HF 140

as introduced - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to early childhood education; establishing an
advisory school readiness board to make
recommendations to the governor and the legislature on
developing a coordinated, efficient, and
cost-effective system for delivering early childhood
programs throughout the state; proposing coding for
new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 119B.

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

Section 1.

[119B.023] STATE ADVISORY BOARD ON SCHOOL
READINESS.

Subdivision 1.

Establishment.

An 11-member State
Advisory Board on School Readiness is established in the Office
of the Governor to advise the governor and the legislature on
developing a coordinated, efficient, and cost-effective system
for delivering throughout Minnesota early childhood programs
that focus on early care and education, health care, and family
support.

Subd. 2.

Board members; terms.

(a) The advisory board
includes the following 11 members:

(1) the commissioner of employment and economic development
or the commissioner's designee;

(2) the commissioner of health or the commissioner's
designee;

(3) the commissioner of education or the commissioner's
designee;

(4) five public members appointed by the governor who are
recognized experts in early care and education; and

(5) three public members appointed by the governor who are
community or business leaders.

(b) Members appointed by the governor serve staggered
three-year terms. Board members must nominate and elect a
chairperson and other officers from among the public members.
Members initially appointed to the board shall assign themselves
by lot to terms of one, two, or three years. The chairperson
must notify the governor on the assignment of these terms. The
board shall meet regularly at the times and places the board
determines. Meetings shall be called by the chair or at the
written request of any three members. Members' terms,
compensation, removal, and vacancies are governed by section
15.0575.

Subd. 3.

Duties.

(a) The board shall recommend to the
governor and the legislature:

(1) the most effective method to improve the coordination
and delivery of early care and education services that
integrates child care, preschools, and family support services
and programs;

(2) a multiyear plan for effectively and efficiently
coordinating and integrating state services for early care and
education, improving service delivery and standards of care,
avoiding duplication and fragmentation of service, and enhancing
public and private investment;

(3) methods for measuring the quality, quantity, and
effectiveness of early care and education programs throughout
the state;

(4) how to identify and measure school readiness indicators
on a regular basis;

(5) how to track, enhance, integrate, and coordinate
federal, state, and local funds allocated for early care and
education and related family support services;

(6) policy changes to improve children's ability to start
school ready to learn;

(7) how to provide technical assistance to community
efforts that promote school readiness and encourage community
organizations to collaborate in promoting school readiness.

(b) The board shall convene separate policy work groups to
make recommendations to the governor and the legislature on:

(1) financing early childhood programs;

(2) building a coordinated service delivery system based on
an assessment of early childhood systems and available state and
federal funding;

(3) integrating a coordinated, collaborative health care
component, including medical homes, parent education, family
support, behavioral health and early education, into early
childhood programs and avoiding duplication of services;

(4) enhancing the quality and measuring the cost of child
care and preschool programs; and

(5) improving the wages, benefits, and supply of early
childhood professionals.

Subd. 4.

Board expiration.

The State Advisory Board on
School Readiness expires January 1, 2013.

EFFECTIVE DATE.

This section is effective the day
following final enactment.