Child Care and Early Education Legislative Update
On this page you will find a comprehensive look at state legislative activity that NCSL has tracked for the 2007 legislative sessions on child care and early education. The first section provides links to highlights of legislation and summaries of all state's enacted legislation. The second section provides information about proposed legislation from the beginning of the legislative sessions in 2007.
Enacted Legislation, January 1 - December 31, 2007 Thirty-nine states enacted substantial legislation that affects child development and early education in the 2007 legislative session. Bills addressed prekindergarten programs and school readiness, child care, quality initiatives, early intervention, and task forces and governance. Additional actions that were taken through the state budget appropriations process are not included in this document. The bills highlighted in this document are stand-alone bills. This summary is divided into two sections—legislative highlights and enacted legislation by state. The first section is further divided by subject area, including child development, prekindergarten, child care, early intervention, facilities, and task forces and governance. The second section contains summaries of enacted legislation from the 2007 legislative session by state.
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Child Development
Quality Rating Systems
Two states passed legislation concerning quality rating systems for early education and child care. • The North Dakota legislature passed a bill establishing a quality improvement rating system for early childhood care facilities. • Rhode Island established a voluntary quality rating system to assess quality in early care and education programs and school-age child care. The voluntary quality rating system is established to promote continuous quality improvement of programs and to further the goals of Rhode Island’s 1998 Starting Right Initiative. Professional Development
Four states—Illinois, Nebraska, Washington and Wyoming—passed legislation to address the professional development of early childhood professionals. • Illinois legislation permits candidates for an early childhood certificate to be paid and receive credit while student teaching with their current employer, provided that the student teaching experience meets certain requirements. • Nebraska established an Early Childhood Training Center within the State Department of Education to train individuals who provide education and development services for infants, young children and their parents. • Legislators in Washington required the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges to inventory and survey all campus-based early learning programs and services. The findings will be used to create a coordinated system of course offerings and early learning education opportunities. The legislation also directed the State Board to consult with the Department of Early Learning to develop articulation standards for course work and training in early childhood development. • Wyoming enacted legislation to provide educational grants to assist the owners and staff of child care facilities obtain certificates or degrees in early childhood development or a related field. Under the bill, grant recipients are required to work for a child care facility in the state for a specified period of time. Prekindergarten Prekindergarten Programs
Seven states—Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Dakota and Vermont—passed legislation concerning prekindergarten programs. • Indiana created the Prekindergarten Grant Pilot Program to provide grants to certain providers to implement a pilot prekindergarten program. The program prioritized lower performing school corporations and private providers located in areas served by lower performing school corporations, and permitted these organizations to contract with other providers to deliver the services. • Iowa’s legislature created a statewide voluntary preschool program for 4-year-olds and made appropriations for this purpose. Under the law, children will receive instruction for a minimum of 10 hours per week and be taught by teachers who are school district employees, are licensed, and possess a bachelor’s or graduate degree with a major in early childhood education or other appropriate major. Under this program, providers must submit a proposal that demonstrates the involvement of multiple community stakeholders. • Maine passed legislation defining “public preschool program” in the laws governing education. The definition differentiates a public preschool program from a one- or two-year kindergarten program. The law also integrates approval of early childhood education plans for programs for 4-year-olds into the laws governing basic school approval. • Minnesota passed legislation requiring the commissioners of Human Services and Education to establish three prekindergarten exploratory projects to be conducted in partnership with the Minnesota Early Learning Foundation to promote children’s school readiness. • Mississippi passed legislation that directs the Department of Human Services to implement the “Early Learning Collaborative Act of 2007,” a voluntary early care and education grant program that is collaboration among the Head Start, licensed child care, and public and private prekindergarten providers. The legislation created a governor-appointed committee to award grants to early care and education programs. • North Dakota passed legislation permitting school districts to create prekindergarten programs and use state, federal or private funds that are specifically appropriated for the program. • In Vermont, a bill was passed to require the State Board of Education and the secretary of Human Services to adopt joint rules regarding prekindergarten education. The law established minimum quality standards and clarified that a public school that offers 10 hours of prekindergarten education per week to 3- and 4-year-olds may count these children within its average daily membership with a weight of .46. The law limits the number of children a school district may count within its average daily membership and permits it to contract with private providers. Financing
Eight states—Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Minnesota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Wyoming—passed significant legislation addressing financing and funding for prekindergarten programs. • Arkansas appropriated $10 million to the Department of Education for construction and renovation of prekindergarten facilities. • Florida passed a measure expanding the Florida Teachers Lead Program stipend to prekindergarten teachers in public schools and public charter schools. • Iowa passed legislation allocating $5.5 million to increase the funding designated for distribution to community empowerment areas to assist low-income parents with tuition for preschool and other supportive services for children ages 3 through 5 who are not attending kindergarten in order to increase the basic family eligibility requirement to not more than 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The law is retroactive to July 2006. • Minnesota passed a bill providing that a school district may spend general education revenue on extended time kindergarten and prekindergarten programs. • The Oregon legislature continued to require that the Oregon prekindergarten program be operated in coordination with the federal Head Start program and provided that the Prekindergarten Program Trust Fund is continuously appropriated for the prekindergarten program. • Pennsylvania appropriated funds to the Commonwealth’s Department of Education to establish the Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts Program as a competitive grant program to expand prekindergarten opportunities for eligible students. • The Tennessee legislature passed a measure providing that the pilot prekindergarten programs established pursuant to P.L.2007, c.475, be funded at the same level as the funding for prekindergarten programs implemented pursuant to the Voluntary Pre-K for Tennessee Act of 2005. Child Care Financing
Five states—Arkansas, Louisiana, New York, Oregon and Wyoming—passed legislation that addressed financing and funding for child care. • Arkansas appropriated funds for operating expenses ($32.4 million), grant payments ($209 million) and loan guarantees ($100,000) to the Department of Health and Human Services, the Division of Child Care and Early Education, for the biennial period ending June 30, 2009. • The Louisiana Legislature passed a measure that established the School Readiness Tax Credit to serve as an incentive for increasing the number of quality child care centers serving infants and young children. The measure provided that such credits benefit providers, parents, child care professionals, and companies that provide child care for their employees. • New York passed legislation to provide a tax credit for certain household and dependent care services necessary for gainful employment. • Oregon passed legislation that allows eligible taxpayers to claim a working family child care tax credit if the taxpayer’s spouse is disabled and unable to provide child care, be gainfully employed or attend school. In addition, Oregon also passed a measure that extends the sunset date on corporate and individual income tax credits for contributions to the Child Care Division. • Wyoming passed legislation appropriating funding for a quality child care program that includes educational grants, continuing education training grants, and parent education and awareness programs. Licensing
