Senate Bill sb1756

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    Florida Senate - 2005                                  SB 1756

    By the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Services





    577-1367B-05

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to early learning; amending s.

  3         411.01, F.S.; requiring early learning

  4         coalitions to provide parents with profiles of

  5         school readiness providers; deleting

  6         authorization for coalitions to receive

  7         subsidized child care funds for all children

  8         eligible for certain federal programs;

  9         authorizing the Agency for Workforce Innovation

10         to allow coalitions to pay a rate differential

11         to providers under certain circumstances;

12         revising eligibility criteria and priorities

13         for participation in school readiness programs;

14         conforming provisions; creating s. 411.0101,

15         F.S.; authorizing early learning coalitions to

16         establish school-age readiness services under

17         certain circumstances; providing requirements

18         for these services; establishing eligibility

19         criteria and priorities for participation in

20         school-age readiness services; limiting the use

21         of school readiness funds for school-age

22         readiness services; transferring, renumbering,

23         and amending s. 402.3145, F.S.; revising

24         requirements for transportation services in

25         school readiness programs; conforming

26         provisions; authorizing contracts; deleting

27         obsolete references to a repealed program;

28         transferring, renumbering, and amending s.

29         402.3017, F.S.; providing requirements for

30         school readiness quality initiatives; revising

31         requirements for the Teacher Education and

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    Florida Senate - 2005                                  SB 1756
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 1         Compensation Helps scholarship program;

 2         establishing requirements for the Home

 3         Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters

 4         Program; transferring, renumbering, and

 5         amending s. 409.178, F.S.; revising

 6         requirements for the Child Care Executive

 7         Partnership Program; deleting a short title and

 8         legislative intent; revising requirements for

 9         family income; deleting obsolete references to

10         a repealed program; requiring the Agency for

11         Workforce Innovation to provide for staff;

12         revising provisions for the administration of

13         purchasing pools; providing for the adoption of

14         rules; amending s. 411.0105, F.S.; revising

15         federal lead agency responsibilities; requiring

16         a contract; transferring, renumbering, and

17         amending s. 402.27, F.S.; revising provisions

18         for the statewide resource and referral

19         network; conforming provisions; transferring,

20         renumbering, and amending s. 402.3051, F.S.;

21         revising definitions for purposes of child care

22         market rate reimbursement; revising

23         requirements for calculating the market rate

24         and prevailing market rate; requiring the

25         adoption of a prevailing market-rate schedule;

26         transferring, renumbering, and amending s.

27         402.3018, F.S.; providing for technical

28         assistance to child care and early learning

29         providers; conforming provisions; transferring,

30         renumbering, and amending s. 402.25, F.S.;

31         revising requirements for activities to foster

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    Florida Senate - 2005                                  SB 1756
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 1         brain development in infants and toddlers in

 2         certain state-funded programs; conforming

 3         provisions; amending s. 411.011, F.S.,

 4         conforming a cross-reference; transferring,

 5         renumbering, and amending s. 402.3016, F.S.;

 6         revising provisions for Early Head Start

 7         collaboration grants; requiring the Agency for

 8         Workforce Innovation to submit a report;

 9         providing an appropriation; providing an

10         effective date.

11  

12  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

13  

14         Section 1.  Paragraphs (c), (d), and (e) of subsection

15  (5), and subsections (6) and (11) of section 411.01, Florida

16  Statutes, as amended by section 2 of chapter 2004-484, Laws of

17  Florida, are amended to read:

18         411.01  School readiness programs; early learning

19  coalitions.--

20         (5)  CREATION OF EARLY LEARNING COALITIONS.--

21         (c)  Program expectations.--

22         1.  The school readiness program must meet the

23  following expectations:

24         a.  The program must, at a minimum, enhance the

25  age-appropriate progress of each child in the development of

26  the school readiness skills required under paragraph (4)(j),

27  as measured by the performance standards and outcome measures

28  adopted by the Agency for Workforce Innovation.

29         b.  The program must provide extended-day and

30  extended-year services to the maximum extent possible to meet

31  the needs of parents who work.

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 1         c.  There must be coordinated staff development and

 2  teaching opportunities.

 3         d.  There must be expanded access to community services

 4  and resources for families to help achieve economic

 5  self-sufficiency.

 6         e.  There must be a single point of entry and unified

 7  waiting list. As used in this sub-subparagraph, the term

 8  "single point of entry" means an integrated information system

 9  that allows a parent to enroll his or her child in the school

10  readiness program at various locations throughout the county

11  or multicounty region served by an early learning coalition,

12  that may allow a parent to enroll his or her child by

13  telephone or through an Internet website, and that uses a

14  unified waiting list to track eligible children waiting for

15  enrollment in the school readiness program. The Agency for

16  Workforce Innovation shall establish a single statewide

17  information system that integrates each early learning

18  coalition's single point of entry, and each coalition must use

19  the statewide system.

20         f.  Each early learning coalition shall provide each

21  parent enrolling a child in the coalition's school readiness

22  program with a profile of every school readiness provider

23  delivering the program within the coalition's county or

24  multicounty region. The profiles shall be provided to parents

25  in a format prescribed by the Agency for Workforce Innovation.

26  The profiles must include, at a minimum, the following

27  information about each provider:

28         (I)  The provider's services, curriculum, instructor

29  credentials, and instructor-to-student ratio;

30         (II)  Whether the provider delivers the Voluntary

31  Prekindergarten Education Program; and

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    Florida Senate - 2005                                  SB 1756
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 1         (III)  If the provider delivers the Voluntary

 2  Prekindergarten Education Program, the provider's kindergarten

 3  readiness rate calculated in accordance with s. 1002.69, based

 4  upon the most recent available results of the statewide

 5  kindergarten screening.

 6         g.f.  The Agency for Workforce Innovation must consider

 7  the access of eligible children to the school readiness

 8  program, as demonstrated in part by waiting lists, before

 9  approving a proposed increase in payment rates submitted by an

10  early learning coalition. In addition, early learning

11  coalitions shall use school readiness funds made available due

12  to enrollment shifts from school readiness programs to the

13  Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program for increasing the

14  number of children served in school readiness programs before

15  increasing payment rates.

16         h.g.  There must be a community plan to address the

17  needs of all eligible children.

18         i.h.  The program must meet all state licensing

19  guidelines, where applicable.

