Child Care and Early Education
Legislation Summaries 2006
February 2007
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2006 Cal. Stats., AB 172, Chap. 211
Appropriates $50 million to increase preschool enrollment in low-performing schools. Requires the superintendent of public instruction and the State Department of Education to administer prekindergarten and family literacy programs. Requires participating programs to offer these services to receive funding. Appropriates funds to provide child care services for children in participating classrooms and encourages participating providers to offer full-day services. Requires local educational agencies to select program coordinators. Requires the superintendent to conduct an evaluation of these programs, as specified. Appropriates $5 million to be distributed to participating programs at a rate of $2,500 per classroom per school year. Specifies how these funds may be used.
2006 Cal. Stats., AB 633, Chap. 545
Requires licensed day care facilities to make accessible to the public a copy of any licensing report that documents a facility visit by the state Department of Social Services or a substantiated complaint investigation. Directs child care resource and referral agencies to inform every person who requests a referral of the right to access licensing information and public files. Requires licensed facilities to provide to the parent of each child copies of any document pertaining to a complaint investigation that finds an immediate risk to the health, safety or personal rights of children in care. Requires facilities to provide certain information to the parents of newly enrolled children.
2006 Cal. Stats., AB 1282, Chap. 712
Extends the Personal Income Tax and Corporation Tax Law tax credits for startup expenses for child care programs, costs for child care information and referral services, and costs paid or incurred for contributions to a qualified care program through taxable years beginning before January 1, 2012. Requires the Franchise Tax Board to report to the Legislature on the effectiveness of these credits on or before January 1, 2011.
2006 Cal. Stats., AB 1433, Chap. 413
Requires a pupil, while enrolled in kindergarten in a public school, or while enrolled in first grade in a public school if the child was not previously enrolled in kindergarten, to present proof of having received an oral health assessment by an approved dentist. Allows for exceptions. Directs public schools to send parents or legal guardians notification of the assessment requirement.
2006 Cal. Stats., AB 1808, Chap. 75
Revises the methodology by which alternative payment programs reimburse child care providers. Requires the California Department of Education to implement, for the 2006-2007 fiscal school year, regional market rate schedules as determined by the Regional Market Survey conducted in 2005, and to update the family fee schedule. Increases to 20 percent the number of child care facilities and day care homes that are subject to announced visits.
2006 Cal. Stats., AB 2403, Chap. 105
Requires that the application for a large family day care home permit include a statement of the applicant’s right to request a written fee verification. Requires a local government, within 45 days of a written request, to provide a written fee verification.
2006 Cal. Stats., AB 2932, Chap. 111
Permits counties that develop, adopt and implement an early childhood development plan to receive funding appropriated by the California Children and Families Trust Fund. Requires activities to be consistent with the goals and objectives of the California Children and Families Act of 1998.
2006 Colo. Sess. Laws, SB 12, Chap. 50
Extends through January 1, 2009, the period during which an individual taxpayer may designate, on the state income tax form, a contribution toward a family resource centers fund. Designates the Family Resource Centers Association as the recipient of any appropriations from this fund, and as the organization that will distribute the money to family resource centers across the state.
2006 Colo. Sess. Laws, SB 73, Chap. 265
Establishes the number of hours in a school year for kindergarten classes. Requires full-day kindergarten programs to operate for 900 hours, and half-day programs for 400 hours.
2006 Colo. Sess. Laws, HB 1371, Chap. 375
Appropriates $280,000 for early childhood mental health services.
2006 Colo. Sess. Laws, HB 1375, Chap. 171
Expands early childhood programs to include preschool and kindergarten, beginning in FY 2006-2007, to serve at-risk 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old children. Adds 2,000 preschool slots in FY 2006-2007, for a total of 14,360 children statewide. Directs the state board to establish eligibility criteria for participating school districts and children. Requires the program to serve children who lack overall learning readiness due to significant family risk factors.
Permits school districts to apply to the Department of Education to serve up to 15 percent of participating children through a full-day kindergarten program, and up to 5 percent of participating children through a full-day preschool program. Prohibits districts from transferring unused portions to other school districts.
Encourages local school districts to contract with existing providers, such as Head Start agencies and child care centers, as long as the agencies meet the criteria for a quality program. Repeals the authority of districts to establish full-day kindergarten programs for students who attend a school that receives an “unsatisfactory” academic performance rating. Requires the Department of Education to submit an annual report to the House and Senate education committees.
2006 Conn. Acts, SB 455, Public Act 154
Develops accelerated, alternate route programs to initial teacher certification with an endorsement in early childhood education. Specifies who will define the minimum training requirements and competencies for those involved in early childhood education.
