This bill amends RCW 43.216.829 to require the state department identified in that section to publish, and submit to relevant legislative committees, three items by June 1 of every even-numbered year: a current cost of quality child care study, a cost of quality child care study as defined by the early educator design team, and a market rate survey. This is a procedural reporting requirement change rather than a new crime or penalty change. The bill defines the two types of cost studies and sets minimum elements the department’s cost estimation models must include. The “cost of quality child care study as defined by the early educator design team” must use a model developed in consultation with and recommended by that team and must include at minimum fixed costs for staff salaries based on a living wage scale identified by the team; benefits including paid leave, employer retirement contributions, and expenses related to offering discretionary benefits such as health and life insurance; family engagement activities and/or staff; planning release time; costs for educational materials and curriculum; and professional development supports. The “current cost of quality child care study” must use a model that includes at minimum current costs for staff salaries, benefits, family engagement activities, planning release time, educational materials and curriculum, and professional development supports. The provision names the department, the early educator design team, and relevant legislative committees as affected parties, and references compliance with RCW 43.01.036. The excerpt does not identify which specific state department is meant, does not describe the composition or authority of the early educator design team, does not specify which legislative committees are “relevant,” and does not provide model details beyond the listed minimum factors; additional bill text or statutory context may be needed for full interpretation.

If enacted, a state agency will be required every even-numbered year by June 1 to produce and publish three things: a current cost-of-quality child care study, a second cost study that uses a model recommended by the early educator design team (which must count things like living-wage-based staff salaries, benefits, family engagement, planning time, materials, and professional development), and a market rate survey, and to send those reports to relevant legislative committees. In practice this will give lawmakers a regular, standardized set of cost figures that explicitly include living-wage salary and benefit estimates, which makes it more likely future budget or policy discussions will be based on higher, more comprehensive cost estimates for running quality child care. The agencies and people most directly affected are the department that must produce the reports (which will need staff time or contracts to prepare them), the early educator design team (whose chosen model and living wage scale will shape the results), and child care employers and staff (whose wages and benefit costs will be documented and could influence funding or subsidy decisions). Important details are missing from the excerpt—specifically which state department must act, which legislative committees count as "relevant," and the full makeup or authority of the early educator design team—so how quickly and exactly these reports will be produced and used is unclear.