20         2.  The early learning coalition must implement a

21  comprehensive program of school readiness services that

22  enhance the cognitive, social, and physical development of

23  children to achieve the performance standards and outcome

24  measures adopted by the Agency for Workforce Innovation. At a

25  minimum, these programs must contain the following elements:

26         a.  Developmentally appropriate curriculum designed to

27  enhance the age-appropriate progress of children in attaining

28  the performance standards adopted by the Agency for Workforce

29  Innovation under subparagraph (4)(d)8.

30         b.  A character development program to develop basic

31  values.

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    Florida Senate - 2005                                  SB 1756
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 1         c.  An age-appropriate assessment of each child's

 2  development.

 3         d.  A pretest administered to children when they enter

 4  a program and a posttest administered to children when they

 5  leave the program.

 6         e.  An appropriate staff-to-children ratio.

 7         f.  A healthy and safe environment.

 8         g.  A resource and referral network to assist parents

 9  in making an informed choice.

10         (d)  Implementation.--

11         1.  An early learning coalition may not implement the

12  school readiness program until the coalition is authorized

13  through approval of the coalition's school readiness plan by

14  the Agency for Workforce Innovation.

15         2.  Each early learning coalition shall develop a plan

16  for implementing the school readiness program to meet the

17  requirements of this section and the performance standards and

18  outcome measures adopted by the Agency for Workforce

19  Innovation. The plan must demonstrate how the program will

20  ensure that each 3-year-old and 4-year-old child in a publicly

21  funded school readiness program receives scheduled activities

22  and instruction designed to enhance the age-appropriate

23  progress of the children in attaining the performance

24  standards adopted by the Agency for Workforce Innovation under

25  subparagraph (4)(d)8. Before implementing the school readiness

26  program, the early learning coalition must submit the plan to

27  the Agency for Workforce Innovation for approval. The Agency

28  for Workforce Innovation may approve the plan, reject the

29  plan, or approve the plan with conditions. The Agency for

30  Workforce Innovation shall review school readiness plans at

31  least annually.

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    Florida Senate - 2005                                  SB 1756
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 1         3.  If the Agency for Workforce Innovation determines

 2  during the annual review of school readiness plans, or through

 3  monitoring and performance evaluations conducted under

 4  paragraph (4)(l), that an early learning coalition has not

 5  substantially implemented its plan, has not substantially met

 6  the performance standards and outcome measures adopted by the

 7  agency, or has not effectively administered the school

 8  readiness program or Voluntary Prekindergarten Education

 9  Program, the Agency for Workforce Innovation may dissolve the

10  coalition and temporarily contract with a qualified entity to

11  continue school readiness and prekindergarten services in the

12  coalition's county or multicounty region until the coalition

13  is reestablished through resubmission of a school readiness

14  plan and approval by the agency.

15         4.  The Agency for Workforce Innovation shall adopt

16  criteria for the approval of school readiness plans. The

17  criteria must be consistent with the performance standards and

18  outcome measures adopted by the agency and must require each

19  approved plan to include the following minimum standards and

20  provisions:

21         a.  A sliding fee scale establishing a copayment for

22  parents based upon their ability to pay, which is the same for

23  all program providers, to be implemented and reflected in each

24  program's budget.

25         b.  A choice of settings and locations in licensed,

26  registered, religious-exempt, or school-based programs to be

27  provided to parents.

28         c.  Instructional staff who have completed the training

29  course as required in s. 402.305(2)(d)1., as well as staff who

30  have additional training or credentials as required by the

31  Agency for Workforce Innovation. The plan must provide a

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 1  method for assuring the qualifications of all personnel in all

 2  program settings.

 3         d.  Specific eligibility priorities for children within

 4  the early learning coalition's county or multicounty region in

 5  accordance with subsection (6).

 6         e.  Performance standards and outcome measures adopted

 7  by the Agency for Workforce Innovation.

 8         f.  Payment rates adopted by the early learning

 9  coalition and approved by the Agency for Workforce Innovation.

10  Payment rates may not have the effect of limiting parental

11  choice or creating standards or levels of services that have

12  not been authorized by the Legislature.

13         g.  Systems support services, including a central

14  agency, child care resource and referral, eligibility

15  determinations, training of providers, and parent support and

16  involvement.

17         h.  Direct enhancement services to families and

18  children. System support and direct enhancement services shall

19  be in addition to payments for the placement of children in

20  school readiness programs.

21         i.  The business organization of the early learning

22  coalition, which must include the coalition's articles of

23  incorporation and bylaws if the coalition is organized as a

24  corporation. If the coalition is not organized as a

25  corporation or other business entity, the plan must include

26  the contract with a fiscal agent. An early learning coalition

27  may contract with other coalitions to achieve efficiency in

28  multicounty services, and these contracts may be part of the

29  coalition's school readiness plan.

30         j.  Strategies to meet the needs of unique populations,

31  such as migrant workers.

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 1  

 2  As part of the school readiness plan, the early learning

 3  coalition may request the Governor to apply for a waiver to

 4  allow the coalition to administer the Head Start Program to

 5  accomplish the purposes of the school readiness program. If a

 6  school readiness plan demonstrates that specific statutory

 7  goals can be achieved more effectively by using procedures

 8  that require modification of existing rules, policies, or

 9  procedures, a request for a waiver to the Agency for Workforce

10  Innovation may be submitted as part of the plan. Upon review,

11  the Agency for Workforce Innovation may grant the proposed

12  modification.

13         5.  Persons with an early childhood teaching

14  certificate may provide support and supervision to other staff

15  in the school readiness program.

16         6.  An early learning coalition may not implement its

17  school readiness plan until it submits the plan to and

18  receives approval from the Agency for Workforce Innovation.

19  Once the plan is approved, the plan and the services provided

20  under the plan shall be controlled by the early learning

21  coalition. The plan shall be reviewed and revised as

22  necessary, but at least biennially. An early learning

23  coalition may not implement the revisions until the coalition

24  submits the revised plan to and receives approval from the

25  Agency for Workforce Innovation. If the Agency for Workforce

26  Innovation rejects a revised plan, the coalition must continue

27  to operate under its prior approved plan.

28         7.  Sections 125.901(2)(a)3., 411.221, and 411.232 do

29  not apply to an early learning coalition with an approved

30  school readiness plan. To facilitate innovative practices and

31  to allow the regional establishment of school readiness

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 1  programs, an early learning coalition may apply to the

 2  Governor and Cabinet for a waiver of, and the Governor and

 3  Cabinet may waive, any of the provisions of ss. 411.223,

 4  411.232, and 1003.54, if the waiver is necessary for

 5  implementation of the coalition's school readiness plan.