Vol. 75 Del. Laws, SB 251, Chap. 440
Requires school districts to offer all kindergarten-eligible children the option of attending full-day kindergarten by the 2008-2009 school year. Allows a local school district to request a waiver, provided it meets certain conditions. Limits the waiver to one school year. Permits parents to enroll their child in a half-day kindergarten program, if they choose. Requires districts to offer a separate half-day kindergarten program if at least 18 children sign up for it.
2006 Fla. Laws, HB 5003, Chap. 2006-26
Provides statutory authority for the appropriations bill as needed. Allows the Agency for Workforce Innovation to implement the T.E.A.C.H scholarship program.
2006 Fla. Laws, HB 5005, Chap. 2006-27
Changes district funding for the summer prekindergarten program to calculate funding based on full-time equivalent student enrollment that is evenly divisible by 10. Specifies that, if the result is not a whole number, the district’s enrollment calculation is adjusted by adding the minimum number of FTE students to make it divisible by 10.
2006 Fla. Laws, SB 840, Chap. 2006-17
Authorizes the Agency for Workforce Innovation to contract for the administration of the Teacher Education and Compensation Helps (TEACH) scholarship program. Permits the agency to adopt rules, as necessary, to administer the TEACH program. Requires the agency to recommend a formula for the allocation of school readiness funds. Requires an annual report to the governor and Legislature.
2006 Fla. Laws, SB 1510, Chap. 2006-91
Defines the criteria that child care centers and family child care homes must meet in order to obtain and maintain designation as a Gold Seal Quality Care provider. Authorizes the Department of Children and Family Services to administer certain disciplinary actions if providers violate the criteria. Requires the department to establish the grounds for disciplinary actions and to create a uniform system of procedures. Authorizes the Agency for Workforce Innovation to contract for the administration of the Teacher Education and Compensation Helps (TEACH) scholarship program. Permits a child to remain in child care for more than 24 hours if the parent or legal guardian works a shift exceeding 24 hours.
2006 Ga. Laws, HB 1080, Act 448
Provides an income tax credit for qualified child and dependent care expenses. Specifies that the credit will be 10 percent of the federal credit for 2006-2007; 20 percent for 2007-2008; and 30 percent beginning on or after January 1, 2008. Prohibits the total amount of the tax credit from exceeding the taxpayer’s income tax liability.
2006 Hawaii Sess. Laws, SB 3101, Act 259
Establishes and appropriates funds for an early learning educational task force. Defines the task force’s members and directs it to develop a five-year plan to create an early learning system for children from birth to age 5. Requires the plan to include an implementation and financing schedule that begins with services to 4-year-olds, then proceeds to younger age groups; establishes mechanisms to ensure cross-sector and interdepartmental collaboration; provides for professional development of teachers and administrators; and promotes the importance of early learning to families, policymakers and the general public.
Creates working groups within the task force and assigns responsibilities. Directs the task force to submit reports to the governor and Legislature. Appropriates funds to enhance junior kindergarten services; to expand the Department of Education’s Families for R.E.A.L. early childhood program; and to increase the number of children and families served by the Early Head Start and Head Start Programs. Repeals act on July 1, 2008.
2006 Ill. Laws, SB 1497, PA 94-1054
Directs the State Board of Education to administer funds to conduct voluntary preschool educational programs for children ages 3 to 5. Specifies that these funds must supplement, not supplant, funds received from any other source. Requires teachers to have an early childhood teaching certificate.
Assigns the Board of Education to be the primary source of funding, over the next two years, through appropriations for the program. Specifies that the first funding priority will be those programs that serve primarily at-risk children, and that the second priority is those programs that serve primarily children with a family income of less than four times the federal poverty guidelines. After June 30, 2008, appropriated funds must be distributed for the benefit of children who are subject to such disadvantages that they are at risk of academic failure. Requires the State Board of Education to annually report, by November 1 of each year, to the General Assembly on how the new funds were allocated.
2006 Ill. Laws, SB 2202, PA 94-1034
Permits the student teaching portion of the practical experience requirement for an Early Childhood Certificate to be satisfied through placement in any prekindergarten through third grade classroom. Specifies that the supervising teacher must be certified and qualified in early childhood education. Permits certain paraprofessionals to be paid while receiving credit for student teaching with a current employer, as long as the position meets the requirements of the certificate program.
2006 Ill. Laws, SB 2882, PA 94-0894
Creates a K-3 pilot class size reduction program, to be administered and implemented by the State Board of Education. Assigns the State Board of Education to develop the application process and a formula to distribute funds. Authorizes the funds to be used to defray the costs and expenses of operating and maintaining K-3 classes with no more than 15 students per class.