Eight state legislatures—Connecticut, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New York, Washington and West Virginia—enacted substantive bills concerning child care licensing. • Connecticut amended its regulations to require only one license for a child care center that operates in two or more buildings that are joined by a contiguous playground. Connecticut also passed legislation that provides that day care licenses shall be for a term of four years, provided on or after Oct. 1, 2008, and shall be nontransferable. The law provided that anyone who has a license revoked is ineligible for a new license for one year. • Maine passed legislation providing for a time limit for reapplication after denial or revocation of a license or certificate for a child care center facility or a family child care provider. The law created a maximum two-year license renewal term. • In Minnesota, legislation was passed requiring that child care license holders provide orientation training to every staff member and volunteer. The legislation also required all teachers and assistant teachers in child care centers to satisfactorily complete first aid training within 90 days of employment. • Montana required the Department of Health and Human Services to make annual unannounced visits to day care centers that are licensed annually, those that are granted two- or three-year licenses, and those that have successfully passed inspections for 10 consecutive years. • Nevada required child care facilities to maintain records of licensure and disciplinary action and to make that information available to the public and the parents and guardians of the children cared for in the facility. • New York required the Office of Children and Family Services to collaborate with the Department of Health to develop regulations for administering medication and treatments at child care centers and family child care homes. New York also passed legislation requesting that students enrolled in prekindergarten and kindergarten in a public elementary school present a dental health certificate. • Washington required its agencies to give written notice of the denial or modification of a child care license and to provide written notice to the person against whom it assesses a civil fine. This law also defined the licensee’s rights to appeal changes to the license and assessment of fines. Washington also passed a law that prohibits the use of window blinds or other window coverings with pull cords or inner cords that can form a loop and pose a risk of strangulation for young children in child care settings. • West Virginia authorized the Division of Human Services to promulgate rules relating to child care center and family child care licensing requirements. Family Child Care Providers
Four states—Colorado, Oregon, Virginia and Washington—passed legislation that addressed family child care. • Colorado required exempt family child care providers who receive funds from a publicly funded state child care assistance program to undergo a fingerprint-based criminal history records check. • The Oregon legislature passed a bill providing that family child care providers be considered public employees. The law granted family child care providers collective bargaining rights under Oregon law. • Virginia rescinded its requirement that family child care providers must tell parents the amount of liability insurance that covers the operation of the family child care home and instead required only that the providers tell parents whether the home has obtained such insurance. • Washington reassigned the responsibility to engage in negotiated rulemaking with representatives of family child care licensees. The Legislature also directed that arbitration regarding certain care providers include a comparison of child care provider subsidy rates and reimbursement programs by public entities and consider the public’s interest in reducing turnover and increasing retention of child care providers, the state’s interest in a stable child care workforce, and the state’s fiscal interest in reducing reliance upon public benefit programs. Health and Safety
Legislatures in at least five states—Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Mississippi and Rhode Island—passed legislation that addressed the health and welfare of young children. • Hawaii, Iowa and Mississippi passed legislation requiring children who attend child care centers to be immunized against invasive pneumococcal disease. • Illinois passed legislation requiring that each school and day care center, when economically feasible, develop and implement an integrated pest management program that incorporates the guidelines developed by the Department of Public Health. • Rhode Island passed legislation concerning the use of lawn care pesticides at schools and child care facilities. The law required the Department of Environmental Management to report to the governor and legislature on the use of lawn care pesticides and their health effects on children. Early Intervention
Legislatures in five states—Colorado, Hawaii, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Wyoming—passed measures that addressed early intervention services. • Colorado passed a bill that established a statewide system of early intervention services and a coordinated system of payments for these services. It also directed the Division of Insurance to establish a registry of early intervention service providers, to negotiate payments and process reimbursements. • Hawaii enacted two bills regarding early intervention. One law appropriated additional funds to the Department of Health to provide early intervention services for children between birth to age 3 with a developmental delay or certain biological or environmental risks. The second law appropriated $1.6 million in TANF funds for improvements to Hawaii’s Healthy Start program. • New Hampshire passed legislation requiring insurance providers to cover the costs of early intervention services for children from birth to age 3. • The New Jersey Legislature passed a bill establishing a statewide system of early intervention services for eligible infants and toddlers from birth to age 2 who have physical, cognitive, communication, social or emotional, or adaptive developmental disabilities. • The Wyoming Legislature passed three bills that pertain to early intervention services. One required a report on the activities of the developmental disabilities division, a feasibility study on certain cost-based reimbursement mechanisms, and implementation of certain funding mechanisms. A second bill increased the developmental preschool funding to include mental health or social-emotional developmental services and included training and technical assistance to certain early childhood services providers on these topics. Lawmakers also increased the state’s per-child reimbursement amount for developmental preschool service providers. Facilities
Five states—Arkansas, Colorado, New Jersey, Oregon and Virginia—enacted legislation that pertains to early childhood facilities. • Arkansas incorporated child care facilities into emergency and disaster plans and approved early childhood preparedness courses and workshops to fulfill its in-service training requirements. The state also appropriated $10 million to the Department of Education for construction and renovation of prekindergarten facilities. • Colorado authorized districts to raise and spend local property tax revenues for capital construction needs associated with the district’s full-day kindergarten program. • New Jersey passed a measure requiring the Department of Health and Senior Services to establish procedures to evaluate and assess buildings that are to be used for licensed child care centers. The law required that the department establish maximum contaminant levels for these buildings and that the standards account for the difference in rates of absorption, metabolism and excretion of certain compounds between adults, children and infants. In addition, New Jersey passed legislation that permitted licensed child care centers—required by law to perform an environmental evaluation and assessment—to seek reimbursement from the Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund of up to $1,500 for the cost of the evaluation and assessment. • Oregon passed legislation requiring health and child care facilities that are licensed or registered by the Department of Human Services to develop emergency plans for the people they serve when there is threat of imminent danger. • In Virginia, lawmakers authorized local emergency management agencies to review and suggest amendments to the emergency plans of certain child care centers. Task Forces, Studies and Governance
Five states—Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine and Oklahoma—established new entities to address early care and education. • The Colorado legislature created an Early Childhood Council Advisory Team to develop a system of local early childhood councils. Governor Bill Ritter issued an executive order to create the P-20 Education Coordinating Council to better coordinate the state’s education systems. • In Delaware, legislation was passed directing the Interagency Resource Management Committee (IRMC) to establish an Early Childhood Council. The council is to provide annual reports to the IRMC regarding early childhood services in the state based on recommendations in Early Success: Delaware’s Early Childhood Plan. • Lawmakers in Hawaii established the Hawaii 3-5 Transition Task Force to study the feasibility of expanding Hawaii’s early intervention services and appropriated $120,000 for task force activities. • Maine established the Commission to Develop a Strategic Priorities Plan for Maine’s Young Children. • Oklahoma added to the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness Board a governor-appointed representative of a federally funded early childhood program. Two states—Indiana and Rhode Island—passed legislation that created or modified child care commissions, councils or committees. • Indiana established Child Care Advisory Committees for child care centers and home-based child care providers. The committees are to provide information, advice and assistance concerning implementation of child care regulations. • Legislators in Rhode Island passed two pieces of legislation creating both a permanent Legislative Commission on Child Care in Rhode Island and a Special Legislative Commission to Study Transportation for Afterschool and Child Care Programs. The Tennessee legislature passed a measure requiring the Office of Education Accountability to coordinate a study of the effectiveness and quality of prekindergarten programs. The study will specifically assess the long- and short-term effectiveness of prekindergarten programs on student achievement.