 6         8.  Two or more counties may join for purposes of

 7  planning and implementing a school readiness program.

 8         9.  An early learning coalition may, subject to

 9  approval by the Agency for Workforce Innovation as part of the

10  coalition's school readiness plan, receive subsidized child

11  care funds for all children eligible for any federal

12  subsidized child care program.

13         9.10.  An early learning coalition may enter into

14  multiparty contracts with multicounty service providers in

15  order to meet the needs of unique populations such as migrant

16  workers.

17         (e)  Requests for proposals; payment schedule.--

18         1.  Each early learning coalition must comply with s.

19  287.057 for the procurement of commodities or contractual

20  services from the funds described in paragraph (9)(d). The

21  period of a contract for purchase of these commodities or

22  contractual services, together with any renewal of the

23  original contract, may not exceed 3 years.

24         2.  Each early learning coalition shall adopt a payment

25  schedule that encompasses all programs funded by the coalition

26  under this section. The payment schedule must take into

27  consideration the prevailing market-rate schedule adopted

28  under s. 411.0107 relevant market rate, must include the

29  projected number of children to be served, and must be

30  submitted for approval by the Agency for Workforce Innovation.

31  Informal child care arrangements shall be reimbursed at not

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 1  more than 50 percent of the rate developed for a family day

 2  care home. The Agency for Workforce Innovation may authorize

 3  early learning coalitions to use school readiness funds for

 4  providing a rate differential or stipend to school readiness

 5  providers that:

 6         a.  Hold a current Gold Seal Quality Care designation

 7  under s. 402.281; and

 8         b.  Demonstrate, as verified by the early learning

 9  coalition, that the provider complies with each of the

10  requirements of the coalition's school readiness program and

11  this section, including, but not limited to, the program

12  elements listed in subparagraph (5)(c)2.

13  

14  The rate differential may not exceed 20 percent of the payment

15  rate for providers that do not qualify for the rate

16  differential under sub-subparagraphs a. and b.

17         (6)  PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY.--Each early learning

18  coalition's school readiness program shall be established for

19  children from birth to the beginning of the school year for

20  which a child is eligible for admission to kindergarten in a

21  public school under s. 1003.21(1)(a)2. Each early learning

22  coalition shall give priority for participation in its the

23  school readiness program, as follows:

24         (a)  Priority shall be given first to children from

25  families in which there is an adult receiving temporary cash

26  assistance who is subject to federal work requirements.

27         (b)  Priority shall be given next to children age 3

28  years to school entry who are served by the Family Safety

29  Program Office of the Department of Children and Family

30  Services or a community-based lead agency under chapter 39 and

31  for whom child care is needed to minimize risk of further

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 1  abuse, neglect, or abandonment. Other eligible populations

 2  include children who meet one or more of the following

 3  criteria:

 4         (c)  Subsequent priority shall be given to children who

 5  meet one or more of the following criteria:

 6         1.(a)  Children under the age of kindergarten

 7  eligibility who are:

 8         1.  Children determined to be at risk of abuse,

 9  neglect, or exploitation who are currently clients of the

10  Family Safety Program Office of the Department of Children and

11  Family Services, but who are not otherwise given priority

12  under this subsection.

13         a.2.  Children at risk of welfare dependency, including

14  economically disadvantaged children, children of participants

15  in the welfare transition program, children of migrant

16  farmworkers, and children of teen parents.

17         b.3.  Children of working families whose family income

18  does not exceed 150 percent of the federal poverty level.

19         c.4.  Children for whom the state is paying a relative

20  caregiver payment under s. 39.5085.

21         2.(b)  Three-year-old children and 4-year-old children

22  who may not be economically disadvantaged but who have

23  disabilities, have been served in a specific part-time or

24  combination of part-time exceptional education programs with

25  required special services, aids, or equipment, and were

26  previously reported for funding part time with the Florida

27  Education Finance Program as exceptional students.

28         3.(c)  Economically disadvantaged children, children

29  with disabilities, and children at risk of future school

30  failure, from birth to 4 years of age, who are served at home

31  

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 1  through home visitor programs and intensive parent education

 2  programs.

 3         4.(d)  Children who meet federal and state eligibility

 4  requirements for the migrant preschool program but who do not

 5  meet the criteria of economically disadvantaged.

 6  

 7  As used in this subsection, the term "economically

 8  disadvantaged" child means a child whose family income does

 9  not exceed 150 percent of the federal poverty level.

10  Notwithstanding any change in a family's economic status, but

11  subject to additional family contributions in accordance with

12  the sliding fee scale, a child who meets the eligibility

13  requirements upon initial registration for the program remains

14  eligible until the beginning of the school year for which the

15  child is eligible for admission to kindergarten in a public

16  school under s. 1003.21(1)(a)2.

17         (11)  PLACEMENTS.--Notwithstanding any other provision

18  of this section to the contrary, the first children to be

19  placed in the school readiness program shall be those from

20  families receiving temporary cash assistance and subject to

21  federal work requirements. Subsequent placements shall be made

22  in accordance with subsection (6).

23         Section 2.  Section 411.0101, Florida Statutes, is

24  created to read:

25         411.0101  School-age readiness services.--

26         (1)  Notwithstanding the age requirements of s.

27  411.01(5)(b) and (6), each early learning coalition, if

28  approved by the Agency for Workforce Innovation as part of the

29  coalition's school readiness plan, may establish school-age

30  readiness services for children who meet the age requirements

31  for services under federal regulations governing the federal

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 1  Child Care and Development Fund, 45 C.F.R. parts 98 and 99,

 2  but who are ineligible for school readiness programs under s.

 3  411.01(5)(b) and (6) because of age.

 4         (2)  School-age readiness services authorized under

 5  this section are part of the early learning coalition's school

 6  readiness program. Except as provided in this section, s.

 7  411.01 applies to school-age readiness services. The following

 8  provisions do not apply to school-age readiness services:

 9         (a)  The provisions of s. 411.01(4)(j) and (5)(c)1.a.

10  which require that school readiness services must enhance the

11  age-appropriate progress of children in the development of the

12  school readiness skills listed in s. 411.01(4)(j).

