Connecticut 2022 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB05465 Compare Versions

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Version 2 (New)

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7	7		General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5465
8	8		February Session, 2022
9	9		LCO No. 3151
10	10
11	11
12	12		Referred to Committee on EDUCATION
13	13
14	14
15	15		Introduced by:
16	16		(ED)
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18	18
19	19
20	20		AN ACT INCREASING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR SALARIES
21	21		AND EXPANDING CHILD CARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES.
22	22		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
23	23		Assembly convened:
24	24
25	25		Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2022) (a) As used in this section and 1
26	26		section 2 of this act: 2
27	27		(1) "Compensation schedule" means the early childhood educator 3
28	28		compensation schedule developed by the Office of Early Childhood 4
29	29		pursuant to section 10-531 of the general statutes, as amended by this 5
30	30		act; 6
31	31		(2) "Early childhood care and education program" means a child care 7
32	32		services provider, early childhood education program or license-exempt 8
33	33		early childhood provider; 9
34	34		(3) "Child care services provider" means a child care center or a group 10
35	35		child care home, as those terms are described in section 19a-77 of the 11
36	36		general statutes, as amended by this act; 12
37	37		(4) "Early childhood education program" means a private preschool 13 Raised Bill No. 5465
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44	44		program, a school readiness program or program pursuant to section 8-14
45	45		210 of the general statutes, as amended by this act; 15
46	46		(5) "School readiness program" has the same meaning as provided in 16
47	47		section 10-16p of the general statutes, as amended by this act; 17
48	48		(6) "License-exempt early childhood provider" means any child care 18
49	49		services provider or school readiness program that accepts state funds 19
50	50		for infant, toddler and preschool spaces associated with such program 20
51	51		that is not required to be licensed pursuant to subsection (b) of section 21
52	52		19a-77 of the general statutes, and is located in a public school building 22
53	53		but is not administered by a public school system; 23
54	54		(7) "Employee" means a person who is employed by an early 24
55	55		childhood care and education program and meets the eligibility criteria 25
56	56		described in the compensation schedule and policy developed by the 26
57	57		Office of Early Childhood pursuant to subsection (e) of this section; 27
58	58		(8) "Base salary" means the annual salary that an employee was paid 28
59	59		on December 31, 2021, or, if the position was vacant on December 31, 29
60	60		2021, the starting annual salary for such position on said date; 30
61	61		(9) "Benefits amount" means seven thousand five hundred dollars; 31
62	62		(10) "Individual employee salary enhancement amount" means, for 32
63	63		any fiscal year, the sum of (A) the difference between (i) the salary 33
64	64		prescribed in the compensation schedule for an employee, and (ii) the 34
65	65		amount of such employee's base salary, and (B) the benefits amount; 35
66	66		(11) "Salary enhancement amount" means the sum of the total 36
67	67		individual employee salary enhancement amounts for all employees of 37
68	68		an early childhood care and education program for the fiscal year; and 38
69	69		(12) "Family child care home" has the same meaning as provided in 39
70	70		section 19a-77 of the general statutes, as amended by this act. 40
71	71		(b) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, and each fiscal year 41 Raised Bill No. 5465
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78	78		thereafter, the Office of Early Childhood shall administer the early 42
79	79		childhood care and education salary enhancement grant program. The 43
80	80		office shall annually pay to each early childhood care and education 44
81	81		program a salary enhancement grant in the amount of such program's 45
82	82		salary enhancement amount. Such programs shall distribute such grant 46
83	83		funds to its employees in accordance with the policy developed by the 47
84	84		Commissioner of Early Childhood pursuant to subsection (e) of this 48
85	85		section. 49
86	86		(c) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, and each fiscal year 50
87	87		thereafter, the office shall annually pay to each family child care home 51
88	88		a salary enhancement grant as follows: (1) Twenty thousand dollars for 52
89	89		each licensee of a family child care home, (2) six thousand dollars for 53
90	90		each full-time assistant or substitute staff member approved by the 54
91	91		Commissioner of Early Childhood pursuant to section 19a-87b of the 55
92	92		general statutes, and (3) three thousand dollars for each part-time 56
93	93		assistant or substitute staff member approved by the commissioner 57
94	94		pursuant to section 19a-87b of the general statutes, and employed by the 58
95	95		family child care home. The licensee shall distribute such grant funds in 59
96	96		accordance with the policy developed by the commissioner pursuant to 60
97	97		subsection (e) of this section. 61
98	98		(d) Each early childhood care and education program shall register, 62
99	99		at such time and in such manner as prescribed by the commissioner, 63