Arizona HB 2789, Chapter 263
Provides that the Department of Economic Security may reduce maximum income eligibility levels for child care assistance to manage within appropriated and available funds. Provides that the department shall notify the Joint Legislative Budget Committee of any change in maximum income eligibility levels for child care within 15 days after implementing that change. Arkansas HB 2211, Act 816
Requires the director of the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education of the Department of Health and Human Services to work with the Department of Emergency Management to incorporate child care facilities into emergency and disaster plans. Incorporates early childhood emergency preparedness courses and workshops as approved courses for in-service training. Arkansas HB 2335, Act 820
Requires a public high school and institution of higher education to provide electronic student transcripts to the Department of Higher Education to determine student eligibility for state financial aid and between all kindergarten through grade 12 public schools, as necessary, to correctly enroll and place students who transfer between public schools. Arkansas SB 181, Act 1226
Appropriates funds for operating expenses ($32.4 million), grant payments ($209 million) and loan guarantees ($100,000) for the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Care and Early Education for the biennial period ending June 30, 2009. Arkansas SB 217, Act 462
Raises the age of enrollment in kindergarten in public schools. Provides that, for the 2009-2010 school year, students may enter kindergarten in public schools if they reach the age of 5 on or before Aug. 15, 2009. Provides that, for the 2010-2011 school year, students may enter kindergarten in public schools if they reach the age of 5 on or before Aug. 15, 2010. Provides that, for the 2011-2012 school year and every school year thereafter, students may enter kindergarten in public schools if they reach the age of 5 on or before August 1 of the year in which they seek to enroll. Arkansas SB 225, Act 153
Continues certain state agencies scheduled to be abolished on June 30, 2007, including the Department of Health and Human Services, the Division of Children and Family Services, and the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education. Arkansas SB 602, Act 1643
Appropriates $10 million to the Department of Education for construction and renovation of prekindergarten facilities. California AB 757, Chapter 323
Extends the minimum standard under the State Teachers’ Retirement Law to employees who provide prekindergarten instruction. The State Teachers’ Retirement Law specifies the days or hours of creditable service that equal “full time” to calculate benefits under the Defined Benefit Program of the State Teachers’ Retirement System, with a minimum standard applied to employees who provide kindergarten through grade 12 instruction, as specified. California AB 905, Chapter 110
Authorizes the superintendent of Public Instruction to extend the currently authorized 60-working-day period of eligibility by an additional 60 days for child care and development services when it is determined that opportunities for employment have diminished to the degree that one or both parents cannot reasonably be expected to find employment within 60 working days. California AB 1080, Chapter 278
Requires the State Department of Education—if funds from the $45 million appropriation under the Child Care and Development Services Act are offered under a new competitive bidding process after Jan. 1, 2008, due to the termination, suspension or relinquishment of an original contract award and in order to maintain an existing class—to assign first priority to successful applicants who will maintain that class within the attendance area of the elementary school. The Child Care and Development Services Act requires the superintendent of Pubic Instruction to administer state preschool programs that include part-day and preschool-appropriate programs for prekindergarten children age 3 to 5, inclusive. The act provides that $45 million of the $50 million appropriation from the Budget Act of 2006 is to reimburse participating programs located in the attendance area of elementary schools based on the 2005 base Academic Performance Index on a per-child basis at the same rate used for the state preschool program. California AB 1571, Chapter 415
Authorizes alternative payment programs, excluding those that provide child care services to CalWORKSs recipients, under the Child Care and Development Services Act to apply for reimbursement of up to 3 percent of the contract amount, or for a greater amount subject to the discretion of the department based on availability of funds. Requires the Department of Education to approve or deny applications submitted on or before September 30 of each calendar year. Requires the department to distribute reimbursement funds for each approved application within 90 days of receiving the application if it was filed within a specified date range. Colorado Executive Order 11
Creates the Governor’s P-20 Education Coordinating Council, appointed by the governor, to provide a forum for considering options and providing recommendations to achieve the education-oriented initiatives found in the Colorado Promise, including potential expansion, modification and coordination of early childhood programs. Requires a report to the governor. Colorado HB 1062, Chapter 378
Repeals the pilot program for community consolidated child care services. Incorporates existing pilot programs and early childhood councils or partnerships into the expanded integrated statewide system of early childhood councils. Permits counties to apply for local early childhood council designation and to receive funds for local needs. Creates an application process and identifies its necessary components. Creates an Early Childhood Council Advisory team. Defines council membership and declares the council’s purpose to include increasing and sustaining the quality, accessibility, capacity and affordability of early childhood services for young children and their families. Directs the state department to develop and maintain a statewide voluntary child care credentialing system. Requires the department, in collaboration with the advisory team, to contract with an entity to prepare an evaluation of the system of early childhood councils. Specifies the necessary components of the evaluation. Creates an Early Childhood Cash Fund within the state treasury to fund these activities. Requires the Office of the State Auditor to conduct a performance audit of the child care assistance program, which is to include an assessment of state and county policies and the use of TANF transfers. Colorado SB 4, Chapter 227
Directs the Department of Human Services to establish a statewide comprehensive system of early intervention services and a coordinated system of payments for such services. Certifies community-centered boards as early intervention service brokers for early intervention services. Identifies the departments responsible for support and coordination. Directs the community-centered board or other entity designated by the department to establish a registry of early intervention service providers, to process reimbursements and to negotiate payments. Creates the Early Intervention Services Trust Fund for direct and indirect costs of administering the program. Colorado SB 12, Chapter 77
Extends the requirement for a fingerprint-based criminal history records check to providers who receive funds from any publicly funded state child care assistance program. Colorado SB 26, Chapter 12
Provides authorization of additional school district revenues to fund costs associated with full-day kindergarten programs with a voter approved property tax levy. Colorado SB 252, Chapter 343
Provides that the Family Resource Center Program may receive direct appropriations from the state general fund. Provides that any money received by family resource centers pursuant to the TANF block grant or from the Family Issues Cash Fund shall be from funds directly disbursed by a county, at the discretion of the county. Connecticut SB 695, Public Act No. 07-22
Directs the commissioner of Public Health to require only one license for a child care center that operates in two or more buildings that are joined by a contiguous playground. Connecticut SB 1192, Public Act No. 07-129
Provides that child care licenses shall be for a term of four years, provided on or after Oct. 1, 2008, and shall be nontransferable. Provides that anyone whose license is revoked is ineligible for a new license for one year. Requires child care providers and youth camps to provide potassium iodide during a public health emergency to their residents, enrollees, staff and others present, at the Department of Public Health commissioner’s direction. Delaware HB 126, Chapter 53
