (Subject to change). 

SP 5316  

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5316&Year=2023&Initiative=false

Concerning background check and licensing fees for programs administered by the Department of Children, Youth, and Families

Eliminates the requirement for applicants of childcare and foster care entities to pay state and federal background check fees.

In the Senate: Third reading, passed; yeas, 30; nays, 18; absent, 0; excused

Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Human Services, Youth, & Early Learning: 3/21 @ 1:30 PM

Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Human Services, Youth, & Early Learning: 3/24 @ 8 AM

Update:

Mar 24 – Executive action taken in the House Committee on Human Services, Youth, & Early Learning at 8:00 AM.  Majority; do pass.  Minority; without recommendation. 

Mar 28 – Referred to Appropriations.

HB 1525

https://apps.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/?BillNumber=1525&Year=2023&Initiative=false

Provides qualifying applicants and consumers of state registered apprenticeship programs eligibility for Working Connections Child Care subsidy. The bill was amended to ensure an individual in a state approved apprenticeship program may receive childcare subsidy for the first 12 months of enrollment in a state registered apprenticeship as long as the income requirements are met.

Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means 3/21@4:00 PM (Subject to change).

Update:

Is waiting a vote in the Senate Ways and Means Committee