BILL NUMBER: SB 244INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Wright FEBRUARY 24, 2009 An act relating to children. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 244, as introduced, Wright. Children's services: high-risk children. Existing law establishes various social services and other programs for children, administered by the State Department of Social Services.. This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would establish a more cohesive, effective, and equitable system for addressing the needs of high-risk children that would reduce the long-term educational, social, and economic impacts that occur when early childhood needs are not met, as specified. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would establish a more cohesive, effective, and equitable system for addressing the needs of high-risk children that would reduce the long-term educational, social, and economic impacts that occur when early childhood needs are not met. To accomplish this goal, the Legislature intends to enact legislation that would do all of the following: (a) Improve accountability and interagency cooperation by establishing, in each county or consortium of counties, a committee or similar entity with authority to coordinate systems of care, review data, and ensure timely delivery of services to high-risk children. (b) Implement changes to eligibility and priority enrollment criteria for existing early care and education programs to ensure inclusion of high-risk children. (c) Establish a state-level committee or similar entity to make recommendations to the Legislature before January 1, 2011, that will improve and integrate services to children with special needs, with particular attention to transition issues for children at age three.