2006 Ind. Acts, SB 132, P.L. 145-2006
Creates the Division of Family Resources Child Care Fund and the Department of Child Services Child Care Fund. Provides that, on June 30, 2006, the balance of the child care fund shall be transferred to the Division of Family Resources Child Care Fund.
2006 Ind. Acts, SB 151, P.L. 16-2006
Specifies that a licensed child care provider is considered to be in compliance with requirements for federal Child Care and Development Fund voucher payments. Requires child care facility inspections at least twice a year, but no more than four inspections per year at any one facility.
2006 Iowa Acts, HF 2564, Chap. 1098
Requires the Department of Human Services to notify parents or guardians of children receiving care from any child care home, whether registered or unregistered, when child abuse has occurred in the home.
2006 Iowa Acts, HF 2565, Chap. 1099
Requires the Department of Human Services to implement, by July 1, 2007, an electronic payment system for the state child care assistance program.
2006 Iowa Acts, HF 2644, Chap. 1016
Increases the upper income eligibility limits to receive child care assistance for families whose members are employed at least 28 hours per week.
2006 Iowa Acts, HB 2769, Chap. 1557
Defines and expands the Community Empowerment Board’s membership. Allocates $5 million in each of fiscal years- 2007 through 2009- toward certain family support and parent education programs. Allocates $10 million in FY 2007 for early care and education programs. Appropriates $15 million from the general fund annually in FY 2008 and FY 2009 to the Department of Education for School Ready Grants Account to continue the early care, health and education programs and initiatives developed as a result of the FY 2007 appropriation. Adds home visitation programs to the types of family support services funded and provided under the auspices of the board.
Creates a Business Community Investment Advisory Council to advise the Iowa Empowerment Board. Specifies the membership of the Advisory Council. This council shall advise the Iowa Empowerment Board on the best means to leverage private investment in early care, health and education services and provide model projects for public-private partnerships in communities.
2006 Kan. Sess. Laws, SB 549, Chap. 197
Sec. 13. Chapter 197. Allows school districts to spend funds from the bilingual weighting to pay for education programs and services for at-risk children.
Sec. 14. Raises the at-risk pupil weighting from .193 to .278 in 2006-2007; to .378 for 2007-2008; and to .456 for 2008-2009 and each year thereafter. Permits districts to use at-risk weighting funds to pay for full-day kindergarten or preschool-aged at-risk, bilingual and vocational education programs and services.
Sec. 16. Amends reporting requirements for the preschool-aged at-risk program.
2006 Me. Laws, HB 272, Chapter 640
States that a child care facility license or home day care certificate issued under section 8301-A has a term of two years. Directs the department to make at least one unannounced inspection of facilities licensed under this section. Requires nursery schools to meet certain fire safety requirements biennially.
2006 Me. Laws, HB 1327, Chap. 530
Defines conditions under which a family child care provider is not required to be certified. Requires a program located in a private school that serves children under age 5 to be licensed as a child care facility.
2006 Me. Laws, HB 1459, Chap. 195
Provides legislative authorization for the Department of Health and Human Services to adopt substantive agency rules for portions of Chapter 33: Home Day Care Provider Rules.
2006 Me. Laws, SB 737, Public Law 653
Requires that students be screened periodically for sight or hearing defects and to be provided an oral health assessment. Provides for exceptions.
2006 Me. Laws, SB 689, Public Law 662
Consolidates and reorganizes the delivery of early childhood special education services. Defines what constitutes a disability and early intervention services. Specifies how early intervention services are to be delivered. Designates the Department of Education as the state agency responsible for carrying out the state’s obligations under the federal IDEA act. Establishes an Early Childhood Special Education Board of Directors and outlines its powers and duties.
2006 Me. Laws, SB 751, Public Law 657
Authorizes a prioritized series of transfers from the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund at the end of fiscal year 2006-2007 and subsequent fiscal years. Establishes that the first priority is the $2 million for the Department of Health and Human Services. Specifies that the purpose is to expand preschool child care, including Head Start and other child programs and services.
2006 Md. Laws, HB 133, Chap. 198
Directs the governor to include a minimum appropriation in the annual budget for the Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program. Requires the appropriation to not be less than the amount approved in the state budget for the prior fiscal year.
2006 Md. Laws, HB 601, Chap. 463
Transfers the Child Care Quality Incentive Grant Program to the Department of Education.