13         (b)  The provisions of s. 411.01(5)(c)2.d. which

14  require pretests and posttests.

15         (3)  Each early learning coalition shall give priority

16  for participation in its school-age readiness services, as

17  follows:

18         (a)  Priority shall be given first to a child from a

19  family in which there is an adult receiving temporary cash

20  assistance who is subject to federal work requirements.

21         (b)  Priority shall be given next to a child who is

22  served by the Family Safety Program Office of the Department

23  of Children and Family Services or a community-based lead

24  agency under chapter 39 and for whom school-age readiness

25  services are needed to minimize the risk of further abuse,

26  neglect, or abandonment.

27         (c)  Subsequent priority shall be given to a child who

28  meets one or more of the criteria, notwithstanding the age

29  requirements, in s. 411.01(6)(c).

30         (4)(a)  Except as provided in paragraph (b), an early

31  learning coalition may not expend for school-age readiness

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 1  services more than 25 percent of the total school readiness

 2  funds paid by the coalition to providers for school readiness

 3  services.

 4         (b)  An early learning coalition may expend a larger

 5  percentage of its school readiness funds for school-age

 6  readiness services than authorized under paragraph (a) if

 7  necessary to serve each child who is eligible under paragraphs

 8  (3)(a) and (b). If, under this paragraph, a coalition expends

 9  a larger percentage of its school readiness funds for

10  school-age readiness services than authorized under paragraph

11  (a), the coalition may not provide school-age readiness

12  services for children eligible under paragraph (3)(c).

13         Section 3.  Section 402.3145, Florida Statutes, is

14  transferred, renumbered as section 411.0102, Florida Statutes,

15  and amended to read:

16         411.0102 402.3145  School readiness Subsidized child

17  care transportation services program.--

18         (1)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation may

19  department, pursuant to chapter 427, shall establish school

20  readiness a subsidized child care transportation services

21  system for children, including children at risk of abuse or

22  neglect, participating in an early learning coalition's school

23  readiness the subsidized child care program. If approved by

24  the Agency for Workforce Innovation as part of the coalition's

25  school readiness plan, an early learning coalition may state

26  community child care coordination agencies shall contract for

27  the provision of the transportation services authorized as

28  required by this section. Contracts awarded under this section

29  must comply with the competitive procurement requirements in

30  s. 411.01(5)(e)1.

31  

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 1         (2)  If provided for by an early learning coalition,

 2  these The transportation services may system shall provide

 3  transportation for children to each child participating in the

 4  coalition's school readiness program subsidized child care

 5  when, and only if when, transportation is necessary to provide

 6  school readiness services that child care opportunities which

 7  otherwise would not be available to a child whose home is more

 8  than a reasonable walking distance from the nearest school

 9  readiness provider child care facility or family day care

10  home.

11         Section 4.  Section 402.3017, Florida Statutes, is

12  transferred, renumbered as section 411.0103, Florida Statutes,

13  and amended to read:

14         411.0103 402.3017  School readiness quality initiatives

15  Teacher Education and Compensation Helps (TEACH) scholarship

16  program.--

17         (1)  The Legislature finds that the level of early

18  child care teacher education and training is a key predictor

19  for determining program quality. The Legislature also finds

20  that low wages for child care workers prevent many from

21  obtaining increased training and education and contribute to

22  high turnover rates.  The Legislature therefore intends to

23  help fund a program which links teacher training and education

24  to compensation and commitment to the field of early childhood

25  education.

26         (1)(2)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation may

27  Department of Children and Family Services is authorized to

28  contract for the administration of the Teacher Education and

29  Compensation Helps (TEACH) Early Childhood Project. The

30  project shall be based on its national model and shall provide

31  scholarship program, which provides educational scholarships

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 1  to directors or operators and caregivers and administrators of

 2  early childhood programs, family day care homes, and large

 3  family child care personnel as defined in s. 402.302 and

 4  prekindergarten directors and prekindergarten instructors as

 5  defined in s. 1002.51 homes.

 6         (2)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation may contract

 7  for the administration of the Home Instruction for Parents of

 8  Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) Program. The program shall be

 9  based on its national model and shall encourage parental

10  involvement in early learning programs by providing parents

11  with assistance in preparing their children for school.

12         (3)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation may department

13  shall adopt rules under ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 as necessary

14  to administer implement this section.

15         (4)  For the 2004-2005 fiscal year only, the Agency for

16  Workforce Innovation shall administer this section. This

17  subsection expires July 1, 2005.

18         Section 5.  Section 409.178, Florida Statutes, is

19  transferred, renumbered as section 411.0104, Florida Statutes,

20  and amended to read:

21         411.0104 409.178  Early Learning Child Care Executive

22  Partnership Act; findings and intent; grant; limitation;

23  rules.--

24         (1)  This section may be cited as the "Child Care

25  Executive Partners Act."

26         (2)(a)  The Legislature finds that when private

27  employers provide onsite child care or provide other child

28  care benefits, they benefit by improved recruitment and higher

29  retention rates for employees, lower absenteeism, and improved

30  employee morale. The Legislature also finds that there are

31  many ways in which private employers can provide child care

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 1  assistance to employees: information and referral, vouchering,

 2  employer contribution to child care programs, and onsite care.

 3  Private employers can offer child care as part of a menu of

 4  employee benefits.  The Legislature recognizes that flexible

 5  compensation programs providing a child care option are

 6  beneficial to the private employer through increased

 7  productivity, to the private employee in knowing that his or

 8  her children are being cared for in a safe and nurturing

 9  environment, and to the state in more dollars being available

10  for purchasing power and investment.

11         (b)  It is the intent of the Legislature to promote

12  public/private partnerships to ensure that the children of the

13  state be provided safe and enriching child care at any time,

14  but especially while parents work to remain self-sufficient.

15  It is the intent of the Legislature that private employers be

16  encouraged to participate in the future of this state by

17  providing employee child care benefits.  Further, it is the

18  intent of the Legislature to encourage private employers to

19  explore innovative ways to assist employees to obtain quality

20  child care.

21         (c)  The Legislature further recognizes that many

22  parents need assistance in paying the full costs of quality

23  child care. The public and private sectors, by working in

24  partnership, can promote and improve access to quality child

25  care and early education for children of working families who

26  need it. Therefore, a more formal mechanism is necessary to

27  stimulate the establishment of public-private partnerships. It

28  is the intent of the Legislature to expand the availability of

29  scholarship options for working families by providing

30  incentives for employers to contribute to meeting the needs of

31  

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 1  their employees' families through matching public dollars

 2  available for child care.