Directs the Interagency Resource Management Committee (IRMC) to establish an Early Childhood Council to provide annual reports to the IRMC regarding the early childhood services in the state, based on recommendations in Early Success: Delaware’s Early Childhood Plan. Florida SB 450, Chapter 58
Expands the Florida Teachers Lead Program stipend to prekindergarten teachers in public schools and public charter schools. Hawaii HB 531, Act 289
Requires a study of the feasibility of expanding Hawaii’s early intervention program and continuing services for children ages 3 to 5. Establishes a “Hawaii 3-5 Transition” task force to study the feasibility of expanding Hawaii’s early intervention section of the Department of Health and appropriates $120,000 for the work of the task force. Hawaii SB 688, Act 281
Directs the Hawaii P-20 Initiative Council to develop and initiate plans for education in Hawaii in the 21st century and appropriates funds. Hawaii SB 1170, Act 107
Appropriates $1.6 million to implement recommended improvements to Hawaii’s Healthy Start program, including increasing prenatal intake. Focuses on risk factors identified on the family stress checklist, the ratio of child development and clinical specialists to the number of families served, and development training for providers. Hawaii SB 1459, Act 32
Appropriates additional funds to the Department of Health to provide early intervention services for children from birth to age 3 who have a developmental delay or certain biological or environmental risks. Hawaii SCR 202
Requests the Department of Health to review the state’s vaccination requirements and determine whether vaccination for pneumococcal disease for children entering child care should be added to the current list of required vaccinations. Illinois HB 250, Public Act 95-439
Amends the Missing Children Records Act to require public or private preschool programs, public or private child care facilities, or day care home or group day care home in which a child is enrolled for the first time to notify in writing the person enrolling the child that within 30 days the person must provide either 1) a certified copy of the child’s birth certificate or 2) other reliable proof, as determined by the Department of State Police, of the child’s identity and age and an affidavit explaining the inability to produce a copy of the birth certificate. Illinois HB 425, Public Act 95-58
Requires each school and day care center, when economically feasible, to develop and implement an integrated pest management program that incorporates the guidelines developed by the Department of Public Health. Provides that the department may request copies of a school’s or day care center’s integrated pest management program plan and notification (instead of inspecting schools and day care centers during normal business hours to review integrated pest management program plans and notifications) and offer assistance and training to schools and day care centers on integrated pest management programs (instead of integrated pest management practices). Illinois HB 1009, Public Act 95-206
Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code in connection with child care for TANF recipients. Modifies eligibility for child care from 50 percent State Median Income to 185 percent State Median Income beginning in FY 2008. Requires the Department of Human Services, in consultation with its Child Care and Development Advisory Council, to develop a plan to revise the child care assistance program’s copayment schedule by Feb. 1, 2008. Illinois HB 1242
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Reinstates, for taxable years ending on or after Dec. 31, 2007, the tax credit for start-up costs for providing employee child care. Exempts the credit from the sunset provisions of the Income Tax Act. Illinois HB 1648, Public Act 95-626
Requires the Board of Education to appoint a superintendent of Education. Establishes the Illinois P-20 Council to develop a statewide agenda that will move the state toward a common goal of improving academic achievement. The council may authorize creation of working groups focusing on areas of interest, including prekindergarten and early childhood education issues. The council will be funded through state appropriations. Illinois SB 36
Amends the Illinois Pension Code to consider service time for any person employed by the Macon-Piatt Regional Office of Education in a birth through age 3 pilot program who is required to hold a teaching certificate. Illinois SB 862, Chapter 94-1110
Permits candidates for the early childhood certificate to be paid and receive credit while student teaching with their current employer, provided that the student teaching experience meets certain requirements. Illinois SB 1304, Chapter 95-457
Requires that, to the extent allowable by federal law and regulation, the Department of Central Management Services must allow employees of state colleges and universities to participate in the department’s flexible spending programs for dependent care assistance and medical care assistance. Illinois SB 1664
Requires the governor to create a commission by July 1, 2007, or as soon thereafter as possible, to review funding methodologies, identify gaps in funding, identify revenue, and prioritize use of that revenue for early intervention services. Indiana HB 1001, Public Law No.234
Creates a Prekindergarten Grant Pilot Program. Defines eligible providers and excludes charter schools. Defines the application process and criteria used by the department in selecting eligible providers to participate in the program. Requires participating prekindergarten programs to serve children who are age 4 by September 1 of the school year, and permits the programs to be half- or full-day. Directs the department to give priority to lower performing school corporations and private providers located in areas served by lower performing school corporations. Permits providers to contract with an individual or a nonprofit entity for implementation of the grant program. Requires the department to adopt rules that include minimum requirements for the prekindergarten curriculum, class sizes and teacher requirements. Requires the department to monitor the performance of students who participate in the pilot program as those students continue their education in elementary school. Indiana SB 104, Public Law No. 126
Establishes Child Care Advisory Committees for child care centers and home-based child care to provide information, advice and assistance about implementation of child care regulations. Creates the Committee on Child Care to study the system of child care regulation and make recommendations on quality, access, affordability and funding. Indiana SB 328, Public Law No. 138
Requires the director of the Department of Child Services to appoint a county director for each county office of family and children. Includes background checks for licensing of a home, center, day care or residential care of children; relates to adoptive homes. Iowa HB 245, Chapter 11
Requires the invasive pneumococcal disease immunization for children enrolling in licensed child care centers. Iowa HB 396, Chapter 181
Allocates $5.5 million to increase the funding designated for distribution to community empowerment areas to increase the basic family income eligibility requirement to not more than 200 percent of the federal poverty level in order to assist low-income parents with tuition for preschool and other supportive services for children age 3 to 5 who are not attending kindergarten. Retroactive to July 2006. Iowa HB 877, Chapter 148
Establishes a statewide voluntary preschool program for 4-year-olds. Appropriates from the general fund to the State Department of Education $15 million for FY 2009, $15 million for FY 2010, and $16.1 million for FY 2011. Provides for the phase-in of the program. Requires teachers to be employed by or under contract with the school district, licensed, and possess a bachelor’s or graduate degree with a major in early childhood education or other appropriate major. Requires a minimum of 10 hours per week of instruction and a provision to ensure that children who receive care from other child care arrangements can participate in the preschool program with minimal disruption due to transportation and movement from one site to another. Defines school district requirements to include methods of demonstrating community readiness to implement high-quality instruction. Requires providers to submit a collaborative program proposal that demonstrates the involvement of multiple community stakeholders. Louisiana SB 102, Act 166
Eliminates the duty of the secretary of the Department of Social Services to perform the functions of the state related to licensing child care centers and provides that the Office of Family Support will perform these functions. Louisiana SB 361, Act 394
Establishes School Readiness Tax Credit to serve as an incentive for increasing the number of quality child care centers that serve infants and children. Provides that such credits benefit providers, parents, child care professionals, and companies that provide child care for their employees. Maine HB 576, Resolve No.136