2006 Md. Laws, HB 1466, Chap. 498
Establishes a Task Force on Universal Preschool Education and identifies its members. Directs the Maryland State Department of Education, the Maryland Higher Education Commission, and the University System of Maryland to provide staff support for the task force. Defines the task force’s purpose and goals:
Propose a plan to increase access to early childhood education opportunities;
Identify criteria and methods to issue subsidies that will facilitate children’s attendance at early learning programs;
Develop processes to promote public-private partnerships;
Create new and expand existing early childhood learning programs; and
Develop plans and identify resources to improve the quality and services of early childhood learning programs.
Requires a report to the governor and General Assembly on or before December 1, 2007. Terminates the task force by June 30, 2008.
2006 Md. Laws, SB 810, Chap. 295
Extends child care licensing requirements to every corporation that operates a residential child care program, regardless of the number of children it serves. Requires members of the Children’s Cabinet to adopt certain regulations for such child care programs. Directs licensing agencies to conduct inspections of residential child care programs and prohibits them from operating without a license.
2006 Mass. Acts, HB 5000, Chap. 139
Appropriates funds for early childhood care and education. Creates the Massachusetts Universal Prekindergarten Pilot Program with $4.6 million; funds the Department of Early Education and Care to develop a quality rating system for programs that participate in the prekindergarten pilot program; appropriates $3 million for the Early Childhood Educators Scholarship; and appropriates $2 million in increased funding for Kindergarten Expansion Grants for full-day kindergarten.
2006 Mich. Pub. Acts, HB 5869, Act 206
Directs the Department of Human Services to develop certain rules for child care organizations. Establishes ad hoc committees to formulate or amend these rules, and specifies committee membership. Specifies how the rules will be applied and enforced.
2006 Mich. Pub. Acts, HB 6174, Act 580
Applies to child care centers that are established and operated by the governing board of a public or private school. Requires criminal history and records checks to be performed only once if the provider remains continuously licensed after the initial checks are performed.
2006 Mich. Pub. Acts, SB 328, Act 119
Permits districts or intermediate districts that receive settlement payments from the Durant et al. v. State of Michigan lawsuit to use those funds for an Early Intervening Program, which provides additional behavioral and learning assistance to students from kindergarten through third grade.
2006 Mich. Pub. Acts, SB 329, Act 120
Authorizes funds formerly appropriated for class size reduction to be used for early intervention programs. Appropriates an additional $1 million in FY 2005-2006 from the school aid fund to Department of Education early intervention program grants.
Classifies each grant-funded site as either a model site of practice or a site of improvement. Defines model sites as program models that conduct on-site professional development for personnel visiting from a site of improvement. A site of improvement implements the early intervening program.
Allocates up to 75 percent of the funds to be used to help districts develop a model Early Intervening Program for kindergarten through third grade. Allocates up to 25 percent of the funds to be awarded to districts that provide early intervening strategies for students in kindergarten through third grade. Requires the Department of Education to submit an annual outcomes report to the governor and Legislature by January 30 of the next fiscal year.
2006 Mich. Pub. Acts, SB 330, Act 121
Authorizes funds designated for at-risk students to be used for the Early Intervening Program.
2006 Minn. Laws, HB 4162, Chap. 282
Appropriates funds for basic sliding fee child care assistance grants and for the state share of systems cost to implement the provider rate differential for accreditation. Permits counties to use a percentage of certain allocations to fund accelerated payments during the conversion to the automated child care assistance program system. Changes the maximum rate paid for child care assistance. Allows a higher rate to be paid to certain family child care providers and centers. Defines the criteria for credentials and accreditation. Defines how a child care provider will be reimbursed for absent days and holidays.
Directs the Minnesota Early Learning Commission to evaluate the Northstar Quality Improvement and Rating System. Appropriates funds to implement phase one of the Northstar Quality Improvement Rating System, including start-up costs and provider participation.
2006 Minn. Laws, SB 2833, Chap. 264
Permits counties to use a certain amount of funds to convert to the automated child care assistance program system. Specifies the funding priorities for child care assistance under the basic sliding fee program. Defines the conditions under which a person may not be authorized as a legal nonlicensed family child care provider.
Increases from six hours to eight hours the training required for family child care providers and allows exemptions. Requires each family child care home to have at least one provider present in the home who has been trained in first aid. Requires all teachers and assistant teachers in a licensed child care center to complete certain first aid training courses.
2006 Minn. Laws, SB 2883, Chap. 207
Defines the conditions under which a certain child care program serving 14 or fewer children can be a licensed family day care home, and when the home may serve more than 14 children. Establishes training requirements and when certain staff must be present in the home.