 3         (1)(a)(3)  There is created as a body politic and

 4  corporate known as the Early Learning Child Care Executive

 5  Partnership, which shall establish and govern the Early

 6  Learning Child Care Executive Partnership Program.

 7         (b)  The purpose of the Early Learning Child Care

 8  Executive Partnership Program is to use utilize state and

 9  federal funds as incentives for matching local funds derived

10  from local governments, employers, charitable foundations, and

11  other sources, in order so that Florida communities in this

12  state may create local flexible partnerships with employers.

13         (c)  The Early Learning Child Care Executive

14  Partnership Program funds shall be used at the discretion of

15  local communities to meet the needs of working parents. An

16  early learning A child care purchasing pool shall be developed

17  with the state, federal, and local funds to provide subsidies

18  to low-income working parents whose family income does not

19  exceed 200 percent of the federal poverty level who are

20  eligible for subsidized child care with a dollar-for-dollar

21  match from employers, local government, and other matching

22  contributions. The funds used from the early learning child

23  care purchasing pool must be used to supplement or extend the

24  use of existing public or private funds.

25         (2)(4)  The Early Learning Child Care Executive

26  Partnership, staffed by the department, shall consist of a

27  representative of the Executive Office of the Governor and

28  nine members of the corporate or early learning child care

29  community, appointed by the Governor.

30  

31  

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 1         (a)  Members shall serve for a period of 4 years,

 2  except that the representative of the Executive Office of the

 3  Governor shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

 4         (b)  The Early Learning Child Care Executive

 5  Partnership shall be chaired by a member chosen by a majority

 6  vote and shall meet at least quarterly and at other times upon

 7  the call of the chair.

 8         (c)  Members shall serve without compensation, but may

 9  be reimbursed for per diem and travel expenses in accordance

10  with s. 112.061.

11         (d)  The Early Learning Child Care Executive

12  Partnership has shall have all the powers and authority, not

13  explicitly prohibited by law statute, necessary to administer

14  carry out and effectuate the purposes of this section, as well

15  as the functions, duties, and responsibilities of the

16  partnership, including, but not limited to, the following:

17         1.  Assisting in the formulation and coordination of

18  the state's early learning child care policy.

19         2.  Adopting an official seal.

20         3.  Soliciting, accepting, receiving, investing, and

21  expending funds from public or private sources.

22         4.  Contracting with public or private entities as

23  necessary.

24         5.  Approving an annual budget.

25         6.  Carrying forward any unexpended state

26  appropriations into succeeding fiscal years.

27         7.  Providing a report to the Governor, the Speaker of

28  the House of Representatives, and the President of the Senate,

29  on or before December 1 of each year.

30         (e)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation shall provide,

31  or shall contract with a qualified entity using a request for

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 1  proposals to provide, staff for the Early Learning Executive

 2  Partnership.

 3         (3)(5)(a)  The Legislature shall annually determine the

 4  amount of state and or federal funds low-income child care

 5  moneys which shall be used to create the Early Learning Child

 6  Care Executive Partnership Program's Program child care

 7  purchasing pools in counties chosen by the Early Learning

 8  Child Care Executive Partnership and statewide purchasing

 9  pools established by the Agency for Workforce Innovation. A

10  purchasing pool must be created in, provided that at least two

11  of the counties that have populations of no more than 300,000

12  or fewer persons. The Legislature shall annually review the

13  effectiveness of the early learning child care purchasing pool

14  program and reevaluate the percentage of additional state or

15  federal funds, if any, that may can be used for the program's

16  expansion.

17         (b)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation To ensure a

18  seamless service delivery and ease of access for families, the

19  community coordinated child care agencies or the state

20  resource and referral agency shall administer the statewide

21  child care purchasing pool funds, and the respective early

22  learning coalition shall administer the purchasing pool funds

23  of a county served by the coalition.

24         (c)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation department, in

25  conjunction with the Early Learning Child Care Executive

26  Partnership, shall develop procedures for disbursement of

27  funds through the early learning child care purchasing pools.

28  In order to be considered for funding, the entity

29  administering the purchasing pool community coordinated child

30  care agency or the statewide resource and referral agency must

31  commit to:

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 1         1.  Matching the state and federal purchasing pool

 2  funds allocated to the purchasing pool on a dollar-for-dollar

 3  basis; and

 4         2.  Expending only those state and federal public funds

 5  that which are matched by employers, local government, and

 6  other matching contributors who contribute to the purchasing

 7  pool. Parents shall also pay a fee, which must shall be not be

 8  less than the amount identified in the department's subsidized

 9  child care sliding fee scale adopted by the early learning

10  coalition for its school readiness program.

11         (d)  Each early learning coalition must community

12  coordinated child care agency shall be required to establish a

13  community child care task force for each early learning child

14  care purchasing pool. The task force must be composed of

15  employers, parents, private child care providers, and one

16  representative from the local children's services council, if

17  one exists in the area of the purchasing pool. The early

18  learning coalition shall community coordinated child care

19  agency is expected to recruit the task force members from

20  existing child care councils, commissions, or task forces

21  already operating in the area of the a purchasing pool. A

22  majority of the task force shall consist of employers. Each

23  task force shall develop a plan for the use of the early

24  learning child care purchasing pool funds. The plan must

25  demonstrate show how many children will be served by the

26  purchasing pool, how many will be new to receiving early

27  learning child care services, and how the early learning

28  coalition community coordinated child care agency intends to

29  attract new employers and their employees to the program.

30         (4)(6)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation may

31  Department of Children and Family Services shall adopt any

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 1  rules under ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to administer necessary

 2  for the implementation and administration of this section.

 3         Section 6.  Section 411.0105, Florida Statutes, is

 4  amended to read:

 5         411.0105  Federal Early Learning Opportunities Act and

 6  Even Start Family Literacy Programs; lead agency

 7  responsibilities.--

 8         (1)  The Governor may designate the Agency for

 9  Workforce Innovation as the lead agency for purposes of

10  administering the federal Child Care and Development Fund, 45

11  C.F.R. parts 98 and 99, and the federal Early Learning

12  Opportunities Act, 20 U.S.C. ss. 9401-9413. If designated as

13  the lead agency, the Agency for Workforce Innovation must

14  comply with the lead agency responsibilities under federal

15  law.