100	100		with the Office of Early Childhood to receive a grant under the program. 64
101	101		Upon registration, such program shall provide any information 65
102	102		required by the office, in accordance with the policy developed by the 66
103	103		commissioner pursuant to subsection (e) of this section. 67
104	104		(e) Not later than October 1, 2022, the commissioner shall develop a 68
105	105		policy for the administration of the early childhood care and education 69
106	106		salary enhancement grant program. The policy shall include, but need 70
107	107		not be limited to, eligibility criteria for the program, the registration 71
108	108		process for the program, the distribution requirements of the grant and 72
109	109		any other requirements the commissioner deems necessary. 73 Raised Bill No. 5465
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116	116		Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2022) On and after July 1, 2022, each 74
117	117		employee of an early childhood care and education program shall be 75
118	118		paid an annual salary as prescribed in the compensation schedule 76
119	119		developed pursuant to section 10-531 of the general statutes, as 77
120	120		amended by this act, except if an employee's salary is greater than the 78
121	121		amount prescribed in such compensation schedule then such employee 79
122	122		shall be paid such greater amount. 80
123	123		Sec. 3. Section 10-531 of the general statutes is repealed and the 81
124	124		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2022): 82
125	125		(a) As used in this section: 83
126	126		(1) "Early childhood education program" means any child care or 84
127	127		school readiness program that accepts state funds for infant, toddler and 85
128	128		preschool spaces associated with such program; 86
129	129		(2) "Employee" means any person who is employed by an [early 87
130	130		childhood education program and meets the applicable staff 88
131	131		qualifications requirement, as defined in section 10-16p] early childhood 89
132	132		care and education program and meets the eligibility criteria described 90
133	133		in the compensation schedule and policy developed by the Office of 91
134	134		Early Childhood pursuant to subsection (e) of section 1 of this act; 92
135	135		(3) "Compensation" means the salary, wages, benefits and other 93
136	136		forms of valuable consideration earned by and provided to an employee 94
137	137		in remuneration for services rendered; [and] 95
138	138		(4) "Compensation schedule" means a list or lists specifying a series 96
139	139		of compensation steps and ranges; [.] 97
140	140		(5) "Early childhood care and education program" means a child care 98
141	141		services provider or an early childhood education program; 99
142	142		(6) "Child care services provider" means a child care center or a group 100
143	143		child care home, as those terms are described in section 19a-77, as 101
144	144		amended by this act; 102 Raised Bill No. 5465
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151	151		(7) "Early childhood education program" means a private preschool 103
152	152		program, a school readiness program or program pursuant to section 8-104
153	153		210, as amended by this act; and 105
154	154		(8) "School readiness program" has the same meaning as provided in 106
155	155		section 10-16p, as amended by this act. 107
156	156		(b) The Office of Early Childhood shall establish, after notice and 108
157	157		opportunity for public comment, a proposed early childhood educator 109
158	158		compensation schedule for employees of early childhood education 110
159	159		programs. 111
160	160		(c) (1) The office shall consider the following factors in developing the 112
161	161		proposed early childhood educator compensation schedule: (A) Level 113
162	162		of education, (B) training in early childhood education or child 114
163	163		development, (C) relevant employment experience, including the 115
164	164		number of years an individual has been employed in an early childhood 116
165	165		education program, (D) compensation levels for certified teachers 117
166	166		employed in a preschool program operated by a local or regional board 118
167	167		of education or regional educational service center, and (E) cost of living 119
168	168		in the state. 120
169	169		(2) In developing the proposed early ch ildhood educator 121
170	170		compensation schedule, the office may (A) consider the findings and 122
171	171		recommendations provided in "A Plan to Assist Early Education State 123
172	172		Funded Providers to Degree Attainment and Increased Compensation" 124
173	173		created by the office, pursuant to section 4 of public act 15-134, to create 125
174	174		a standardized salary scale and incentive package for early childhood 126
175	175		educators, (B) utilize state and federal funding, and (C) examine existing 127
176	176		programs that address early childhood educator compensation and staff 128
177	177		retention through financial incentives, such as bonuses for degree or 129
178	178		course completion. 130
179	179		(3) The office shall establish a recommended minimum salary for 131
180	180		employees as part of the proposed early childhood educator 132
181	181		compensation schedule. 133 Raised Bill No. 5465
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188	188		(d) Not later than January 1, 2021, the office shall submit the proposed 134
189	189		early childhood educator compensation schedule and a report to the 135
190	190		joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance 136