2006 Minn. Laws, SB 2994, Chap. 263
Authorizes the transition of general education revenue for prekindergarten to be effective for FY 2007 and later. Defines the ratios a school district will use to determine the pupil unit, in average daily membership, for prekindergarten and kindergarten students. Defines the calculated ratio for disabled prekindergarten and kindergarten students.
2006 Minn. Laws, SB 3087, Chap. 254
Requires child care providers who transport children under age 9 to undergo training on the proper use and installation of a child restraint system. Permits exemptions.
2006 Minn. Laws, SB 3615, Chap. 191
Allows a third party to pay part or all of a family’s parent fee directly to the family’s child care provider without affecting the family’s eligibility for child care assistance, and the amount paid shall be excluded from the family’s income. Providers who accept third-party payments must keep specific records.
2006 Miss. Laws, SB 2602, Chap. 504
Provides additional base compensation for teachers holding licenses or employed in critical shortage areas. Requires Mississippi prekindergarten and kindergarten teachers to have certain degrees. Directs the Office for Children and Youth to establish the Mississippi Child Care Quality Step System and to develop and implement a pilot voluntary Quality Rating System. Requires the rating system’s criteria to address administrative policy, professional development, learning environment, parental involvement, and evaluation. Allows for a five-year phase-in.
Requires the Office for Children and Youth to create a statewide Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) system and specifies its responsibilities. Directs the Office for Children and Youth to conduct a needs assessment for an incentive program for teachers or directors who make educational advancements. Specifies the conditions under which the office is to develop guidelines for the program.
2006 Mo. Laws, HB 1511
Directs the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop standards for early childhood education that will be applicable to public preschool programs that receive federal or state funds. Defines how the department will develop the standards. Requires the standards to focus on cognitive, language, physical, and social/emotional development and on highly qualified teachers. Permits districts to continue to offer fee-based programs.
2006 Neb. Laws, LB 994
Adds information on sudden infant death syndrome, shaken baby syndrome, and child abuse to the training requirements for child care providers. Adds information on the prevention of sudden infant death syndrome and shaken baby syndrome to the “Life Begins at Birth” information packet. Requires the Department of Health and Human Services to review and provide recommendations to the governor for updating child care rules and regulations at least every five years. Requires a biannual report to the governor and Legislature on the status of early intervention and early childhood care and education in the state.
2006 Neb. Laws, LB 1006
Passes a constitutional amendment to create an Early Childhood Endowment Fund. Allocates $40 million in state funds for the early childhood education endowment fund. Specifies that the $40 million serves as principal for the endowment, and only the interest may be used to fund the grant program. Defines early childhood education. Permits the Legislature to redirect the funds if $20 million in private funding is not committed by July 1, 2011, to the use of the early childhood education endowment fund.
2006 Neb. Laws, LB 1256
Establishes a public-private endowment fund, the Nebraska Early Childhood Endowment Fund. Specifies that the endowment will be funded with $20 million in private funds and $40 million in state funds. Requires interest and earnings generated from the endowment to fund early childhood programs and services for at-risk children ages birth to 3.
Directs the Department of Education, within 90 days of passage of the bill, to request proposals from private endowments to operate the fund. Requires the endowment provider to contribute at least $1 million to the endowment prior to December 1, 2006; a minimum of $5 million prior to June 30, 2007; and at least $20 million within five years.
Retains $40 million in state funds in the Cash Reserve Fund until June 30, 2007; the interest earned will accrue in the Early Childhood Education Endowment Cash Fund. Directs the Early Childhood Education Cash Fund to exclusively provide funds for the Early Childhood Education Grant Program for children from birth to age 3. Defines entities that are eligible for the grant funds. Permits the board of trustees to reserve up to 5 percent of the amount deposited into the cash fund each year for evaluation and technical assistance. Creates a six-member Early Childhood Education Endowment Board of Trustees. Defines term lengths for the trustees and the board’s responsibilities. Provides $2 million in FY 2006 for grants to programs serving at-risk children ages birth to 3.
2006 N.H. Laws, HB 1214, Chap. 170
Establishes and defines the members of a committee to identify and assess community-based, educational and human services programs that serve families with children age 8 and younger. Directs the committee to identify the governance authority, the entity responsible for administering the program, funding sources, eligibility criteria, the number of participants, the program’s location and service area, and the program’s methods of evaluation and accountability. Directs the committee to study the shortage in speech language services and the criteria for certification as a speech language specialist. Requires a report to the legislature on or before November 1, 2006.
2006 N.H. Laws, HB 1241, Chap. 198
Extends through June 30, 2008, the kindergarten construction aid program for eligible districts.