16         (2)(a)  For purposes of administration of the William

17  F. Goodling Early Learning Opportunities Act and the Even

18  Start Family Literacy Programs, 20 U.S.C. ss. 6381-6381k

19  pursuant to Pub. L. No. 106-554, the Department of Education

20  Agency for Workforce Innovation is designated as the lead

21  agency and must comply with the lead agency responsibilities

22  under pursuant to federal law.

23         (b)  The Department of Education shall contract with

24  the Agency for Workforce Innovation to administer the William

25  F. Goodling Even Start Family Literacy Programs.

26         Section 7.  Section 402.27, Florida Statutes, is

27  transferred, renumbered as section 411.0106, Florida Statutes,

28  and amended to read:

29         411.0106 402.27  Child care and early learning

30  childhood resource and referral.--The Agency for Workforce

31  Innovation Department of Children and Family Services shall

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 1  establish a statewide child care resource and referral

 2  network. The network shall be composed of a state resource and

 3  referral agency and a system of local agencies. Preference

 4  shall be given to using the already established central

 5  agencies for subsidized child care as the child care resource

 6  and referral agency.  If the agency cannot comply with the

 7  requirements to offer the resource information component or

 8  does not want to offer that service, The Agency for Workforce

 9  Innovation Department of Children and Family Services shall

10  select the state resource and referral information agency

11  using based upon a request for proposals proposal. Each early

12  learning coalition shall establish at least one local child

13  care resource and referral agency must be established in each

14  county or multicounty region served by the coalition district

15  of the department, but no more than one local agency may be

16  established in a any county. Child care Resource and referral

17  agencies shall provide the following services:

18         (1)  Identification of existing public and private

19  child care and early learning providers childhood education

20  services, including child care services by public and private

21  employers, and the development of a database resource file of

22  those providers services. These providers services may include

23  a family day care, public and private child care provider that

24  is licensed, exempt from licensure, or registered under ss.

25  402.301-402.319; a private prekindergarten provider or public

26  school delivering the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education

27  Program under part V of chapter 1002; a school readiness

28  provider participating in an early learning coalition's school

29  readiness program; a programs, Head Start program;,

30  prekindergarten early intervention programs, special education

31  programs for prekindergarten handicapped children with

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 1  disabilities;, services for children with developmental

 2  disabilities;, full-time and part-time programs; school-age

 3  readiness program;, before-school and after-school programs,

 4  vacation care programs;, parent education; a welfare

 5  transition, the WAGES program;, and related family support

 6  services. The database resource file shall include, but not be

 7  limited to, the following information:

 8         (a)  Type of child care and early learning provider

 9  program.

10         (b)  Hours of service.

11         (c)  Ages of children served.

12         (d)  Number of children served.

13         (e)  Significant program information.

14         (f)  Fees and eligibility for services.

15         (g)  Availability of transportation.

16         (2)  The establishment of a referral process that which

17  responds to parental need for information and that which is

18  provided with full recognition of the confidentiality rights

19  of parents. Resource and referral agencies may only programs

20  shall make referrals to licensed child care providers, except

21  that a referral may facilities.  Referrals shall be made to an

22  unlicensed provider child care facility or arrangement only if

23  there is no requirement that the provider is not required to

24  facility or arrangement be licensed.

25         (3)  Maintenance of ongoing documentation of requests

26  for service tabulated through the internal referral process.

27  The following documentation of requests for service shall be

28  maintained by each all child care resource and referral agency

29  agencies:

30  

31  

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 1         (a)  Number of calls and contacts to the resource child

 2  care information and referral agency component by the type of

 3  provider service requested.

 4         (b)  Ages of children for whom child care or early

 5  learning services are service was requested.

 6         (c)  Time category of child care or early learning

 7  requests for each child.

 8         (d)  Special time category, such as nights, weekends,

 9  and swing shifts shift.

10         (e)  Reason that the child care or early learning

11  services are is needed.

12         (f)  Name of the employer and primary focus of the

13  business.

14         (4)  Provision of technical assistance to existing and

15  potential providers of child care and early learning providers

16  services.  This assistance may include:

17         (a)  Information on initiating new child care or early

18  learning services, zoning, and program and budget development

19  and assistance in finding the such information from other

20  sources.

21         (b)  Information and resources that assist which help

22  existing child care and early learning services providers to

23  maximize their ability to serve children and parents in their

24  community.

25         (c)  Information and incentives that may assist which

26  could help existing or planned child care or early learning

27  services offered by public or private employers seeking to

28  maximize their ability to serve the children of their working

29  parent employees who are working parents in their community,

30  through contractual or other funding arrangements with

31  businesses.

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 1         (5)  Assistance to families and employers in applying

 2  for various early learning programs, sources of subsidy

 3  including, but not limited to, the Voluntary Prekindergarten

 4  Education Program; a coalition's school readiness program; a

 5  subsidized child care, Head Start program;, prekindergarten

 6  early intervention programs, Project Independence, private

 7  scholarships;, and the federal child and dependent care tax

 8  credit.

 9         (6)  Assistance to state agencies in determining the

10  prevailing market rate for child care.

11         (7)  Assistance in negotiating discounts or other

12  special arrangements with child care and early learning

13  providers.

14         (8)  Information and assistance to local interagency

15  councils coordinating services for prekindergarten handicapped

16  children with disabilities.

17         (9)  Assistance to families in identifying summer

18  recreation camp and summer day camp programs and in evaluating

19  the health and safety qualities of summer recreation camp, and

20  summer day camp, programs and in evaluating the health and

21  safety qualities of summer camp programs. Subject to

22  legislative Contingent upon specific appropriation, a

23  checklist of important health and safety qualities that

24  parents may can use to choose their summer camp programs shall

25  be developed and distributed in a manner that will reach

26  parents interested in these such programs for their children.

27         (10)  Each A child care provider facility licensed or

28  registered under ss. 402.301-402.319, and each early learning

29  provider receiving state or federal funds, s. 402.305 and

30  licensed and registered family day care homes must provide the

31  

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 1  local statewide child care and resource and referral agency

 2  agencies with the following information annually:

 3         (a)  Type of child care or early learning provider

 4  program.

 5         (b)  Hours of service.

 6         (c)  Ages of children served.