191	191		of matters relating to education and appropriations and the budgets of 137
192	192		state agencies, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a. Such 138
193	193		report shall include: (1) Any recommendations for legislation relating to 139
194	194		state-wide implementation of the proposed early childhood educator 140
195	195		compensation schedule, (2) an estimate of the cost of implementing the 141
196	196		proposed early childhood educator compensation schedule state-wide, 142
197	197		(3) an analysis of the effect of the state-wide implementation of the 143
198	198		proposed early childhood educator compensation schedule on the 144
199	199		number of available preschool seats, and (4) an explanation of how the 145
200	200		proposed early childhood educator compensation schedule will be 146
201	201		included in any quality rating and improvement system developed by 147
202	202		the office, pursuant to subdivision (15) of subsection (b) of section 10-148
203	203		500. 149
204	204		(e) Not later than January 1, 2023, the office shall amend the 150
205	205		compensation schedule to include employees of early childhood care 151
206	206		and education programs. 152
207	207		Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2022) (a) For the fiscal year ending June 153
208	208		30, 2023, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Office of Higher Education, 154
209	209		in collaboration with the Office of Early Childhood, shall, within 155
210	210		available appropriations, administer an early childhood educator loan 156
211	211		forgiveness grant program to persons who meet the eligibility 157
212	212		requirements described in subsection (b) of this section. 158
213	213		(b) The program shall provide a student loan forgiveness grant to any 159
214	214		person who (1) has been continuously employed by a licensed child care 160
215	215		center, group child care home or family child care home, as described in 161
216	216		section 19a-77 of the general statutes, as amended by this act, for at least 162
217	217		four years at the time of application, and (2) holds (A) an associate 163
218	218		degree with a concentration in early childhood education from a public 164
219	219		institution of higher education in the state that is regionally accredited, 165
220	220		provided such associate degree program is approved by (i) the Board of 166 Raised Bill No. 5465
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227	227		Regents for Higher Education or the Office of Higher Education, and (ii) 167
228	228		the Office of Early Childhood, or (B) a bachelor's degree with a 168
229	229		concentration in early childhood education from a public institution of 169
230	230		higher education in the state that is regionally accredited, provided such 170
231	231		bachelor's degree program is approved by (i) the Board of Regents for 171
232	232		Higher Education or the Office of Higher Education, and (ii) the Office 172
233	233		of Early Childhood. As used in this subsection, "concentration in early 173
234	234		childhood education" has the same meaning as provided in section 10-174
235	235		16p of the general statutes. 175
236	236		(c) Any person who satisfies the eligibility requirements prescribed 176
237	237		in subsection (b) of this section shall receive a grant in an amount equal 177
238	238		to the remaining balance of such person's federal or state educational 178
239	239		loans. 179
240	240		(d) Persons may apply to the Office of Higher Education for grants 180
241	241		under this section at such time and in such manner as the executive 181
242	242		director of the Office of Higher Education prescribes. 182
243	243		(e) Any unexpended funds appropriated for purposes of this section 183
244	244		shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal year but shall be available for 184
245	245		expenditure during the next fiscal year. 185
246	246		Sec. 5. Subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 10-16q of the 186
247	247		general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 187
248	248		thereof (Effective July 1, 2022): 188
249	249		(b) (1) [For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, the per child cost of 189
250	250		the Office of Early Childhood school readiness program offered by a 190
251	251		school readiness provider shall not exceed eight thousand nine hundred 191
252	252		twenty-seven dollars.] For the fiscal year ending June 30, [2021] 2023, 192
253	253		and each fiscal year thereafter, the per child cost of the Office of Early 193
254	254		Childhood school readiness program offered by a school readiness 194
255	255		provider shall not exceed [nine] ten thousand twenty-seven dollars. 195
256	256		Sec. 6. Section 10-16p of the 2022 supplement to the general statutes 196
257	257		is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 197 Raised Bill No. 5465
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264	264		1, 2022): 198
265	265		(a) As used in sections 10-16o to 10-16r, inclusive, as amended by this 199
266	266		act, 10-16u, 17b-749a and 17b-749c: 200
267	267		(1) "School readiness program" means a nonsectarian program that 201
268	268		(A) meets the standards set by the Office of Early Childhood pursuant 202
269	269		to subsection (b) of this section and the requirements of section 10-16q, 203
270	270		as amended by this act, and (B) provides a developmentally appropriate 204
271	271		learning experience of not less than four hundred fifty hours and one 205
272	272		hundred eighty days for eligible children, except as provided in 206
273	273		subsection (d) of section 10-16q; 207