2006 N.H. Laws, HB 1626, Chap. 258
Establishes a Quality Early Learning Opportunity Initiative for children whose family income is between 190 percent and 250 percent of the federal poverty line and who meet all other eligibility requirements. Defines how the amount of support will be calculated. Appropriates $500,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, to the Department of Health and Human Services for this purpose.
2006 N.J. Laws, SB 2069, Chap. 47
Establishes the Commission on Early Childhood Education. Defines its members, their term limits and their responsibilities. Creates the Child Care Advisory Council and identifies its members. Directs the council to review rules and regulations governing the licensing of child care centers; to review proposed statutory amendments governing the licensing of child care centers; to advise the commissioner on the administration of the licensing responsibilities; to advise appropriate units of state government on the needs, priorities, programs and policies relating to child care throughout the state; to study and recommend alternative resources for child care; and to facilitate employer-supported child care through information and technical assistance. Allows the advisory council to accept grants or contributions from external sources.
2006 N.M. Laws, HB 43, Chap. 57
Appropriates $1 million from the general fund to the Public Education Department to expand the Kindergarten Plus pilot project. Expands the program to all school districts with high poverty schools and defines the pay rate for educational assistants. Extends the program for an additional three years. Removes the provision that requires the department to provide professional development to Kindergarten Plus teachers on how children learn to read.
2006 N.Y. Laws, SB 6008, Chap. 319
Prohibits assessors of residential homes to consider the dwelling’s use as a family child care home when determining the property’s value.
2006 N.Y. Laws, SB 6453, Chap. 53
Authorizes certain school districts to receive additional preschool grants. Requires the funding to be distributed based upon a specific formula. Limits to $25 million the maximum amount distributed to one school district under these grants. Permits the commissioner to distribute excess grant funds based upon applications from the individual school districts.
2006 N.C. Sess. Laws, HB 1908, Chap. 69
Ensures that all children with disabilities ages 3 through 21 have available to them a free appropriate public education that provides services designed to meet their unique needs and prepares them for the future. Creates incentives and sanctions to encourage local educational agencies to improve results for children with disabilities. Establishes an advisory council to the State Board of Education to advise the State Board of Education on how to best serve the needs of children with disabilities and defines the council’s members.
2006 N.C. Sess. Laws, HB 2699, Chap. 240
Requires all children entering kindergarten to obtain a vision screening within the 12 months prior to the start of the school year. Specifies the components of the screening and who may conduct it. Establishes a Governor’s Commission on Early Childhood Vision Care within the Department of Health and Human Services and defines its members. Specifies the commission’s duties and responsibilities. Appropriates funds to reimburse providers for services provided to eligible families.
2006 N.C. Sess. Laws, SB 1741, Chap. 06
Transfers the More at Four program and the Office of School Readiness to the Department of Public Instruction. Requires the curricula to be research-based and built on sound instructional theory. Permits certain four- and five-star rated centers first priority for More at Four expansion slots.
2006 Okla. Sess. Laws, SB3B
Requires the State Board of Education to establish a pilot Early Childhood Program to serve at-risk children in at least one urban and one rural area of the state. Identifies funding sources. Allocates funds for the Parents as Teachers Program.
2006 Pa. Laws, HB 200, Act 23
Establishes the Ounce of Prevention as a grant program for public or nonprofit organizations to provide home visitation and other services to certain low-income, at-risk expectant mothers and their newborn children and families. Specifies that the program will operate as part of the Department of Public Welfare and defines the department’s responsibilities. Specifies grantee obligations and requires grantees to provide matching funds, in the form of cash or in-kind contribution, that total 25 percent of the total program cost. Requires a report to the Legislature.
2006 R.I. Pub. Laws, HB 7305, Chap. 75
Exempts school-age day care programs from certain fire, building or radon inspection requirements if the program is conducted in an elementary or secondary school that is in compliance with the same state inspection regulations.
2006 R.I. Pub. Laws, HB 7423, Chap. 601
Permits all child care providers who receive child care reimbursement payments to be paid every two weeks with the option of direct deposit and/or electronic funds transfer. Requires the Department of Human Services to submit monthly reports to the chairs of the House and Senate finance committees.
2006 R.I. Pub. Laws, HR 8191, Resolution No. 2006-372
Creates a 13-member special legislative commission to implement a comprehensive study of the state’s child care system. Directs the commission to study the cost of child care to working families and the accessibility of the state’s Child Care Assistance Program. Specifies the membership of the commission and sets its expiration date as March 1, 2007. Requires a report to the General Assembly by January 25, 2007.
2006 R.I. Pub. Laws, SB 2370, Ch 67
Declares that a Rhode Island school-aged child care program operated in a Rhode Island elementary or secondary school that has already been found in compliance with fire, radon and building inspections does not need to obtain the same inspections.