Establishes the Commission to Develop a Strategic Priorities Plan for Maine’s Young Children. Directs the commission to identify current and future economic needs of employers and parents and the links to early child care and education and, in consultation with the Maine Children’s Trust, to evaluate and review best practices related to parenting education, parent coaching and home visit programs. Maine HB 1254, Public Law No. 324
Establishes a time limit for reapplication after denial or revocation of license or certificate for a child care facility or a family child care provider. Creates a maximum two-year license renewal term. Maine HB 1314, Resolve No.53
Requires the Department of Health and Human Services to adopt substantive rules to govern the safety of children at child care facilities that have swimming pools. Maine SB 99, Public Law 430
Expands the opportunity of preschool children with disabilities to continue to have a free and appropriate public education provided through the Child Development Services System. Maine SB 172, Public Law 141
Defines “public preschool program” in the laws governing education. Definition differentiates a public preschool program from a one- or two-year kindergarten program. Integrates approval of early childhood education plans for programs for 4-year-olds into the laws governing basic school approval. Maine SB 333, Public Law 320
Authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services to license residential parenting facilities for families in need of supportive and rehabilitative parenting services. Maine SB 666, Public Law 450
Implements recommendations of the Subcommittee to Study Early Childhood Special Education. Relates to early intervention and early childhood special education services for children. Provides for service coordination. Maryland SB 700, Chapter 506
Establishes a Baby Boomer Initiative Council. Requires council to make recommendations for multigenerational activities such as early childhood education. Minnesota HB 1078, Chapter 147
Requires the commissioner of Human Services, in cooperation with the commissioners of Education and Health, to develop and phase-in implementation of a professional development system for practitioners who serve children in early childhood and school-age programs. Requires the commissioners of Human Services and Education to establish three prekindergarten exploratory projects to be conducted in partnership with the Minnesota Early Learning Foundation to promote children’s school readiness. Requires exploratory projects to be designed and evaluated by the Minnesota Early Learning Foundation. Provides eligibility requirements for parents or legal guardians. Establishes quality rating standards for child care programs or providers. Requires that funds be made available to allow the commissioner to pay higher rates to up to 50 eligible child care providers who are deemed by the commissioner to meet the requirements of a school readiness service agreement provider and perform services that support school readiness for children and economic stability for parents. Minnesota HB 2245, Chapter 146
Provides that a school district may spend general education revenue on extended time kindergarten and prekindergarten programs. Establishes a research-based early childhood literacy program based on actively involved parents, ongoing professional staff development, and high-quality early learning program standards. Requires that program providers use ongoing evidence-based assessments that enable preschool teachers to plan and implement literacy strategies and activities. Requires the commissioner of Education to distribute money appropriated for early childhood programs to federally designated Head Start programs. Requires the commissioner of Education to develop procedures to make payments to programs based on the number of children reported to be enrolled during the required time period of program operations (enrollment is defined by federal Head Start regulations). Requires specified phase-in of full-day services in Head Start programs or licensed child care. Defines purpose of early childhood family education program. Requires that qualified teachers licensed in early childhood or parent education be employed for early childhood family education programs. Requires early childhood family education programs to submit biennial plan evaluating the program. Appropriates $1.5 million annually for early childhood literacy programs for FY 2008 and FY 2009. Appropriates $68,000 annually for early childhood family education programs at tribal contract schools for FY 2008 and FY 2009. Appropriates $20.1 million annually for Head Start programs for FY 2008 and FY 2009. Minnesota SB 1724, Chapter 112
Requires that child care license holders provide orientation training for every staff member and volunteer. For child care centers, requires that all staff hired after July 1, 2006, must complete and document at least two hours of child growth and development training within the first year of employment. Requires all teachers and assistant teachers in child care centers to satisfactorily complete first aid training within 90 days of starting work. Specifies family child care training requirements. Mississippi SB 2667, Chapter 440
Establishes the Early Learning Collaborative Act of 2007. Directs the Department of Human Services to implement a voluntary early care and education grant program, that is to be a collaboration among the entities providing prekindergarten programs, including Head Start, licensed child care facilities and licensed public, parochial and private school prekindergarten programs. Defines the members of a committee, appointed by the governor, who will award the grants to early care and education programs and specify criteria the committee will use to award the grants. Requires certain entities to collaborate to develop educational criteria regarding research-based curriculum, the state’s early learning guidelines, and developmentally appropriate educational services. Appropriates funds in the 2008 fiscal year. Requires an annual report to the Legislature and governor regarding the program’s effectiveness. Mississippi SB 2859, Chapter 418
Directs the State Board of Health to develop regulations that require children who attend child care centers to be immunized against invasive pneumococcal disease. Missouri SB 112
Provides that the State Sunset Act shall not apply to the early intervention program for infants and toddlers with disabilities. Montana HB 120, Chapter 126
Requires the Department of Public Health and Human Services to make annual unannounced visits to licensed child care centers. Permits the Department to make annual unannounced visits to day care centers that have been granted two-year or three-year licenses or that have successfully passed inspections for 10 consecutive years. Montana HB 687, Chapter 390
Extends from 2 to 7 the age for well-child care coverage. Montana SB 2, Chapter 1
Provides funding to public school districts for optional enrollment of students in full-time kindergarten programs offered by a district. Provides startup costs for full-time kindergarten. Nebraska LB 231
Establishes an Early Childhood Training Center within the State Department of Education to train individuals who provide education and development activities for infants, young children and their parents. Requires the department to assume direct responsibility for all operations of the Early Childhood Center on Sept. 1, 2007. Specifies the center’s purpose and activities and defines how certain employee benefits will transfer to the department. Nevada AB 283, Chapter 98
Requires child care facilities to maintain records of licensure and disciplinary action and to make that information available to the public and the parents and guardians of children cared for in the facility. Provides that failure to comply with this requirement is a ground for revocation of the facility’s license. New Hampshire SB 93, Chapter 338
Requires health insurance providers to cover the costs of early intervention services for children from birth to age 3. New Jersey AB 4056, Chapter 172
In accordance with Part H of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, establishes a statewide system of early intervention services for eligible infants and toddlers from birth to age 2 who have physical, cognitive, communication, social or emotional, or adaptive developmental delays or disabilities. New Jersey AB 4285, Chapter 135