274	274		(2) "Eligible children" means children three and four years of age and 208
275	275		children five years of age who are not eligible to enroll in school 209
276	276		pursuant to section 10-15c, or who are eligible to enroll in school and 210
277	277		will attend a school readiness program pursuant to section 10-16t; 211
278	278		(3) "Priority school" means a school in which forty per cent or more 212
279	279		of the lunches served are served to students who are eligible for free or 213
280	280		reduced price lunches pursuant to federal law and regulations, 214
281	281		excluding such a school located in a priority school district pursuant to 215
282	282		section 10-266p or in a former priority school district receiving a grant 216
283	283		pursuant to subsection (c) of this section and, on and after July 1, 2001, 217
284	284		excluding such a school in a transitional school district receiving a grant 218
285	285		pursuant to section 10-16u; 219
286	286		(4) "Severe need school" means a school in a priority school district 220
287	287		pursuant to section 10-266p or in a former priority school district in 221
288	288		which forty per cent or more of the lunches served are served to students 222
289	289		who are eligible for free or reduced price lunches; 223
290	290		(5) "Accredited" means accredited by the National Association for the 224
291	291		Education of Young Children, National Association for Family Child 225
292	292		Care, a Head Start on-site program review instrument or a successor 226
293	293		instrument pursuant to federal regulations, or otherwise meeting such 227
294	294		criteria as may be established by the commissioner, unless the context 228 Raised Bill No. 5465
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301	301		otherwise requires; 229
302	302		(6) "Year-round" means fifty weeks per year, except as provided in 230
303	303		subsection (d) of section 10-16q; 231
304	304		(7) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Early Childhood; 232
305	305		(8) "Office" means the Office of Early Childhood; 233
306	306		(9) "Seeking accreditation" means a school readiness program seeking 234
307	307		accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young 235
308	308		Children, National Association for Family Child Care or a Head Start 236
309	309		on-site program review instrument or successor instrument pursuant to 237
310	310		federal regulations, or attempting to meet criteria as may be established 238
311	311		by the commissioner; and 239
312	312		(10) "Concentration in early childhood education" means a program 240
313	313		of study in early childhood education, including, but not limited to, 241
314	314		early childhood education, child study, child development or human 242
315	315		growth and development. 243
316	316		(b) (1) The office shall be the lead agency for school readiness. For 244
317	317		purposes of this section and section 10-16u, school readiness program 245
318	318		providers eligible for funding from the office shall include local and 246
319	319		regional boards of education, regional educational service centers, 247
320	320		family resource centers and providers of child care centers, group child 248
321	321		care homes and family child care homes, as described in section 19a-77, 249
322	322		as amended by this act, Head Start programs, preschool programs and 250
323	323		other programs that meet any standards established by the 251
324	324		commissioner. The office shall establish standards for school readiness 252
325	325		programs. The standards may include, but need not be limited to, 253
326	326		guidelines for staff-child interactions, curriculum content, including 254
327	327		preliteracy development, lesson plans, parental involvement, staff 255
328	328		qualifications and training, transition to school and administration. The 256
329	329		office shall develop age-appropriate developmental skills and goals for 257
330	330		children attending such programs. The commissioner, in consultation 258
331	331		with the president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, 259 Raised Bill No. 5465
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338	338		the Commissioners of Education and Social Services and other 260
339	339		appropriate entities, shall develop a professional development program 261
340	340		for the staff of school readiness programs. 262
341	341		(2) For purposes of this section: 263
342	342		(A) Prior to July 1, 2022, "staff qualifications" means that for each 264
343	343		early childhood education program accepting state funds for infant, 265
344	344		toddler and preschool spaces associated with such program's child care 266
345	345		program or school readiness program, there is in each classroom an 267
346	346		individual who has at least the following: (i) A childhood development 268
347	347		associate credential or an equivalent credential issued by an 269
348	348		organization approved by the commissioner and twelve credits or more 270
349	349		in early childhood education or child development, as determined by 271
350	350		the commissioner or the president of the Connecticut State Colleges and 272
351	351		Universities, after consultation with the commissioner, from an 273
352	352		institution of higher education (I) accredited by the Board of Regents for 274
353	353		Higher Education or Office of Higher Education, and (II) regionally 275
354	354		accredited; (ii) an associate degree with twelve credits or more in early 276
355	355		childhood education or child development, as determined by the 277
