Children's Advocacy in Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties

Collaborative WA Legislative Update 1/30/09

2009-01-30T19:53:00.000-08:00

Action Taken

Substitute SB 5460, Reducing the administrative cost of state government during the 2007-2009 and 2009-2011 fiscal biennia passed out of Senate Ways & Means Committee on Tuesday, January 27 and was referred to Senate Rules Committee. Passed out of the Senate unanimously on Wednesday, January 28 with amendments. In the opposite house: Referred to House Ways & Means.

Collaborative 2009 Public Policy Agenda

The Collaborative’s 2009 Public Policy Agenda is updated. Click here to view it online. Give copies to your legislators when meeting with them this session!

Advocates in Action

New this week! Click here to visit WAEYC’s public policy page, featuring a picture of advocates in action. Cathy Garland, Children’s Home Society, Agda Burchard, Washington Association for the Education of Young Children, and Janet Anderson, Washington State Association of Head Start and ECEAP attended a work session and presented on home visiting, professional development and ECEAP. Also included on the public policy page is information about how to get more involved as an advocate! Thanks to Laura Wells for providing the photo!

Bills Introduced

For a copy of a bill and its history, go to www.leg.wa.gov and click on “bill search” or “bill information” and enter the 4-digit bill number or a key word.

HB 1754: Concerning continuity of child care. (This subsidy bill is on the Collaborative's policy agenda). Reforms the components of Washington's subsidized child care system so it promotes continuity of care for children, is affordable for parents needing financial assistance, and is uncomplicated and predictable for providers. Changes include: 1) co-pays not more than 10% of a family’s income, 2) 12 month eligibility period, and 3) increasing paid absences from 5 to 10 days. Referred to House Early Learning & Children's Services Committee.

SB 5617: Changing early learning advisory council provisions. Modifies composition of the early learning advisory council including reducing the number of voting members from 25 to 15. Modifies the council's duties from advising the department of early learning on statewide early learning "community needs and progress" to "issues that would build a comprehensive system of quality early learning programs and services for Washington's children and families by aligning resources, establishing key performance measures, and ensuring children are ready for school. Also requires the council to submit their statewide early learning plan annually to the appropriate committees of the legislature and the P-20 council. Referred to Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee.

SB 5572: (Companion Bill to HB 1329, except the Senate bill excludes centers with less than four subsidized children.) Providing collective bargaining for child care center directors and workers. Amends the 2006 Family Child Care Act to enable the creation of a bargaining unit of child care center directors and workers (all employees who work on-site and owners) to negotiate with the State on the subsidy rates and reimbursement, professional development and training, mechanisms and funding to improve access to health care insurance and other benefit programs, and other economic support for centers. Bargaining over retirement benefits would be prohibited. The legislation will not alter the employment relationship between individual employees and their specific employer. The following centers would be excluded: 1) those operated by another unit of government or a tribe; 2) those operated by an individual, partnership, profit or nonprofit corporation or other entity that operates 10 or more child care centers statewide; and 3) those operated by a local nonprofit organization whose primary mission is to provide social services and that pays membership dues or assessments to either a national 501c3 organization with more than $3 million in dues and assessments annually or a regional council affiliated with a national 501c3 organization with more than 200 affiliates. The excluded centers would receive parity. This means that they would receive the same gains as included centers resulting from the collective bargaining agreement. Referred to Senate Labor, Commerce & Consumer Protection Committee.

SB 5620: Regarding the voluntary rating system for child care centers and early education programs.
Revises the provisions regarding QRIS by: 1) inserting the words "unified statewide" and "single statewide" in front of "voluntary quality rating and improvement system", and 2) listing "the nongovernmental private-public partnership created in RCW 43.215.070" (Thrive by Five Washington) as a QRIS implementation partner of the department of early learning.

HB 1373: Concerning children’s mental health services. Provides equitable access to appropriate and effective children’s mental health services. Referred to House Early Learning & Children’s Services Committee; hearing February 3^rd at 1:30 pm.

Legislative Meeting Schedule

Tuesday 2/3

HB 1373, concerning children’s mental health services, will be heard in to House Early Learning & Children’s Services Committee at 1:30 pm in John L. O’Brien Building, House Hearing Room E.

Wednesday 2/4

SB 5282, regarding the use of bisphenol A (baby bottle bill), will be heard in Senate Health & Long-Term Care Committee at 8:00 am in J.A. Cherberg Building, Senate Hearing Room 4.