Permits licensed child care centers that are required to perform an environmental evaluation and assessment pursuant to law to seek reimbursement from the Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund of up to $1,500 for the cost of the evaluation and assessment. Permits an owner or operator of a licensed child care center or a prospective owner or operator of a child care center who has applied for a license to seek a grant of $1,500 from the Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund for the costs of a preliminary assessment performed in order to obtain a no further action letter, as required pursuant to current law or performed as part of the child care center licensing requirements established by the Department of Children and Families. Amends the Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund to permit funds to be allocated for the purposes specified under the bill. Requires the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to establish grant application procedures and requires the authority to authorize the Department of Environmental Protection to implement a program to award grants pursuant to the bill. New Jersey SB 2261, Chapter 1
Creates procedures to evaluate and assess the interior of buildings that are to be used for a licensed child care center. Develops standards that establish maximum contaminant levels for building interiors to be used for licensed child care centers; the standards must account for the difference in rates of absorption, metabolism and excretion of certain compounds between adults, children and infants. Prohibits the use of certain buildings as child care centers unless the structure has been evaluated and assessed for contaminants. Establishes penalties for violating these provisions. New Mexico HB 198, Chapter 12
Creates the K-3 plus pilot project to provide extended time for children in kindergarten through third grade in high poverty schools. New York AB 4138, Chapter 107
Excludes from the definition of authorized—for the purposes of the care and protection of children—the operation, management or ownership of a boarding home, group home, foster boarding home or child care agency. New York AB 6579, Chapter 16
Adds the Department of Health to the list of organizations with which the Office of Children and Family Services must collaborate to develop regulations to administer medication and treatment by licensed and registered child care centers and child care homes. Expires March 31, 2009. New York AB 8096, Chapter 135
Expands the definition of eligible applicant for public assistance benefits to include a person whose gross earnings equal or are greater than the required number of work hours times the state minimum wage. New York SB 1239, Chapter 281
Requests that students enrolling in prekindergarten and kindergarten in a public elementary school present a dental health certificate that must contain a report of a comprehensive dental examination performed on the child. New York SB 2140, Chapter 65
Requires the commissioner of the Office of Children and Family Services, in consultation with the superintendent of Insurance, to undertake a study of the availability, accessibility and affordability of insurance policies to child care providers. New York SB 5803, Chapter 484
Provides a tax credit for certain household and dependent care services necessary for gainful employment. North Dakota SB 2030
Permits boards of school districts to create prekindergarten programs and use state, federal or private funds that are specifically appropriated for the program. North Dakota SB 2186
Establishes a program of transition assistance to pay a portion of child care expenses for families that lose eligibility—and remain ineligible—for certain benefits due to earnings from employment. Limits the transition benefit period to six months following the initial loss of benefits. Permits the department to establish a statewide system of voluntary early childhood workforce training, which can include distance learning, a professional registry, certificates and specializations. North Dakota SB 2344
Provides that the board of a school district may enter into a contract to prepare and provide meals, snacks or other food services for any events or programs that occur on or off school property, provided the events or programs involve child care centers that are participating in the Child and Adult Care Food. Oklahoma HB 1557, Chapter 111
Adds to the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness Board a governor-appointed representative of an early childhood program that is federally funded. Oklahoma SB 938, Chapter 85
Provides that, if an Indian tribe that operates a child care facility applies for a license for a facility, the Department of Human Services, the State Department of Health and the State Fire Marshall may enter into an agreement with the Indian tribe to allow the state to conduct any inspections of the facility necessary to comply with the licensing provisions of the Oklahoma Child Care Facilities Licensing Act. Oregon HB 2263, Chapter 858
Requires school district boards to prepare a biennial budget. Requires State Board of Education to adopt rules establishing criteria for early childhood education programs. Requires superintendent of Public Instruction, prior to December 1 of each year, to issue an Oregon Report Card on the state of the public schools and progress toward goals set forth in the bill. Requires Oregon Report Card to include information on early childhood education and Oregon prekindergarten, as well as data required by the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Requires Oregon prekindergarten program to be operated in coordination with the federal Head Start program. Provides that the Prekindergarten Program Trust Fund is continuously appropriated to the Department of Education for the prekindergarten program. Requires Department of Education to establish an advisory committee composed of interested parents and relevant representatives from state and local levels to provide advice to the department on matters related to the prekindergarten program. Oregon HB 2371, Chapter 205
Requires health and child care facilities licensed or registered by the Department of Human Services to develop emergency plans in the event there is threat of imminent danger. Requires the Child Care Division of the Employment Department to adopt by rule the requirements for the emergency plan, including, but not limited to, procedures to evacuate the children who are receiving child care at the child care facility to a place of safety when the conditions of imminent danger require their relocation. Oregon HB 2752, Chapter 868
Allows eligible taxpayers to claim the working family child care tax credit if the taxpayer’s spouse is disabled and unable to provide child care, be gainfully employed, or attend school. Oregon HB 2810, Chapter 880
Extends the sunset date on corporate and individual income tax credits for contributions to the Child Care Division. Oregon HB 2867, Chapter 379
Concerns educational requirements for a dental hygienist to obtain a limited access permit. Provides that appropriately trained counselors and health assistants may apply fluoride varnishes to the teeth of children who are enrolled in or receiving services or benefits from the Women, Infants and Children Program, a prekindergarten program, or a federal Heart Start grant program. Oregon SB 788, Chapter 563
Provides that family child care providers shall be considered public employees. Grants family child care providers collective bargaining rights under Oregon law. Pennsylvania HB 842, Act 45
Requires the Department of Education of the Commonwealth to compile an annual report to be submitted to the governor concerning: the number of eligible children served by Head Start as of Dec. 23, 2003; the number of eligible children served by the program during the 2005-2006 school year and each school year thereafter; the number of extended day programs and the number of eligible children enrolled in extended day programs as of Dec. 23, 2003; and the number of extended day programs and the number of eligible children enrolled in extended day programs during the 2005-2006 school year and each school year thereafter. Requires, to the extent that funds are appropriated by the General Assembly, the Department of Education of the Commonwealth to establish the Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts Program as a competitive grant program to expand prekindergarten opportunities for eligible students. Requires the department to adopt rules and regulations to establish the process through which eligible providers may apply for grant funds, allowable and required grant uses and per-student funding levels, and the criteria used to identify approved providers for grant funds. Rhode Island HB 5498, Resolution 2007-410
Creates a permanent Legislative Commission on Child Care in Rhode Island. Rhode Island HB 5862, Public Law No. 2007-141
Companion bill SB 451, Public Law No. 2007-272
Establishes a voluntary quality rating system to assess quality in early care and education programs and school-age child care. The voluntary quality rating system is established to promote continuous quality improvement of programs and to further the goals of Rhode Island’s 1998 Starting Right Initiative, which sought to ensure access to affordable, high-quality child care and early education for all Rhode Island families with children from birth to age 16. Rhode Island HB 6313, Resolution 2007-392
