We are three weeks into the legislative session and working on many early learning issues. Members have testified multiple times on the obstacles to enrollment for WCCC, and even braved the snow storm to testify in support of extending WCCC enrollment periods for one year. Member leaders are taking lead lobbying roles in Olympia for this legislative session. We continue to engage with legislators and the early learning community to support FCC providers and maintain funding for Working Connections.
After each bill summary below, we have included information about action that we currently need in order to continue our efforts in Olympia on that piece of legislation. Some bills need emails or calls to legislators. If you would like to call your legislator, you can call the legislative hotline at 1-800-562-6000. You can also look up your legislators’ direct contact information, including email address at: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx
If you are interested in participating in the legislative efforts around any of these bills, or have questions about legislative efforts, please let us know by emailing ltodd at seiu925.org. If you would like to testify in person at a hearing, please contact Lani Todd by phone at 360-393-9132.
The following are a list of priority issues in early learning for this week:
HB 2446/SB 6226: Concerning authorization periods for subsidized child care
SEIU 925 Position: Support
- This bill would improve stability of child care by modifying all Working Connections eligibility periods to a universal authorization of 12 months per case.
Action to-date: Our union is leading on this bill and has worked to get strong bi-partisan support. Both SEIU 925 staff and provider members testified in support of the bill in the House and the Senate this week.
Action this week: Wait. Once this bill moves forward, we will need to aggressively contact our legislators via email or phone to support this bill.
HB 2448/ SB (no number yet): Birth to Five/High Quality Early Learning Act
SEIU 925 Position: Concerned
- This bill would phase in a new comprehensive early learning program for all 3 and 4 year-olds. It is intended to eventually create universal and state-wide access to pre-school for 3 and 4 year olds. SEIU 925 and our providers have expressed strong concerns regarding how this bill would affect FCC providers. In its original form, we fear that this bill would limit access to the program for FCC, harm FCC providers and decrease parent choice.
Action to-date: Addressing our concerns about this bill is a priority for us. We met with the bill’s prime sponsors to express our concerns. President Karen Hart testified in the House hearing to further outline the concerns of our FCC providers. SEIU 925 has worked extensively with all parties involved to ensure that any version of the bill that moves forward must address our concerns. Legislators and other early learning organizations also want to ensure that FCC providers are included and are eager to find solutions wherever possible.
Action this week: SEIU 925 will testify Monday, January 23 in House Early Learning Committee. We urge providers to email or call your legislators with your individual concerns or solutions regarding this bill. We will post a FAQ about this bill at www.seiu925.org in the coming days to further detail our concerns.
HB 2569: Implementing a voluntary quality rating and improvement system for child care centers and early learning programs.
SEIU 925 Position: Support
- This bill moves the “QRIS” (Quality Rating and Improvement System) from the pilot stage to implementation. Many providers participated in the pilot and are excited about further implementation of the program.
Action to-date: SEIU 925 has worked extensively with the early learning community to create a bill that supports FCC providers and respects our bargaining rights over training and QRIS. FCC providers have discussed this bill and are weighing-in to support.
Action this week: Providers who were part of the pilot will testify at the House Early Learning Committee on Thursday, January 26 at 1:30pm. If you participated in the pilot and are interested in testifying, please contact Lani Todd.
HB 2608/SB 6293: Requiring the department of early learning to develop state early learning guidelines.
SEIU 925 Position: Support
- This bill requires DEL to widely disburse early learning guidelines. It also requires the department to work with stakeholders to periodically review and revise the guidelines. FCC providers have found the guidelines very useful and look forward to broad distribution.
Action to-date: SEIU 925 has expressed support for this bill through lobbying efforts in Olympia. Providers discussed its impact on the legislative conference call last week.
Action this week: SEIU 925 will testify in support of this bill in the House Early Learning Committee on Thursday, January 26.