Thursday 2/5

Work Session, overview of the human services safety net (including Working Connections Child Care) in House Health & Human Services Appropriations Committee with General Government Appropriations Committee at 1:30 pm in John L. O’Brien Building, House Hearing Room B.

SB 5373, concerning early intervention services for children with disabilities will be heard in Senate Health & Long-Term Care Committee at 10:00 am in J.A. Cherberg Building, Senate Hearing Room 4.

Friday 2/6

HB 1754, concerning continuity of child care will be heard in House Early Learning & Children’s Services Committee at 1:30 pm in John L. O’Brien Building, House Hearing Room E.

Meetings and Events

Get involved at these advocacy events!

Add other advocacy events to our calendar by contacting krista@waeyc.org or (253) 854-2565 x19.

February 4^th Collaborative meeting with DEL at the Governor’s Executive Policy Office from 11 am - noon. This is to supplement the Collaborative Quarterly Meeting that was shortened on January 8^th. The Policy Office is located in the Insurance Building on the first floor, in room 100.

February 12^th United Ways of Washington lobby day.

February 16^th Service Employee’s International Union (SEIU) Local 925 lobby day.

February 26^th Washington State Parent Teacher Association’s 2009 Focus Day and Rally. For more info, visit http://www.wastatepta.org/leg/session_09.htm

February 27^th Have a Heart for Kids Day!

Register for Children’s Alliance’s Have a Heart for Kids Day, Friday, February 27, 2009! Advocates from across the state will come together to advocate for children’s issues! WAEYC and Schools Out Washington are hosting the early learning and afterschool caucus at Have a Heart for Kids Day.

Have a Heart for Kids Day features:

Over 500 advocates for children
Legislative briefing and, back by popular demand, the new advocate training beginning at 9:00 am at the United Churches (110 11^th Ave. S.E.)
Rally on the Capitol Steps with Governor Chris Gregoire

March 12^th League of Women Voter’s lobby day. For more info, visit www.lwvwa.org.

Collaborative Quarterly Meeting

The next Collaborative Quarterly meeting will be held Thursday, April 16, 2008 from 9:30 am – 3:00 pm at the Department of Early Learning in Lacey. Click here for the minutes from the January 8^th meeting.

Federal Economic Recovery Package

The Federal Senate Stimulus package proposal includes the same early learning funding as the House package: $2 billion for CCDBG, $1 billion for Head Start, $1.1 billion for Early Head Start.

This weekly Update is a publication of WAEYC and the Collaborative. Encourage others to sign up to receive the free Update by contacting krista@waeyc.org or (253) 854-2565 x19.

The mission of WAEYC is to support, promote and advocate for:

o Early learning and quality care for young children ages birth through eight,

o A broad based, inclusive, professional membership, and

o Public policy and social change efforts related to the needs and rights of all children and families.

To join WAEYC, click here.

The Collaborative is a coalition of statewide early childhood and afterschool organizations and individuals representing the direct service providers and the families and children whom they serve. For more information about the Collaborative and to join, click here.

Krista Rhea

Program Specialist, Communications, x19

Legislative Update: January 23, 2009

2009-01-24T23:47:00.000-08:00

Actions Contact Senator Murray and Senator Cantwell and your US Representative and ask them to support increased investments of a minimum of $3 billion for the CCDBG and $3 billion for Head Start and Early Head Start in the Economic Recovery Package.

Collaborative 2009 Public Policy Agenda

The Collaborative’s 2009 Public Policy Agenda is now online. Click here to view it online. Give copies to your legislators when meeting with them this session!

Bills Introduced

For a copy of a bill and its history, go to www.leg.wa.gov and click on “bill search” or “bill information” and enter the 4-digit bill number or a key word.

HB 1329: Providing collective bargaining for child care center directors and workers. Amends the 2006 Family Child Care Act to enable the creation of a bargaining unit of child care center directors and workers (all employees who work on-site and owners) to negotiate with the State on the subsidy rates and reimbursement, professional development and training, mechanisms and funding to improve access to health care insurance and other benefit programs, and other economic support for centers. Bargaining over retirement benefits would be prohibited. The legislation will not alter the employment relationship between individual employees and their specific employer. The following centers would be excluded: 1) those operated by another unit of government or a tribe; 2) those operated by an individual, partnership, profit or nonprofit corporation or other entity that operates 10 or more child care centers statewide; and 3) those operated by a local nonprofit organization whose primary mission is to provide social services and that pays membership dues or assessments to either a national 501c3 organization with more than $3 million in dues and assessments annually or a regional council affiliated with a national 501c3 organization with more than 200 affiliates. The excluded centers would receive parity. This means that they would receive the same gains as included centers resulting from the collective bargaining agreement. Referred to House Commerce & Labor Committee; hearing January 27th at 10:00 am.