356	356		commissioner or the president of the Connecticut State Colleges and 278
357	357		Universities, after consultation with the commissioner, from such an 279
358	358		institution; (iii) a four-year degree with twelve credits or more in early 280
359	359		childhood education or child development, as determined by the 281
360	360		commissioner or the president of the Connecticut State Colleges and 282
361	361		Universities, after consultation with the commissioner, from such an 283
362	362		institution; (iv) certification pursuant to section 10-145b with an 284
363	363		endorsement in early childhood education or special education; (v) an 285
364	364		associate degree with a concentration in early childhood education from 286
365	365		an institution of higher education that is regionally accredited; or (vi) a 287
366	366		bachelor's degree with a concentration in early childhood education 288
367	367		from an institution of higher education that is regionally accredited; 289
368	368		(B) From July 1, 2022, until June 30, 2025, "staff qualifications" means 290
369	369		that for each early childhood education program accepting state funds 291
370	370		for infant, toddler and preschool spaces associated with such program's 292 Raised Bill No. 5465
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377	377		child care program or school readiness program, (i) at least fifty per cent 293
378	378		of those individuals with the primary responsibility for a classroom of 294
379	379		children (I) hold certification pursuant to section 10-145b with an 295
380	380		endorsement in early childhood education or early childhood special 296
381	381		education, (II) have been issued an early childhood teacher credential, 297
382	382		pursuant to section 10-520b, (III) hold at least an associate degree with a 298
383	383		concentration in early childhood education from an institution of higher 299
384	384		education that is regionally accredited, or (IV) satisfy the requirements 300
385	385		of subdivision (3), (4) or (5) of this subsection, and (ii) such remaining 301
386	386		individuals with the primary responsibility for a classroom of children 302
387	387		hold a childhood development associate credential or an equivalent 303
388	388		credential issued by an organization approved by the commissioner and 304
389	389		twelve credits or more in early childhood education or child 305
390	390		development, as determined by the commissioner or the president of 306
391	391		the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, after consultation with 307
392	392		the commissioner, from an institution of higher education (I) accredited 308
393	393		by the Board of Regents for Higher Education or Office of Higher 309
394	394		Education, and (II) regionally accredited; 310
395	395		(C) From July 1, 2025, until June 30, 2029, "staff qualifications" means 311
396	396		that for each early childhood education program accepting state funds 312
397	397		for infant, toddler and preschool spaces associated with such program's 313
398	398		child care program or school readiness program, (i) at least fifty per cent 314
399	399		of those individuals with the primary responsibility for a classroom of 315
400	400		children (I) hold certification pursuant to section 10-145b with an 316
401	401		endorsement in early childhood education or early childhood special 317
402	402		education, (II) have been issued an early childhood teacher credential, 318
403	403		pursuant to subdivision (2) of section 10-520b, (III) hold at least a 319
404	404		bachelor's degree with a concentration in early childhood education 320
405	405		from an institution of higher education that is regionally accredited, or 321
406	406		(IV) satisfy the requirements of subdivision (3), (4) or (5) of this 322
407	407		subsection, and (ii) such remaining individuals with the primary 323
408	408		responsibility for a classroom of children (I) hold an associate degree 324
409	409		with a concentration in early childhood education from an institution of 325
410	410		higher education that is regionally accredited, or (II) have been issued 326 Raised Bill No. 5465
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416	416
417	417		an early childhood teacher credential, pursuant to subdivision (1) of 327
418	418		section 10-520b; and 328
419	419		(D) On and after July 1, 2029, "staff qualifications" means that for each 329
420	420		early childhood education program accepting state funds for infant, 330
421	421		toddler and preschool spaces associated with such program's child care 331
422	422		program or school readiness program, one hundred per cent of those 332
423	423		individuals with the primary responsibility for a classroom of children 333
424	424		(i) hold certification pursuant to section 10-145b with an endorsement in 334
425	425		early childhood education or early childhood special education, (ii) have 335
426	426		been issued an early childhood teacher credential, pursuant to 336
427	427		subdivision (2) of section 10-520b, (iii) hold at least a bachelor's degree 337
428	428		with a concentration in early childhood education from an institution of 338
429	429		higher education that is regionally accredited, or (iv) satisfy the 339
430	430		requirements of subdivision (3), (4) or (5) of this subsection. 340
431	431		(3) Any individual with a bachelor's degree in early childhood 341
432	432		education or child development or a bachelor's degree and twelve 342
433	433		credits or more in early childhood education or child development, 343