Establishes a Special Legislative Commission to Study Transportation for Afterschool and Child Care Programs. Rhode Island SB 560, Public Law No. 2007-421
Concerns the use of lawn care pesticides at schools and child day care facilities. Requires the Department of Environmental Management to report to the governor and the legislature on the use of lawn care pesticides and their health risks to children; currently recognized best practices for the use and control of lawn care pesticides at schools and child day care facilities; and a recommended lawn care pesticide use and control program for Rhode Island public and private day care centers, preschools and elementary schools. South Dakota SB 33
Declares that any child who is age 5 on the first day of September is eligible for enrollment in kindergarten during that school year. Tennessee HB 1530, Chapter 357
Requires the Office of Education Accountability to coordinate a study of the effectiveness of prekindergarten programs. Requires study to specifically assess the short- and long-term effectiveness of prekindergarten programs on student achievement. Tennessee SB 1450, Chapter 475
Requires that the pilot prekindergarten program providers shall be funded at the same level as the funding for prekindergarten programs implemented pursuant to the Voluntary Pre-K for Tennessee Act of 2005. Texas HB 1385, Chapter 1414
Exempts from regulation and licensing certain educational facilities that operate in a county with a population of less than 25,000 that offer educational programs for children who are age 4. Establishes regulations for employer-based day care facilities. Texas HB 1786, Chapter 1037
Exempts food bank programs that serve children from child care licensing requirements. Texas SB 814, Chapter 398
Permits the Department of State Health Services to adopt rules establishing standards for follow-up care provided to children with a confirmed blood lead level of concern. Rules established by the department must meet any federal requirements and may include, in a manner consistent with current federal guidelines, an environmental lead investigation of all or parts of a child’s home environment, child care facility, or child-occupied facility that may be a source of a lead hazard that is causing or contributing to the child’s lead exposure. Texas SB 1713, Chapter 817
Requires the county or school district board to allow a parent to designate a child care facility or grandparent’s residence in order to obtain transportation provided by a public school transportation system. Texas SB 1871, Chapter 1340
Requires the school readiness certification system to reflect research in the field of early childhood care and education and be well-grounded in the cognitive, social and emotional development of young children. Requires the State Center for Early Childhood Development to use funds appropriated for the school readiness certification system to provide the system to each school district in order to report each child’s raw score results on the reading instrument. Utah HB 197, Chapter 43
Permits the Department of Health to have access to the juvenile court records of applicants for child care certification or licensing. Utah HB 461, Chapter 381
Appropriates $2.5 million from the Uniform School Fund for the K-3 Reading Improvement Program for fiscal year 2007-2008. Utah SB 49, Chapter 386
Establishes a program, to be administered by the State Board of Education, that permits districts and charter schools to provide voluntary extended-day kindergarten. Vermont HB 534, Act 62
Requires the State Board of Education and the secretary of Human Services to adopt joint rules regarding prekindergarten education. Establishes minimum quality standards necessary for a district to include prekindergarten children within its average daily membership. Clarifies that a public school that offers 10 hours of prekindergarten education per week to 3- and 4-year-olds may count these children within its average daily membership with a weight of .46. Limits the number of children a school district may count within its average daily membership. Permits school districts to contract with private providers and specifies the necessary qualifications for those providers. Clarifies the authority of the State Board of Education and the secretary of Human Services to regulate prekindergarten programs. Requires reports to the General Assembly on the cost and effectiveness of prekindergarten programs. Virginia HB 2726, Chapter 129
Gives established agencies of emergency management in each locality the authority to review and suggest amendments to the emergency plans of certain child care centers. Virginia SB 888, Chapter 594
Changes the requirement that family child care providers must tell parents the amount of liability insurance that covers the operation of the family child care home. Requires the providers to give parents information about whether there is liability insurance to cover the operation of the family child care home. Virginia HB 3183, Chapter 822
Companion SB 1088, Chapter 780
Creates the Virginia Pregnant Women Support Fund as a special nonreverting fund to be administered by the Board of Health. Provides funds to allow early childhood education programs to work with pregnant or parenting teens to complete high school and provide job training education. Washington HB 1256, Chapter 299
Prohibits the use of window blinds or other window coverings with pull cords or inner cords that can form a loop and pose a risk for strangulation of young children in child care settings. Washington HB 1267, Chapter 418
Requires applicants for commercial driver’s licenses to pay a fee of no more than $75 for each classified skill examination or combination of classified skill examinations, whether conducted by the department or a third-party tester, if the applicant’s primary use of the commercial drivers license is for any of the following: 1) public benefit not-for-profit corporations that are federally supported Head Start programs; or 2) public benefit not-for-profit corporations that support early childhood education and assistance programs. Washington HB 1916, Chapter 278
Requires the panel to consider a comparison of child care provider subsidy rates and reimbursement programs by public entities and the public’s interest in reducing turnover and increasing retention of child care providers. Provides that the panel may consider the state’s interest in promoting a stable child care workforce to provide quality child care and the state’s fiscal interest in reducing reliance upon public benefit programs. Washington HB 2319, Chapter 395
Requires the state Board for Community and Technical Colleges to inventory and survey all campus-based early learning programs and services for creation of a coordinated system of course offerings and early learning education opportunities. Directs the state board to consult with the Department of Early Learning to develop articulation standards for coursework and training in early childhood development. Requires a report to the Legislature by Dec. 1, 2007. Washington SB 5317, Chapter 415
Provides tools to promote the hiring of suitable child care providers. Provides parents with access to information regarding child care providers and their licensing action histories. Requires background checks of applicants for employment in any licensed child care facility. Promotes the development of a sufficient number and variety of adequate public or private child care and early learning facilities. Washington SB 5828, Chapter 394
Defines a nongovernmental private-public partnership as an entity registered as a nonprofit in the state with a specific primary focus and the ability to raise a minimum of $5 million in contributions. Requires that, once developed, an early learning information system is to make certain information available to parents through the Internet and other means. Washington SB 5841, Chapter 400
Provides for phased-in funding for voluntary all-day kindergarten programs, beginning with the highest poverty levels. Requires schools that receive all-day kindergarten program support to agree to certain conditions. Authorizes demonstration projects for schools that serve kindergarten through third grade students regarding the effects of a comprehensive K-3 foundations program. Washington SB 5952, Chapter 17
Permits the director of the Department of Early Learning to charge fees to the licensee for obtaining a child care license. Permits the director to waive fees at his discretion. Requires the department to give written notice to the applicant about the denial or modification of a child care license. Defines the licensee’s rights to appeal changes to the license and fines. Assigns the director the responsibility to engage in negotiated rule making with the exclusive representative of the family child care licensees and other affected interests, prior to adopting requirements that affect these licensees. West Virginia SB 278, Chapter 153