SB 5444 (HB 1410 companion bill): Creating a comprehensive system of public education programs, finance, and accountability (Basic Education Finance Task Force recommendations). Redefines the educational opportunities that school districts shall provide and for which the state shall allocate funding. Establishes a basic education steering committee to monitor and oversee implementation of the new definition of basic education. The steering committee will monitor and oversee 5 technical working groups (based on the 5 BEF Task Force recommendations). The early learning working group will develop a proposal for a basic education program of early learning and examine options for preschool early learning for at-risk children from birth to age three. The steering committee will submit an initial report to the legislature by January 1, 2010 and subsequent reports by November 15, 2010, and annually thereafter until November 15, 2016. Referred to Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee; hearing January 28^th at 8:00 am.

SB 5460: Reducing the administrative cost of state government during the 2007-2009 and 2009-2011 fiscal biennia. Directs the office of financial management to reduce allotments for all agencies for salaries, wages, fringe benefits, personal service contracts, equipment, travel, and training by $105,450,000 from 2007-09 biennial general fund. Referred to Senate Ways & Means Committee; was heard January 22^nd at 1:30.

HB 5506: Concerning child care providers. Beginning with the 2017-2019 biennium, directs the Department of Early Learning to adjust the child care subsidy to make it equal to or greater than 75% of the actual charges of providing child care in a child care center. Directs the Office of Fiscal Management to develop a funding plan to increase the subsidy rate beginning with the 2009-2011 biennium. Referred to Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee.

HB 1161 and SB 5373: Concerning early intervention services for children with disabilities. Creates a state entitlement to early intervention services provided under the Individuals with Disabilities and Education Act, Part C for all eligible infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities pursuant to the requirements of the child's individualized family service plan. Requires the Department of Health and Social Services to designate funds for the Infant and Toddler Early Intervention Program (ITEIP) when contracting with counties to provide services. HB 1161 referred to House Human Services Committee; heard on January 22^nd at 10:00 am. SB 5373 referred to Senate Health & Long-Term Care.

Legislative Meeting Schedule

Monday 1/26

SB 5444, creating a comprehensive system of public education programs, finance and accountability (Basic Education Task Force recommendations), will be heard in Senate Early Learning & K-12 at 1:30 pm in J.A. Cherberg Building, Senate Hearing Room 1.

Work Session, report and recommendations of the Basic Education Finance Task Force, in House Ways & Means Committee at 3:30 pm in John L. O’Brien Building, House Hearing Room A.

Tuesday 1/27

Work Session, briefing on state funding for K-12 public schools, in House Education Appropriations Committee at 8:00 am in John L. O’Brien Building, House Hearing Room A.

HB 1329, providing collective bargaining for child care center directors and workers, will be heard in House Commerce & Labor Committee at 10:00 am in John L. O'Brien Building, House Hearing Room B.

Wednesday 1/28

SB 5444, creating a comprehensive system of public education programs, finance and accountability (Basic Education Task Force recommendations), will continue to be heard in Senate Early Learning & K-12 at 8:00 am in J.A. Cherberg Building, Senate Hearing Room 1.

HB 1410, creating a comprehensive system of public education programs, finance and accountability (Basic Education Task Force recommendations), will be heard in House Education Appropriations at 6:00 pm in John L. O'Brien Building, House Hearing Room A.

Thursday 1/29

Work Session, early learning, in House Early Learning & Children’s Services Committee at 8:00 am in John L. O’Brien Building, House Hearing Room E.

Department of Early Learning Overview: Karen Tvedt, Interim Director.
Thrive By Five Washington Overview: Nina Auerbach, President and Chief Executive Officer.
Kindergarten Assessment.
Research from the Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences: Co-Directors Andrew N. Meltzoff, Ph.D., and Patricia K. Kuhl, Ph.D.

Work Session, early learning, in Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee at 10:00 am in J.A. Cherberg Building, Senate Hearing Room 1.

Department of Early Learning Interim Director, Karen Tvedt.
University of Washington Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences (I-LABS), Co-Directors Patricia Kuhl Ph.D. and Andrew Meltzhoff Ph.D.
Thrive by Five President and CEO, Nina Auerbach.
Washington’s K-3 Demonstration Project.
Author of "The Call to Brilliance", Resa Steindel Brown and Matt Brown of Fredric Press.