434	434		who, on or before June 30, 2015, is employed by an early childhood 344
435	435		education program that accepts state funds for infant, toddler and 345
436	436		preschool spaces associated with such program's child care program or 346
437	437		school readiness program shall be considered to meet the staff 347
438	438		qualifications required under subparagraphs (B) to (D), inclusive, of 348
439	439		subdivision (2) of this subsection. No such early childhood education 349
440	440		program shall terminate any such individual from employment for 350
441	441		purposes of meeting the staff qualification requirements set forth in 351
442	442		subparagraph (B), (C) or (D) of subdivision (2) of this subsection. 352
443	443		(4) Any individual with an associate degree or a bachelor's degree in 353
444	444		early childhood education or child development or an associate degree 354
445	445		or a bachelor's degree and twelve credits or more in early childhood 355
446	446		education or child development from an institution of higher education 356
447	447		that is regionally accredited, other than an associate degree or a 357
448	448		bachelor's degree with a concentration in early childhood education, 358
449	449		may submit documentation concerning such degree for review and 359 Raised Bill No. 5465
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455	455
456	456		assessment by the office as to whether such degree has a sufficient 360
457	457		concentration in early childhood education so as to satisfy the 361
458	458		requirements set forth in subparagraphs (B) to (D), inclusive, of 362
459	459		subdivision (2) of this subsection. 363
460	460		(5) Any individual with an associate degree with twelve credits or 364
461	461		more in early childhood education or child development, as determined 365
462	462		by the commissioner or the president of the Connecticut State Colleges 366
463	463		and Universities, after consultation with the commissioner, from an 367
464	464		institution of higher education (A) accredited by the Board of Regents 368
465	465		for Higher Education or Office of Higher Education, and (B) regionally 369
466	466		accredited, who has been employed in the same early childhood 370
467	467		education program that accepts state funds for infant, toddler and 371
468	468		preschool spaces associated with such program's child care program or 372
469	469		school readiness program since 1995 shall be considered to meet the staff 373
470	470		qualifications required under subparagraphs (B) to (D), inclusive, of 374
471	471		subdivision (2) of this subsection until June 30, 2025. On and after July 375
472	472		1, 2025, such individual shall hold a childhood development associate 376
473	473		credential or an equivalent credential, described in subparagraph (A) of 377
474	474		subdivision (2) of this subsection, or otherwise meet the staff 378
475	475		qualifications required under subparagraphs (C) and (D) of subdivision 379
476	476		(2) of this subsection. Any such individual who terminates his or her 380
477	477		employment with such early childhood education program on or before 381
478	478		June 30, 2025, and accepts a position at another early childhood 382
479	479		education program accepting state funds for spaces associated with 383
480	480		such program's child care program or school readiness program shall 384
481	481		submit documentation of such individual's progress toward meeting 385
482	482		the staff qualification requirements set forth in subparagraph (B) to (D), 386
483	483		inclusive, of subdivision (2) of this subsection in a manner determined 387
484	484		by the office. 388
485	485		(c) The commissioner shall establish a grant program to provide 389
486	486		spaces in accredited school readiness programs located in priority 390
487	487		school districts, as described in section 10-266p, or in former priority 391
488	488		school districts for eligible children. The state, acting by and in the 392 Raised Bill No. 5465
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494	494
495	495		discretion of the Commissioner of Early Childhood, in consultation with 393
496	496		a town or regional school readiness council, may enter into a contract 394
497	497		with a municipality, local or regional board of education, regional 395
498	498		educational service center, family resource center, provider of a child 396
499	499		care center, group child care home or family child care home, as 397
500	500		described in section 19a-77, as amended by this act, Head Start program, 398
501	501		preschool program or other program that meets such standards 399
502	502		established by the commissioner, to provide, within available 400
503	503		appropriations, state financial assistance. Eligibility shall be determined 401
504	504		for a five-year period based on an applicant's designation as a priority 402
505	505		school district for the initial year of application, except that if a school 403
506	506		district that receives a grant pursuant to this subsection is no longer 404
507	507		designated as a priority school district at the end of such five-year 405
508	508		period, such former priority school district shall continue to be eligible 406
509	509		to receive a grant pursuant to this subsection. Grant awards shall be 407
510	510		made annually contingent upon available funding and a satisfactory 408
511	511		annual evaluation. The chief elected official of such town and the 409
512	512		superintendent of schools for such priority school district or former 410
513	513		priority school district shall submit a plan for the expenditure of grant 411
