The fog has lifted at the start of Week Three. Is that a good omen?
(Photo Courtesy: Erica Hallock)
Trivia!
Which legislator is the only member to serve during the two times the House of Representatives was evenly split with 49 Democrats and 49 Republicans?
Bonus Question: How many years apart did this occur?
Governor Ferguson Budget Reduction Target Exercise Instructions Released
On January 24, Office of Financial Management (OFM) Director K.D. Chapman-See released instructions to state agencies regarding Governor Ferguson’s directed budget reduction target exercise.
The instructions direct agencies to identify reductions of at least six percent beyond any reductions included in Governor Inslee’s budget proposal. This means we could see items that agencies originally included on their reduction lists from last November but were not a part of Governor Inslee’s budget reemerge.
Programs providing cash benefits to Washingtonians as well as the following agencies are excluded from this exercise: K-12, community and technical colleges, Washington State Patrol, the Department of Corrections and the Criminal Justice Training Commission. Four-year public universities are asked to identify at least three percent reductions.
In addition to suggestions for potential reductions such as pausing legislative reports, the instructions suggest consolidating management positions (10-25% within each agency) and reducing “administrative, executive, and externally focused positions that are not essential to the delivery of government services (10% to 25% within each agency).”
Agency recommendations are due to OFM by February 6 and will be posted on the OFM website following review.
Highlights of the Week
House Appropriations Receives Early Learning Staff Briefing
On Wednesday, January 29, the House Appropriations Committee received a staff briefing about early learning programs. This presentation is filled with rich data detailing early learning caseloads and investments over the years, highlighting changes since passage of the Fair Start for Kids Act.
Fiscal committees in both chambers are holding these types of briefings and work sessions to prepare themselves for the difficult budget decisions ahead.
Legislative Leadership Media Availability
Each week during the legislative session, legislative leadership holds media availability. These sessions aren’t very long, and they are good to watch to get a finger on the pulse of what is “on top” for that moment. It’s also helpful when you are knee-deep in an issue to pull back and look at the larger landscape.
Not surprisingly, the state budget dominated this week’s leadership media availability. For example, Democratic leaders spoke of how they are busy working on various scenarios but are waiting for the next revenue forecast in March to make more definitive public pronouncements.
I wanted to flag the Republican leadership media availability because child care was one of the first questions asked and Senator John Braun talked about his SB 5310, which will be heard on Monday, February 3 in the Senate Ways and Means Committee (starts around minute 6). Senator Braun’s bill would change the reimbursement rate for Working Connections Child Care to the lesser of the 75th percentile of the Market Rate Survey or a provider’s rate for a private pay family.
What’s on Deck for Next Week
First off, it will finally not be January. For me, January felt like it went on for 97 days.
Committee action continues at a brisk pace. Bill introductions are beginning to slow down slightly, and we are at the stage of heavy public hearings and the start of executive sessions (votes). This is also the time where we are watching for amendments (substitutes) and fiscal notes (expected costs for implementation). In short, things are moving FAST!
As a reminder, each Thursday, Start Early Washington updates its bill tracker with the latest information on bills we are following. If you would like us to do a deeper dive on a particular bill in a future newsletter, let us know!
Tuesday, Feb 4: Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee Hearing on Cost of Quality
- The Senate Early Learning and K-12 Committee will hear SB 5500 (Alvarado). This bill would modernize the way the state reimburses child care rates to more fully account for the true cost of doing business.
Tuesday, Feb 4: House Early Learning and Human Services Committee Hearings on Provider Qualifications and Child Care Licensing
- HB 1648 (Dent) would delay the requirement for child care providers to meet certification and training qualification conditions until at least August 1, 2035. It would also add a work equivalency option as an alternative to certification requirements for all child care positions.
- HB 1582 (Caldier) seeks to make changes to child care licensing requirements so the calculated occupancy load of existing buildings with more than one use (such as churches), would only be based on the space where the child care is provided. The intent of the bill is to leverage existing buildings for child care space.
Thursday, Feb. 6: Senate Ways and Means Hearing on Early Learning Facilities Bill; House Education Expected to Hold Executive Session on Transition to Kindergarten Bill; and House Appropriations Committee Hears Proposal to Push Out Fair Start for Kids Act Provisions
- The Senate Ways and Means Committee will hold a public hearing on SB 5297 (Trudeau/Torres). This is the Senate companion to HB 1314 (Callan/Abbarno) which was heard in the House Capital Budget Committee this week. It would make technical changes to the Early Learning Facilities Fund.
- HB 1450 (Santos) is scheduled for an Executive Session (vote) in House Education next week. In the public hearing this week on the Transition to Kindergarten Bill, Representative Santos stated she plans to propose a substitute bill with changes.
- Finally, the House Appropriations Committee will hold a public hearing on HB 1489 (Ormsby). This bill adjusts implementation dates for Working Connections Child Care income eligibility and ECEAP entitlement created through the Fair Start for Kids Act to align with former Governor Inslee’s proposed regular budget.
Friday, Feb 7: House Labor Committee Action Scheduled on Child Care Workforce Standards Board and House Finance Committee to Consider Sales Tax Removal on Diapers
- The House Labor and Workforce Standards Committee has scheduled an Executive Session for HB 1128 (Fosse) related to the establishment of a Child Care Workforce Standards board. Refer to the January 17th Notes from Olympia for a more detailed summary of that.
- Last week I highlighted the various efforts to ease some of the affordability challenges facing Washington families. Two bills in this area are scheduled for hearings next Friday in the House Finance Committee. The first, HB 1307 (Caldier), would remove the sales and use tax on diapers and other essential child care products. The second, HB 1318 (Rule), is narrower and would remove the sales and use tax, but only for diapers. It will be interesting to watch how this conversation advances.