Work Session, briefing on state funding for early learning programs and discussion of selected early learning programs, in House Education Appropriations Committee at 1:30 pm in John L. O’Brien Building, House Hearing Room A.

Friday 1/30

HB 1328, allowing public technical colleges to offer associate transfer degrees, will be heard in House Higher Education at 8 am in John L. O’Brien Building, House Hearing Room D.

SB 5043, convening a work group to develop a single, coordinated student access portal for college information, will be heard in Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development at 1:30 pm in J.A. Cherberg Building, Senate Hearing Room 1.

Your Legislators

We can, with your help this year, maintain funding for critical early learning and afterschool programs and improve policies! Legislators listen to their constituents. To truly be the voice of early learning and afterschool providers and consumers, the Collaborative needs you to talk with your legislators. Go to www.leg.wa.gov to find who your 3 legislators are and how to contact them. Do as many of the following as you can:

1. Participate in Children’s Alliance’s “I’m Counting on You” virtual rally. It's an interactive online presentation of pictures, video, and stories from you - about how proposed cuts will impact you, your kids or your community. Go to: http://childrensalliance.org/our-current-work/2009-legislative-session.

2. Attend Have a Heart for Kids Day February 27^th - an early learning and afterschool caucus is sponsored by WAEYC and other Collaborative members

3. Send your legislators the Collaborative Public Policy Agenda.

4. Contact your legislators’ offices in Olympia to request an appointment with each in Olympia or when they are home on the weekend. (Appointments usually last about 15 minutes).

5. Respond to future alerts! From time to time, The Collaborative will send out action alerts. When these alerts are sent out, we will need your help in contacting your legislators via links in the alert. Alerts are often time sensitive, so be sure to check your email regularly!

Report any communication from your legislators to the Collaborative c/o krista@waeyc.org or (253) 854-2565 x19. For resources and assistance contact krista@waeyc.org.

Meetings and Events

Get involved at these advocacy events!

Add other advocacy events to our calendar by contacting krista@waeyc.org or (253) 854-2565 x19.

February 27^th Have a Heart for Kids Day!

Plan on attending Children’s Alliance’s Have a Heart for Kids Day, Friday, February 29, 2009! Advocates from across the state will come together to advocate for children’s issues! WAEYC and other Collaborative members are hosting the early learning and afterschool caucus at Have a Heart for Kids Day.

January 28^th Washington State Association of Head Start and ECEAP’s Advocacy Day. For more info, contact Katy Warren at katy@wsaheadstarteceap.com.

February 16^th Service Employee’s International Union (SEIU) Local 925 lobby day.

February 26^th Washington State Parent Teacher Association’s 2009 Focus Day and Rally. For more info, visit http://www.wastatepta.org/leg/session_09.htm

March 12^th League of Women Voter’s lobby day. For more info, visit www.lwvwa.org.

Collaborative Quarterly Meeting

The next Collaborative Quarterly meeting will be held Thursday, April 16, 2008 from 9:30 am – 3:00 pm at the Department of Early Learning in Lacey.

Federal Economic Recovery Package

Last week, the House released its proposal for the federal economic recovery package, including:

$2 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant to provide child care services for an additional 300,000 children in low-income families while their parents go to work.
$2.1 billion for Head Start to provide comprehensive development services to help 110,000 additional children succeed in school.

Action: Contact Senator Murray and Senator Cantwell and your US Representative and ask them to support increased investments of a minimum of $3 billion for the CCDBG and $3 billion for Head Start and Early Head Start in the Economic Recovery Package. This funding will allow Washington State to provide child care assistance for approximately 8,000 more children in low-income working families who have been hit hard by the economic crisis. Additional funding for Head Start and Early Head Start will allow over 2,210 more children to participate in these programs. You can contact your members of Congress by going to http://capwiz.com/naeyc/home.

This weekly Update is a publication of WAEYC and the Collaborative. Encourage others to sign up to receive the free Update by contacting krista@waeyc.org or (253) 854-2565 x19.

The mission of WAEYC is to support, promote and advocate for:

o Early learning and quality care for young children ages birth through eight,

o A broad based, inclusive, professional membership, and

o Public policy and social change efforts related to the needs and rights of all children and families.

To join WAEYC, click here.

Krista Rhea

Program Specialist, Communications, x19

Legislative Forum: September 18, 2007

2007-08-21T18:42:00.000-07:00

The ARC of Grays Harbor is sponsoring a legislative forum at Friend's Landing in Montesano. Citizens will have an opportunity to dialogue with local representatives and policy makers!