514	514		funds and responses to the local request for proposal process to the 412
515	515		commissioner. The commissioner shall review and approve such plans. 413
516	516		The plan shall: (1) Be developed in consultation with the local or 414
517	517		regional school readiness council established pursuant to section 10-16r, 415
518	518		as amended by this act; (2) be based on a needs and resource assessment; 416
519	519		(3) provide for the issuance of requests for proposals for providers of 417
520	520		accredited school readiness programs, provided, after the initial 418
521	521		requests for proposals, facilities that have been approved to operate a 419
522	522		child care program financed through the Connecticut Health and 420
523	523		Education Facilities Authority and have received a commitment for debt 421
524	524		service from the Department of Social Services, pursuant to section 17b-422
525	525		749i, on or before June 30, 2014, and on or after July 1, 2014, from the 423
526	526		office, are exempt from the requirement for issuance of annual requests 424
527	527		for proposals; and (4) identify the need for funding pursuant to section 425
528	528		17b-749a in order to extend the hours and days of operation of school 426
529	529		readiness programs in order to provide child care services for children 427 Raised Bill No. 5465
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535	535
536	536		attending such programs. 428
537	537		(d) (1) The commissioner shall establish a competitive grant program 429
538	538		to provide spaces in accredited school readiness programs or school 430
539	539		readiness programs seeking accreditation located in (A) an area served 431
540	540		by a priority school or a former priority school, (B) a town ranked one 432
541	541		to fifty when all towns are ranked in ascending order according to town 433
542	542		wealth, as defined in subdivision (26) of section 10-262f, whose school 434
543	543		district is not a priority school district pursuant to section 10-266p, (C) a 435
544	544		town formerly a town described in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, 436
545	545		as provided for in subdivision (2) of this subsection, or (D) a town 437
546	546		designated as an alliance district, as defined in section 10-262u, whose 438
547	547		school district is not a priority school district pursuant to section 10-439
548	548		266p. A town in which a priority school is located, a regional school 440
549	549		readiness council, pursuant to subsection (c) of section 10-16r, as 441
550	550		amended by this act, for a region in which such a school is located or a 442
551	551		town described in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision may apply for 443
552	552		such a grant in an amount equal to the number of spaces in an accredited 444
553	553		school readiness program or a school readiness program seeking 445
554	554		accreditation multiplied by the per child cost set forth in subdivision (1) 446
555	555		of subsection (b) of section 10-16q, as amended by this act. Eligibility 447
556	556		shall be determined for a three-year period based on an applicant's 448
557	557		designation as having a priority school or being a town described in 449
558	558		subparagraph (B) of this subdivision for the initial year of application. 450
559	559		The state, acting by and in the discretion of the Commissioner of Early 451
560	560		Childhood, in consultation with a town or regional school readiness 452
561	561		council, may enter into a contract with a municipality, local or regional 453
562	562		board of education, regional educational service center, family resource 454
563	563		center, provider of a child care center, group child care home or family 455
564	564		child care home, as described in section 19a-77, as amended by this act, 456
565	565		Head Start program, preschool program or other program that meets 457
566	566		such standards established by the commissioner, to provide, within 458
567	567		available appropriations, state financial assistance. The chief elected 459
568	568		official of such town and the superintendent of schools of the school 460
569	569		district or the regional school readiness council shall submit a plan, as 461 Raised Bill No. 5465
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575	575
576	576		described in subsection (c) of this section, for the expenditure of such 462
577	577		grant funds to the commissioner. In awarding grants pursuant to this 463
578	578		subsection, the commissioner shall give preference to applications 464
579	579		submitted by regional school readiness councils and may, within 465
580	580		available appropriations, provide a grant to such town or regional 466
581	581		school readiness council that increases the number of spaces for eligible 467
582	582		children who reside in an area or town described in subparagraphs (A) 468
583	583		to (D), inclusive, of this subdivision, in an accredited school readiness 469
584	584		program or a school readiness program seeking accreditation. 470
585	585		(2) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (C) of this subdivision, 471
586	586		commencing with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005, if a town received 472
587	587		a grant pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection and is no longer 473
588	588		eligible to receive such a grant, the town may receive a phase-out grant 474
589	589		for each of the three fiscal years following the fiscal year such town 475
590	590		received its final grant pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection. 476