2006 R.I. Pub. Laws, SB 3153, Chap. 533
Adds the executive director of Options for Working Parents, or a designee, to the special legislative commission that will study the child care system in the state of Rhode Island.
2006 S.C. Acts, HB 4810, Act 397
Creates the South Carolina Child Development Education Pilot Program, which will focus on the developmental and learning support that children need to be ready for school. Requires the program to incorporate parent education. Establishes eight priority districts for the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 school years and specifies who may enroll. Specifies the funded cost per child and the transportation reimbursement rate. Permits remaining funds to be used to expand the pilot program and establishes priorities. Requires an evaluation of the pilot program to be submitted to the General Assembly by January 1, 2008.
Describes the application process for public and private providers and lists the requirements. Defines the necessary components of a pilot program, including teacher requirements, adult to child ratios, and parent participation. Requires all personnel providing instruction and classroom support to attend 15 hours of training per year. Places private providers under the authority of the Office of First Steps to School Readiness and specifies the office’s duties and responsibilities. Places public providers under the authority of the Department of Education and specifies the department’s duties and responsibilities. Requires the Department of Social Services to aid the Department of Education and the Office of First Steps to School Readiness to complete certain responsibilities.
2006 S.C. Acts, SB 947, Act 412
Reauthorizes the First Steps to School Readiness Act until July 1, 2013.
2006 S.D. Sess. Laws, HB 1175, Chap. 80
Declares that any child who is age 5 on the first day of September is eligible to enroll in kindergarten during that school year. Requires all children shall attend kindergarten prior to age 7. Permits any child who transfers from another state to continue in their educational program despite not meeting certain requirements.
2006 Tenn. Pub. Acts, HB 2977, Chap. 724
Directs the comptroller of the treasury to study the implementation of a voluntary three-star quality rating system. Specifies that the study should assess the system’s benefits to child care and its effects on participating providers. Requires a report, including findings and recommendations, to the legislature on or before January 15, 2007.
2006 Tenn. Pub. Acts, HB 3086, Chap. 808
Requires all who apply to work with children as a paid employee of a child care center to submit to a fingerprint and background check.
2006 Tenn. Pub. Acts, SB 3069, Chap. 906
Authorizes the department to review possible carbon monoxide dangers to children and workers in child care facilities and to issue such rules and regulations as it may deem necessary.
2006 Tenn. Pub. Acts, SB 3240, Chap. 747
Requires that child care providers receive advance notice of at least 48 hours before payments for an eligible child may be terminated. Prohibits the department from issuing additional child care subsidy payments on behalf of the child to any subsequent child care provider until the parent pays outstanding obligations due to the previous provider.
2006 Tex. Gen. Laws, HB 1, Chap. 5
Allows children of an active duty member of the armed forces, including the state military forces or a reserve component of the armed forces that is ordered to active duty, to enroll in state prekindergarten for free. Includes the children of members of the armed forces of the United States who are killed or injured while serving on active duty. Specifies that, after a child begins a prekindergarten class, he or she remains eligible if the child’s parent leaves the armed forces or is no longer on active duty.
2006 Utah Laws, HB 226, Chap. 98
Modifies when potential kindergarten students are assessed for their reading and numeric skills. Requires the assessment to occur no later than June 15th prior to the school year.
2006 Utah Laws, HB 254, Chap. 103
Requires each person requesting a residential certificate or license to submit to the department the name and other identifying information of any child age 12 to 17 who resides in the residence where the child care is provided. Allows the department to access the juvenile court records of these children.
2006 Utah Laws, HB 263, Chap. 317
Amends the Utah Child Care Licensing Act. Changes the minimum qualifications for a residential child care certificate to require 10 hours of training annually, which must include a CPR and first-aid course approved by the department.
2006 Utah Laws, SB 86, Chap. 37
Exempts child care centers constructed and licensed prior to January 1, 2004, from the department’s group size restrictions, as long as the appropriate child to caregiver ratios are maintained. Amends provisions relating to the investigation of certain complaints.
2006 Vt. Acts, SB 314, Act 186
Creates a prekindergarten education study committee and defines its members. Directs the committee to gather information on the number and types of prekindergarten services in the state; the costs of these programs and their funding sources; and the current Department of Education and Agency of Human Services standards for prekindergarten facilities. Instructs the committee to study and make findings on the effects of prekindergarten; whether it should be publicly funded, and, if so, the costs, the service delivery model, and sources of funding. Requires the committee to present its findings and recommendations to the legislature on or before January 30, 2007. Instructs districts that implement a new prekindergarten program during the 2007-2008 school year to contract with qualified early childhood education service providers in the district, and provides for exemptions. Prohibits the State Board of Education from changing the provision of early childhood services prior to June 30, 2008.
