HF 3510

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 03/08/2010 11:34am

A bill for an act
relating to early childhood education; creating a Department of Early Childhood
Care and Education; requiring a report; proposing coding for new law in
Minnesota Statutes, chapter 4.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [4.046] DEPARTMENT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND
EDUCATION.
new text end

new text begin (a) The Department of Early Childhood Care and Education is established to
coordinate a high-quality early childhood system in Minnesota to make early childhood
care and education more effective and to improve the educational outcomes of children
from birth to kindergarten entrance. The governor shall appoint, and the senate shall
confirm, a commissioner who is a recognized expert in the field of early childhood
care and education who shall facilitate communication and coordinate early childhood
education and child care programs.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner shall coordinate staff efforts to:
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new text begin (1) consolidate and coordinate resources and public funding streams for early
childhood education and child care, and ensure the accountability and coordinated
development of all early childhood education and child care services to children from birth
to kindergarten entrance;
new text end

new text begin (2) create a seamless transition from early childhood programs to kindergarten;
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new text begin (3) encourage family choice by ensuring a mixed system of high-quality public and
private programs, with local points of entry, staffed by well-qualified professionals;
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new text begin (4) ensure parents a decisive role in the planning, operation, and evaluation of
programs that aid families in the care of children;
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new text begin (5) provide consumer education and accessibility to early childhood education
and child care resources;
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new text begin (6) advance the quality of early childhood education and child care programs in order
to support the healthy development of children and preparation for their success in school;
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new text begin (7) develop a seamless service delivery system with local points of entry for early
childhood education and child care programs administered by local, state, and federal
agencies;
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new text begin (8) develop and manage an effective data collection system to support the necessary
functions of a coordinated system of early childhood education and child care in order to
enable accurate evaluation of its impact;
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new text begin (9) respect and be sensitive to family values and cultural heritage; and
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new text begin (10) establish the administrative framework for and promote the development of
early childhood education and child care services in order to provide that these services,
staffed by well-qualified professionals, are available in every community for all families
that express a need for them.
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new text begin (c) The commissioner shall coordinate activities with the State Advisory Council on
Early Childhood Education and Care under section 124D.141.
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new text begin (d) The commissioner shall report to the legislative committees with jurisdiction
over the early childhood education and child care programs by February 1 of each year on
the status of the work required under paragraph (b) and any statutory changes necessary to
improve quality and increase access. The commissioner also shall present to these same
legislative committees by February 1, 2011, a detailed plan, with an implementation
timeline, to colocate state early childhood education and child care assistance programs
and services.
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new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
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Sec. 2. new text begin TRANSFER; DUTIES AND STAFF; APPROPRIATIONS.
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new text begin (a) Responsibilities of the commissioner of education for early childhood education
programs and financing under Minnesota Statutes, sections 119A.50 to 119A.535,
121A.16 to 121A.19, and 124D.129 to 124D.2211, are transferred to the Department
of Early Childhood Care and Education. All positions in the Department of Education
related to early childhood education are transferred to the Department of Early Childhood
Care and Education. Responsibilities of the commissioner of human services for child
care assistance, child care development, and early childhood learning and child protection
facilities programs and financing under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 119B, and Minnesota
Statutes, section 256E.37, are transferred to the Department of Early Childhood Care
and Education. All positions in the Department of Human Services related to child care
assistance, child care development, and early childhood learning and child protection
facilities are transferred to the Department of Early Childhood Care and Education.
Minnesota Statutes, section 15.039, applies to the transfer of the responsibilities in
this section. Responsibilities of the commissioner of health for family home visiting
programs and financing under Minnesota Statutes, section 145A.17, are transferred to the
Department of Early Childhood Care and Education. All positions in the Department of
Health related to family home visiting programs are transferred to the Department of Early
Childhood Care and Education. The department must rely on existing appropriations and
staff for carrying out its duties.
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new text begin (b) The state and federal appropriations for the programs listed in paragraph (a) are
transferred to the Department of Early Childhood Care and Education.
new text end