SHB 1329 Has Passed the House!

We are going strong! SHB 1329, the Access to Quality Child Care Workforce Act, has passed the House! The bill will now go to the Senate for their vote. Please take a moment to thank your legislators for their support.  

There are three ways to thank your representatives: by e-mail using this action alert, by telephone using the Legislative Hotline, or by web using the legislative website at http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx (follow the links to representatives after entering your home address). 

The Legislative Hotline can be accessed Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM  or on Saturday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.  The number is 1-800-562-6000.

Thank you for your help and hard work in getting our bills on their way. Here's a tally of the vote on SHB 1329:

SHB 1329
Childcare Ctr Collective Bargaining
House vote on Final Passage
3/9/2009

Yeas: 65   Nays: 31   Absent: 0   Excused: 1

Voting Yea:  Representatives Angel, Appleton, Blake, Campbell, Carlyle, Chase, Cody, Conway, Crouse, Dammeier, Darneille, Dickerson, Driscoll, Dunshee, Eddy, Ericks, Finn, Flannigan, Goodman, Green, Haigh, Hasegawa, Herrera, Hudgins, Hunt, Hunter, Hurst, Jacks, Kagi, Kelley, Kenney, Kessler, Kirby, Liias, Linville, Maxwell, McCoy, Miloscia, Moeller, Morrell, Morris, Nelson, O'Brien, Ormsby, Orwall, Pedersen, Pettigrew, Priest, Probst, Quall, Roberts, Rolfes, Santos, Seaquist, Sells, Simpson, Sullivan, Takko, Upthegrove, Van De Wege, Wallace, White, Williams, Wood, and Mr. Speaker
Voting Nay:  Representatives Alexander, Anderson, Armstrong, Bailey, Chandler, Clibborn, Condotta, Cox, DeBolt, Ericksen, Grant-Herriot, Haler, Hinkle, Hope, Johnson, Klippert, Kretz, Kristiansen, McCune, Orcutt, Pearson, Roach, Rodne, Ross, Schmick, Shea, Short, Smith, Springer, Walsh, and Warnick
Absent:  
Excused:  Representative Parker

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Thank You for Passing SHB 1329!

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

Thank you for your help and hard work in passing SHB 1329! This bill will help the people who provide the care decide what's fair and give them a voice at the early care and learning table.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
March 09, 2009


Background Information

The Access to Quality Child Care Workforce Act will create a new model of collective bargaining for child care center owners, teachers, and workers to bargain with the state to improve the quality of child care for families. As early care and learning experts, we want to be a part of the solution to our state's child care crisis.

  • The Act will give the early care and learning workforce a voice.  The people who provide the care should help decide what's fair and should have a voice. This is the ultimate industry incentive that will attract top-quality workers to our field. Having a voice at the table on state-funded mandates, subsidy rates, and quality rating will improve the quality of child care.
  • The Act will stabilize the early care and learning workforce. Passage of these two bills will help attract and retain a quality, stable workforce - an important first step to improving the quality of child care and early learning. We want opportunities to grow as professionals and the Act will help us attract and retain quality child care teachers and staff.
  • The Act will improve the quality of early care and learning for our state's children. Quality child care is critical to lifelong learning. The first step to improving the quality of care is to reduce high turnover rates that erode the continuity of care, provide professional development, and support the bonds children form with teachers at their most critical learning state and brain development.