Authorizes the Division of Human Services to promulgate rules relating to child care center licensing requirements, family child care facility licensing requirements, family child care home registration requirements, and informal and relative family child care home registration requirements. Wyoming HB 40, Chapter 26
Directs the Select Committee on Developmental Programs to report to certain entities, including the governor, by Dec. 1, 2007, on certain topics. Requires the report to include information about the adoption and implementation of rules and regulations by the Developmental Disabilities Division, a feasibility study on certain cost-based reimbursement mechanisms, implementation of funding mechanisms in certain programs, and a transition plan for continued oversight of the Developmental Disabilities Division by the Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Interim Committee. Wyoming HB 42, Act 74
Increases the amount of the state’s per-child reimbursement for developmental preschool service providers. Wyoming HB 95, Chapter 156
Provides educational grants to help owners or staff of child care facilities obtain certificates or degrees in early childhood development or a related field. Requires recipients of these grants to work for a child care facility in the state for a specified period of time. Directs the Department of Health to contract for the delivery of voluntary family strengthening educational programs to promote family involvement in children’s development. Wyoming HB 96, Chapter 157
Appropriates $4,534,308 to the Department of Family Services to increase the reimbursement for child care under the Child Care Development Fund to the 75th percentile of the statewide average market rate. Provides an additional $1.40 per hour of reimbursement for the care of children younger than age 1 and an additional $1 per hour of reimbursement for care of children between the ages of 1 and 2. Provides that all increases apply for qualifying families beginning July 1, 2007. Wyoming HB 177, Chapter 125
Requires 3 percent matching local funds in contracts with developmental preschool service providers. Wyoming SB 34, Chapter 167
Increases developmental preschool funding by $363 per child to expand services to include a mental health or socialemotional developmental component. Includes training and technical assistance in early childhood social-emotionaldevelopment to certain early childhood service providers. Specifies eligible providers. © 2008 by the National Conference of State Legislatures. All rights reserved. ISBN 978-1-58024-493-0 Methodology This document was prepared by Kelli Kelty, policy associate at the National Conference of State Legislatures, and by Caroline Smith, a former NCSL employee. The authors used StateNet, a legislative tracking database, to perform the bill searches. If you wish to contribute information about your state or have questions about the content, contact Kelli Kelty at (303) 856-1389 or kelli.kelty@ncsl.org. Please note: This document contains legislation enacted in the 2007 legislative session. It is intended to provide examples of significant legislation in each state and does not include bills with technical changes. Please also note that this list does not represent a comprehensive list of all state budget appropriation bills.
Proposed Legislation, January 1 – February 28, 2007
This document offers an overview and examples of proposed legislation across the country at the start of 2007 legislative sessions. To date, at least 40 legislatures have proposed bills on early childhood care and education topics such as preschool, quality rating systems, professional development, home visiting, collective bargaining, tax credits, and kindergarten. Below are highlights of state legislative activities.
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Preschool Legislators in Idaho, Mississippi, North Dakota, and Utah, states which currently do not operate a state-funded preschool program, introduced bills that would allow school districts to operate and/or fund these initiatives. Idaho’s bill would permit school districts to fund preschool services for four year olds, but the bill does not require school districts to offer preschool nor appropriate state funds for this purpose. Mississippi’s legislation authorizes the State Board of Education to implement a pilot voluntary preschool program. North Dakota’s proposal would permit school districts to operate pre-kindergarten programs for four year olds and appropriates state funds. To date, this bill has passed the House and is in the Senate. A bill in Utah would establish a prekindergarten readiness program. Legislators in at least seven states—Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Washington—proposed bills to expand their current state preschool programs. Colorado's school finance bill proposes an increase of 4,000 preschool/ kindergarten spaces and limits pre-k classroom size. Connecticut’s legislation would provide for voluntary, universal prekindergarten in certain large cities by 2012. Iowa is considering a bill to implement a voluntary statewide preschool program for four year olds, which would be phased in over several years. Oklahoma’s legislators introduced a bill to direct the State Board of Education to establish a pilot early childhood education program for three year olds. A proposal in South Carolina would make the Child Development Education Program available to all at-risk four year olds. Texas and Washington bills would expand eligibility for the state’s preschool program to include children in foster care. Quality Rating Systems Quality rating systems for child care facilities were introduced in California, Florida, Michigan, and North Dakota. Kentucky’s bill would require a licensed child care center to meet at least the minimum criteria for the first level of the child care rating system.
Professional Development Several legislatures are focused on professional development. Hawaii’s lawmakers proposed a bill that included an early educator incentive program, and Mississippi’s legislature introduced a teacher wage incentive program. Wyoming’s proposal would establish a grant program to assist staff of child care facilities to pursue continuing education in early childhood development. Indiana’s proposal would require the state to establish preschool teacher training and certification standards.
Home Visiting Lawmakers in three states—Iowa, Minnesota, and Texas—introduced legislation on home visiting. Minnesota’s bill would increase funding for the Home Visiting Early Childhood Family Education Program. Iowa lawmakers introduced legislation to establish a home visiting program for all families with a newborn child, and Texas’ legislators proposed a competitive grant program to fund nurse-family partnership programs in several communities, and a bill to provide home visits to low-income first-time mothers. Collective Bargaining Three states—Connecticut, Maryland, and New Mexico—have proposed legislation to allow family child care providers to collectively bargain. A Connecticut proposal would allow family child care providers and unlicensed child care providers under the Care4Kids program to bargain collectively with the state. Maryland’s proposed legislation would authorize family child care providers to designate which organizations could be the joint negotiating representative for certain providers. New Mexico introduced legislation to permit child care providers to collectively bargain. Tax Credits Legislators in at least ten states—Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, , New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island—proposed legislation that involved tax credits for child care expenses. Tax credits for employers that provide child care for employees was introduced in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, New York, North Dakota, and Rhode Island. Legislators in Arkansas, Iowa, Indiana, New York, and Pennsylvania proposed bills to permit an individual to claim a state income tax credit for certain child care expenses.
Kindergarten Eighteen states—Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Utah—proposed legislation that involved kindergarten programs. Connecticut, Indiana, and Rhode Island lawmakers proposed legislation that would require school districts to offer full-day kindergarten. Legislators in Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, and Oregon proposed new funding to reimburse school districts that choose to offer voluntary, full-day kindergarten. Utah’s proposal would appropriate funds to expand full-day kindergarten to the state’s Title I schools. Other states introduced bills that would change the age of entry for kindergarten or lower the compulsory school age.
Synopsis of Bills Introduced: January 1, 2007 - May 1, 2007 NCSL has tracked all legislation on child care and early education issues nationwide. This document provides a brief summary of all child care and early education bills introduced during the 2007 session. Download PDF Version (64 page document)
Child Care and Early Education |