This bill amends RCW 43.216.828 to establish a framework for increasing child care subsidy rates in Washington State, with the goal of aligning these rates with the full cost of providing high-quality child care. Starting July 1, 2025, the Department of Children, Youth, and Families will pay licensed or certified child care providers the lesser of either the provider's rate for a child from a family not eligible for state subsidy payments or the child care subsidy base rate that achieves the 75th percentile of the market for such providers. Additionally, the state and the exclusive representative for family home providers are required to engage in bargaining regarding the implementation of this subsidy rate increase.

The bill also mandates the development of a child care cost estimate model to recommend subsidy rates that adequately compensate providers for the full costs of high-quality care. This model will take into account factors such as cost of living and geographic differences. Furthermore, the bill emphasizes the importance of supporting access to affordable health care insurance for licensed or certified child care providers. The legislation asserts that it does not interfere with the collective bargaining rights of family home providers. The act is declared necessary for the immediate preservation of public peace, health, or safety, and is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 43.216.828