 7         (d)  Fees and eligibility for services.

 8         Section 8.  Section 402.3051, Florida Statutes, is

 9  transferred, renumbered as section 411.0107, Florida Statutes,

10  and amended to read:

11         411.0107 402.3051  Prevailing market-rate schedule

12  Child care market rate reimbursement; child care grants.--

13         (1)  As used in this section, the term:

14         (a)  "Child care program assessment tool" means an

15  assessment instrument designated or developed by the

16  department to determine quality child care and other child

17  development services to children under the provision of s.

18  402.3015, Title IV-A of the Social Security Act, and the Child

19  Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990.

20         (a)(b)  "Market rate" means the price that a child care

21  provider charges for daily, weekly, or monthly child care

22  services.  The market rate shall:

23         1.  Be established for licensed child care facilities

24  or facilities that are not subject to s. 402.305, licensed or

25  registered family day care homes, licensed large family child

26  care homes, child care providers exempt from licensure,

27  licensed before-school and after-school child care programs,

28  and informal providers of unregulated child care services

29  provided by a relative or other caretaker.

30  

31  

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 1         2.  Differentiate among child care for children with

 2  special needs or risk categories, infants, toddlers, and

 3  preschool children, and school-age children.

 4         3.  Differentiate between full-time and part-time

 5  services care.

 6         4.  Consider reductions in the cost of services care

 7  for additional children in the same family.

 8         (b)(c)  "Prevailing market rate" means the annually

 9  determined 75th percentile of a reasonable frequency

10  distribution of market rate in a predetermined geographic

11  market at which licensed child care providers charge a person

12  for child care services.

13         (2)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation department

14  shall establish procedures for the adoption of a prevailing

15  market-rate schedule, which shall be considered by each early

16  learning coalition when the coalition adopts its payment

17  schedule under s. 411.01(5)(e)2. The prevailing market-rate

18  schedule shall comprise county-by-county rates for: to

19  reimburse

20         (a)  Licensed, exempt, or registered child care

21  providers that who hold a Gold Seal Quality Care designation

22  at 120 percent of the prevailing market rate for child care

23  services for children who are eligible to participate in a

24  coalition's school readiness program under s. 411.01 receive

25  subsidized child care; and

26         (b)  Licensed, exempt, or registered child care

27  providers at the prevailing market rate for child care

28  services for children who are eligible to participate in a

29  coalition's school readiness program under s. 411.01 receive

30  subsidized child care, unless prohibited by federal law under

31  s. 402.3015. The department shall establish procedures to

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 1  reimburse providers of unregulated child care at not more than

 2  50 percent of the market rate.

 3  

 4  The prevailing market-rate schedule adopted under this

 5  subsection payment system may not interfere with the parental

 6  choice of school readiness providers under s. 411.01(7)

 7  parents' decision as to the appropriate child care

 8  arrangement, regardless of the level of available funding for

 9  early learning programs child care. The prevailing market-rate

10  schedule must be based exclusively on the costs and prices

11  charged for child care services and must not be based on any

12  program assessment tool may not be used to evaluate child care

13  providers determine reimbursement rates.

14         (3)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation department may

15  provide child care grants to early learning coalitions central

16  agencies, community colleges, and career programs for the

17  purpose of providing support and technical assistance to

18  licensed child care providers.

19         (4)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation department may

20  contract, using a request for proposals, with a qualified

21  entity use the state community child care coordination

22  agencies (central agencies), community colleges, and career

23  programs to administer implement this section.

24         (5)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation department may

25  adopt rules under ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 and other policy

26  provisions necessary to administer implement this section.

27         (6)  This section shall be implemented only to the

28  extent that funding is available.

29         Section 9.  Section 402.3018, Florida Statutes, is

30  transferred, renumbered as section 411.0108, Florida Statutes,

31  and amended to read:

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 1         411.0108 402.3018  Consultation to child care and early

 2  learning providers centers and family day care homes regarding

 3  health, developmental, disability, and special needs issues.--

 4         (1)  Subject to legislative appropriation Contingent

 5  upon specific appropriations, the Agency for Workforce

 6  Innovation shall department is directed to contract with the

 7  state statewide resource information and referral agency for a

 8  statewide toll-free Warm-Line for the purpose of providing

 9  assistance and consultation to child care and early learning

10  providers centers and family day care homes regarding health,

11  developmental, disability, and special needs issues of the

12  children they are serving, particularly children with

13  disabilities and other special needs.

14         (2)  The purpose of the Warm-Line is to provide advice

15  to child care personnel concerning strategies, curriculum, and

16  environmental adaptations that allow a child to derive maximum

17  benefit from receiving the child care services experience.

18         (3)  The early learning coalitions, coordinated by the

19  Agency for Workforce Innovation, department shall at least

20  annually inform child care and early learning providers

21  centers and family day care homes of the availability of this

22  service, on an annual basis.

23         (4)  Subject to legislative appropriation Contingent

24  upon specific appropriations, the Agency for Workforce

25  Innovation department shall expand, or contract for, the

26  expansion of the Warm-Line from one statewide site to one

27  Warm-Line site in each county or multicounty child care

28  resource and referral agency region served by an early

29  learning coalition.

30         (5)  Each county or regional Warm-Line shall provide

31  assistance and consultation to child care and early learning

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 1  providers centers and family day care homes regarding health,

 2  developmental, disability, and special needs issues of the

 3  children they are serving, particularly children with

 4  disabilities and other special needs. County or regional

 5  Warm-Line staff shall provide onsite technical assistance,

 6  when requested, to assist child care and early learning

 7  providers centers and family day care homes with inquiries

 8  relative to the strategies, curriculum, and environmental

 9  adaptations the child care or early learning providers centers

10  and family day care homes may need as they serve children with

11  disabilities and other special needs.