2006 Va. Acts, HB 1147, Chap. 686
Permits child care center providers to administer prescription medications to children in their care if they have satisfactorily completed a training program approved by the Board of Nursing and obtained written permission from the child’s parent or guardian. Requires that providers administer medications only to the child identified on the prescription label.
2006 Va. Acts, SB 257, Chap. 725
Exempts from child care licensure requirements recreational activities offered by local governments.
2006 Va. Acts, SB 421, Chap. 744
Applies to child care centers and family child care homes that contract with local departments to provide certain services. Establishes a $500 penalty for any child care center or family child care home that knowingly fails to conduct a background check on certain staff or volunteers. Includes all residents of family child care homes.
2006 Va. Acts, SB 704, Chap. 923
Requires the operator of a licensed or registered family child care home to provide the parent or legal guardian of every child with written notice of the amount of liability insurance coverage on the operation of the family child care home. Directs the operator to notify parents and guardians if the amount of insurance coverage decreases. Requires providers who do not have coverage to notify, in writing, every parent or legal guardian. Penalizes any provider who fails to notify parents of these conditions.
2006 Va. Acts, SB 687, Chap. 382
Prohibits the Board of Education from conditioning the approval of teacher education programs, including prekindergarten through grade three programs, upon the number of students in the program.
2006 Wash. Laws, HB 1107, Chap. 269
Requires every school district to provide or contract for early intervention services to all eligible children with disabilities from birth to age 3. Specifies that school districts shall provide these services in partnership with local birth-to-3 lead agencies and birth-to-3 providers. Requires special educational and training programs that are provided by the state and school districts for children with disabilities to include preschoolers.
2006 Wash. Laws, HB 2353, Chap. 54
Allows family child care providers who serve Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) subsidized children to be represented by a union and collectively bargain with the state. Limits bargaining to specific issues. Permits providers to choose their representative in an election. Prohibits family child care providers to strike, they are considered public employees solely for the purposes of collective bargaining. Identifies the Office of Financial Management’s Labor Relations to represent the governor in the collective bargaining process.
Requires any agreement to be modified under certain conditions. Declares that, if the Legislature does not approve the request for funds necessary to implement the compensation and benefit provisions of a bargaining agreement, the decision of the arbitration panel is not binding on the state.
2006 Wash. Laws, HB 2964, Chap. 265
Creates the cabinet-level Department of Early Learning to coordinate and consolidate state activities that involve child care and early learning programs. Transfers existing child care licensing responsibilities from the Department of Social and Health Services to the Department of Early Learning. Implements a child care career and wage ladder in licensed child care centers that meet specific criteria, subject to the availability of funds. Creates a tiered-reimbursement system that initially will consist of two pilot sites.
Requires a report to the Legislature two years after the implementation of the department’s early learning program, and every two years thereafter. Directs the department to collaborate with the Early Learning Council to prepare a report on specific topics and make recommendations to the governor and Legislature.
2006 W.Va. Acts, HB 4790, Chap. 31
Defines informal family child care and relative family child care. Requires the department to create requirements for certain informal and relative family child care homes.
2006 Wyo. Sess. Laws, HB 12, Chap. 85
Directs the Division for Developmental Preschool Services’ contractual payments to be sufficient to offer adequate services for eligible children ages birth through age 5; to provide compensation levels for certain staff that are competitive with local school district compensation levels; to pay for professional development for certain employees; and to implement a statewide program to identify children age birth through age 5 who are in need of developmental preschool services. Requires reports to certain legislative committees.
2006 Wyo. Sess. Laws, HB 92, Chap. 64
Creates a quality child care system for the purpose of supplementing high-quality care to children. Consists of a quality rating system; incentive payments for higher levels of quality care; scholarships for professional development; and technical assistance and quality support. Provides for a parental education and public awareness program. Directs the department to develop and distribute educational materials about the quality child care system; to promote understanding of the benefits of quality child care programs; to promote parent involvement; and to emphasize the importance of parental responsibility and the involvement of the family in quality early childhood development.
Creates a five-tier voluntary child care quality rating system within the Department of Workforce Services. Defines criteria for rating facilities and authorizes monthly incentive payments to certain facilities based on their rating, the number of children served, and the number of at-risk children served. Establishes incentives to encourage providers to attain certificates or degrees in early childhood development or a related field. Provides quality support payments for certain infants and children.
 Child Care and Early Education
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