1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to early childhood education; establishing an advisory school readiness 
1.3 	board to make recommendations to the governor and the legislature on 
1.4 	developing a coordinated, efficient, and cost-effective system for delivering 
1.5 	early childhood programs throughout the state; proposing coding for new law 
1.6 	in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 124D.
1.7 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.8 	Section 1. [124D.141] STATE ADVISORY BOARD ON SCHOOL READINESS.
1.9 		Subdivision 1.Establishment. A 13-member State Advisory Board on School 
1.10 	Readiness is established in the Office of the Governor to advise the governor and the 
1.11 	legislature on developing a coordinated, efficient, and cost-effective system for delivering 
1.12 	throughout Minnesota early childhood programs that focus on early care and education, 
1.13 	health care, and family support.
1.14 		Subd. 2.Board members; terms. (a) The advisory board includes the following 
1.15 	13 members:
1.16 	(1) the commissioner of employment and economic development or the 
1.17 	commissioner's designee;
1.18 	(2) the commissioner of health or the commissioner's designee;
1.19 	(3) the commissioner of education or the commissioner's designee;
1.20 	(4) the commissioner of human services or the commissioner's designee;
1.21 	(5) five public members appointed jointly by the majority and minority leader in the 
1.22 	senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the minority leader in the house 
1.23 	of representatives who are recognized experts in early care and education, including one 
1.24 	school counselor and one early educator;
1.25 	(6) one representative from the Minnesota Early Learning Foundation; and
2.1 	(7) three public members appointed jointly by the majority and minority leader in the 
2.2 	senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the minority leader in the house of 
2.3 	representatives who are community or business leaders.
2.4 	(b) Members appointed by the majority and minority leader in the senate, the speaker 
2.5 	of the house of representatives, and the minority leader in the house of representatives 
2.6 	serve staggered three-year terms. Board members must nominate and elect a chairperson 
2.7 	and other officers from among the public members. Members initially appointed to the 
2.8 	board shall assign themselves by lot to terms of one, two, or three years. The chairperson 
2.9 	must notify the governor on the assignment of these terms. The board shall meet regularly 
2.10 	at the times and places the board determines. Meetings shall be called by the chair or at 
2.11 	the written request of any three members. Members' terms, compensation, removal, and 
2.12 	vacancies are governed by section 15.0575.
2.13 		Subd. 3.Duties. (a) The board shall recommend to the governor and the legislature:
2.14 	(1) the most effective method to improve the coordination and delivery of early care 
2.15 	and education services that integrates child care, preschools, and family support services 
2.16 	and programs;
2.17 	(2) a multiyear plan for effectively and efficiently coordinating and integrating 
2.18 	state services for early care and education, improving service delivery and standards 
2.19 	of care, avoiding duplication and fragmentation of service, and enhancing public and 
2.20 	private investment;
2.21 	(3) methods for measuring the quality, quantity, and effectiveness of early care and 
2.22 	education programs throughout the state;
2.23 	(4) how to identify and measure school readiness indicators on a regular basis;
2.24 	(5) how to track, enhance, integrate, and coordinate federal, state, and local funds 
2.25 	allocated for early care and education and related family support services;
2.26 	(6) policy changes to improve children's ability to start school ready to learn;
2.27 	(7) how to provide technical assistance to community efforts that promote school 
2.28 	readiness and encourage community organizations to collaborate in promoting school 
2.29 	readiness.
2.30 	(b) The board shall convene separate policy work groups to make recommendations 
2.31 	to the governor and the legislature on:
2.32 	(1) financing early childhood programs;
2.33 	(2) building a coordinated service delivery system based on an assessment of early 
2.34 	childhood systems and available state and federal funding;
3.1 	(3) integrating a coordinated, collaborative health care component, including 
3.2 	medical homes, parent education, family support,  health and early education, into early 
3.3 	childhood programs and avoiding duplication of services;
3.4 	(4) enhancing the quality and measuring the cost of child care and preschool 
3.5 	programs; and 
3.6 	(5) improving the wages, benefits, and supply of early childhood professionals.
3.7 		Subd. 4.Board expiration. The State Advisory Board on School Readiness 
3.8 	expires January 1, 2013.

3.9 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.