12         Section 10.  Section 402.25, Florida Statutes, is

13  transferred, renumbered as section 411.0109, Florida Statutes,

14  and amended to read:

15         411.0109 402.25  Infants and toddlers in state-funded

16  child education and care and early learning programs; brain

17  development activities.--Each state-funded child education and

18  care and early learning program for children from birth to 5

19  years of age must provide activities to foster brain

20  development in infants and toddlers. Each A program must

21  provide an environment rich in language and music and filled

22  with objects of various colors, shapes, textures, and sizes to

23  stimulate visual, tactile, auditory, and linguistic senses in

24  the children and must include classical music and at least 30

25  minutes of reading to the children each day. A program may be

26  offered through an existing early childhood program such as

27  Healthy Start, the Title I program, contracted or directly

28  operated subsidized child care, the prekindergarten early

29  intervention program, Florida First Start, the Head Start

30  program, or a private child care program. Each A program must

31  also provide training for the infants' and toddlers' parents

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 1  including direct dialogue and interaction between teachers and

 2  parents demonstrating the urgency of brain development in the

 3  first year of a child's life. A family day care home is

 4  centers are encouraged, but not required, to comply with this

 5  section.

 6         Section 11.  Section 411.011, Florida Statutes, as

 7  amended by section 9 of chapter 2004-484, Laws of Florida, is

 8  amended to read:

 9         411.011  Records of children in school readiness

10  programs.--The individual records of children enrolled in

11  school readiness programs provided under ss. 411.01 and

12  411.0101 s. 411.01, when held in the possession of the early

13  learning coalition or the Agency for Workforce Innovation, are

14  confidential and exempt from s. 119.07 and s. 24(a), Art. I of

15  the State Constitution. For purposes of this section, records

16  include assessment data, health data, records of teacher

17  observations, and identifying data, including the child's

18  social security number. A parent, guardian, or individual

19  acting as a parent in the absence of a parent or guardian has

20  the right to inspect and review the individual school

21  readiness program record of his or her child and to obtain a

22  copy of the record. School readiness records may be released

23  to the United States Secretary of Education, the United States

24  Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Comptroller

25  General of the United States for the purpose of federal

26  audits; to individuals or organizations conducting studies for

27  institutions to develop, validate, or administer assessments

28  or improve instruction; to accrediting organizations in order

29  to carry out their accrediting functions; to appropriate

30  parties in connection with an emergency if the information is

31  necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or

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 1  other individuals; to the Auditor General in connection with

 2  his or her official functions; to a court of competent

 3  jurisdiction in compliance with an order of that court in

 4  accordance with a lawfully issued subpoena; and to parties to

 5  an interagency agreement among early learning coalitions,

 6  local governmental agencies, providers of school readiness

 7  programs, state agencies, and the Agency for Workforce

 8  Innovation for the purpose of implementing the school

 9  readiness program. Agencies, organizations, or individuals

10  that receive school readiness records in order to carry out

11  their official functions must protect the data in a manner

12  that does not permit the personal identification of students

13  and their parents by persons other than those authorized to

14  receive the records. This section is subject to the Open

15  Government Sunset Review Act of 1995 in accordance with s.

16  119.15 and shall stand repealed on October 2, 2005, unless

17  reviewed and saved from repeal through reenactment by the

18  Legislature.

19         Section 12.  Section 402.3016, Florida Statutes, is

20  transferred, renumbered as section 411.0111, Florida Statutes,

21  and amended to read:

22         411.0111 402.3016  Early Head Start collaboration

23  grants.--

24         (1)  Subject to legislative appropriation Contingent

25  upon specific appropriations, the Agency for Workforce

26  Innovation may Florida Partnership for School Readiness shall

27  establish a program to award collaboration grants to assist

28  local agencies in securing Early Head Start programs through

29  Early Head Start program federal grants. The collaboration

30  grants may only be used to shall provide the required matching

31  

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    Florida Senate - 2005                                  SB 1756
    577-1367B-05




 1  funds for public and private nonprofit agencies that have been

 2  approved for Early Head Start program federal grants.

 3         (2)  Each public or and private nonprofit agency

 4  agencies providing Early Head Start programs applying for

 5  collaborative grants must:

 6         (a)  Ensure quality performance by meeting the

 7  requirements in the Head Start program performance standards

 8  and other applicable rules and regulations;

 9         (b)  Ensure collaboration with other service providers

10  at the local level; and

11         (c)  Ensure that a comprehensive array of health,

12  nutritional, and other services are provided to the program's

13  pregnant women and very young children, and their families.

14         (3)  If the program is established, the Agency for

15  Workforce Innovation partnership shall report to the

16  Legislature on an annual basis the number of agencies

17  receiving Early Head Start collaboration grants and the number

18  of children served.

19         (4)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation partnership

20  may adopt rules under ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to administer

21  this section, including requirements as necessary for the

22  award of collaboration grants to competing agencies and the

23  administration of the collaboration grants program under this

24  section.

25         Section 13.  The Agency for Workforce Innovation, in

26  cooperation with the Department of Education, shall conduct a

27  comprehensive study of outcome measurement, screening and

28  assessment, and performance accountability for the early

29  learning system. The study must include research from national

30  experts in the field of early learning. By December 15, 2006,

31  the Agency for Workforce Innovation shall submit a report to

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    Florida Senate - 2005                                  SB 1756
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 1  the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of

 2  the House of Representatives. The report must include

 3  recommendations or options to improve the methods used for

 4  measuring the effectiveness of prekindergarten and school

 5  readiness providers in delivering the Voluntary

 6  Prekindergarten Education Program and the school readiness

 7  programs and of the early learning coalitions in monitoring

 8  and assisting providers, as demonstrated by the outcomes of

 9  children enrolled in these programs.

10         Section 14.  The sum of $150,000 is appropriated from

11  nonrecurring funds in the General Revenue Fund to the Agency

12  for Workforce Innovation for purposes of conducting the

13  comprehensive study of outcome measurement, screening and

14  assessment, and performance accountability for the early

15  learning system during the 2005-2006 fiscal year.

16         Section 15.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2005.

17  

18            *****************************************

19                          SENATE SUMMARY

20    Revises various provisions of the School Readiness Act.
      Requires early learning coalitions to provide parents
21    with profiles of school readiness providers. Requires
      that providers be paid a rate differential under certain
22    circumstances. Revises eligibility criteria and
      priorities for participation in school readiness
23    programs. Authorizes early learning coalitions to
      establish school-age readiness services under certain
24    circumstances. Provides eligibility criteria and
      priorities for participation in school-age readiness
25    services. Revises requirements for transportation
      services in school readiness programs. Provides
26    requirements for school readiness quality initiatives.
      Revises the Teacher Education and Compensation Helps
27    scholarship program and establishes the Home Instruction
      for Parents of Preschool Youngsters Program. Revises
28    requirements for the Child Care Executive Partnership
      Program. (See bill for details.)
29  

30  

31  

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