Task force members warn state bill on Working Connections could squeeze local providers

Task force staff and local providers raised concerns about state-level changes to the Working Connections childcare subsidy, which staff said is sitting on the governor's desk as bill "26 89." Sarah, who gave the Healthy Children's Fund update, said the bill keeps eligibility the same and that a proposed enrollment cap did not pass, but added she remained uneasy because the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) presented the proposal rather than a legislator.

"I'll be honest, I'm feeling a little nervous until it gets signed by the governor in its current state," Sarah said, explaining that the bill, as presented by DCYF, proposed ways to reduce departmental budgets that could have downstream effects for families and providers.

A workforce development professional on the task force described billing-rule changes that could reduce payments for days children do not attend. "They have this very complicated, very difficult to read chart that they just put out about what days how many days we can bill depending on if the child comes and if they're absent," the member said, adding that smaller, unstable families often miss days and that limiting billing could financially harm local early learning programs.

Task force members said those changes would likely be felt most in property-poor districts in Whatcom County and warned the cuts would disproportionately affect districts and families already furthest from educational opportunity. Members urged monitoring the governor's action and said the county team is watching the bill because its provisions could influence the local subsidy approach and contracting with providers.

No formal position on the bill was taken during the meeting; members said they are awaiting the governor's signature and will monitor DCYF guidance and any resulting changes to billing and enrollment rules.