591	591		(B) The amount of such phase-out grants shall be determined as 477
592	592		follows: (i) For the first fiscal year following the fiscal year such town 478
593	593		received its final grant pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, in 479
594	594		an amount that does not exceed seventy-five per cent of the grant 480
595	595		amount such town received for the town or school's final year of 481
596	596		eligibility pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection; (ii) for the 482
597	597		second fiscal year following the fiscal year such town received its final 483
598	598		grant pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, in an amount that 484
599	599		does not exceed fifty per cent of the grant amount such town received 485
600	600		for the town's or school's final year of eligibility pursuant to subdivision 486
601	601		(1) of this subsection; and (iii) for the third fiscal year following the fiscal 487
602	602		year such town received its final grant pursuant to subdivision (1) of 488
603	603		this subsection, in an amount that does not exceed twenty-five per cent 489
604	604		of the grant amount such town received for the town's or school's final 490
605	605		year of eligibility pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection. 491
606	606		(C) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2011, and each fiscal year 492
607	607		thereafter, any town that received a grant pursuant to subparagraph (B) 493
608	608		of subdivision (1) of this subsection for the fiscal year ending June 30, 494 Raised Bill No. 5465
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614	614
615	615		2010, shall continue to receive a grant under this subsection even if the 495
616	616		town no longer meets the criteria for such grant pursuant to 496
617	617		subparagraph (B) of subdivision (1) of this subsection. 497
618	618		(e) (1) If funds appropriated for the purposes of subsection (c) of this 498
619	619		section are not expended, the commissioner may deposit such 499
620	620		unexpended funds in the account established under section 10-16aa and 500
621	621		use such unexpended funds in accordance with the provisions of section 501
622	622		10-16aa. 502
623	623		(2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, and each fiscal year 503
624	624		thereafter, if funds appropriated for the purposes of subsection (c) of 504
625	625		this section are not expended, an amount up to one million dollars of 505
626	626		such unexpended funds may be available for the provision of 506
627	627		scholarships and professional development for early childhood care and 507
628	628		education program providers, and individual staff members employed 508
629	629		in such programs, provided such programs accept state funds for infant, 509
630	630		toddler and preschool slots. Such unexpended funds may be available 510
631	631		for use in accordance with the provisions of this [subparagraph] 511
632	632		subdivision for the subsequent fiscal year. The commissioner may use 512
633	633		such unexpended funds on and after July 1, 2015, to support early 513
634	634		childhood education programs accepting state funds in satisfying the 514
635	635		staff qualifications requirements of subparagraphs (B) and (C) of 515
636	636		subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section. The commissioner shall 516
637	637		use any such funds to provide assistance to individual staff members, 517
638	638		giving priority to those staff members (A) attending an institution of 518
639	639		higher education accredited by the Board of Regents for Higher 519
640	640		Education or the Office of Higher Education, and approved by the 520
641	641		Office of Early Childhood, and regionally accredited, at a maximum of 521
642	642		ten thousand dollars per staff member per year for the cost of higher 522
643	643		education courses leading to a bachelor's degree or, not later than 523
644	644		December 31, 2015, an associate degree, as such degrees are described 524
645	645		in said subparagraphs (B) and (C), or (B) receiving noncredit 525
646	646		competency-based training approved by the office, at a maximum of one 526
647	647		thousand dollars per staff member per year, provided such staff 527 Raised Bill No. 5465
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653	653
654	654		members have applied for all available federal and state scholarships 528
655	655		and grants, and such assistance does not exceed such staff members' 529
656	656		financial need. Individual staff members shall apply for such 530
657	657		unexpended funds in a manner determined by the commissioner. The 531
658	658		commissioner shall determine how such unexpended funds shall be 532
659	659		distributed. 533
660	660		(3) If funds appropriated for the purposes of subsection (c) of this 534
661	661		section are not expended pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, 535
662	662		deposited pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, or used 536
663	663		pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection, the commissioner may 537
664	664		use such unexpended funds to support local school readiness programs. 538
665	665		The commissioner may use such funds for purposes including, but not 539
666	666		limited to, (A) assisting local school readiness programs in meeting and 540
667	667		maintaining accreditation requirements, (B) providing training in 541
668	668		implementing the preschool assessment and curriculum frameworks, 542
669	669		including training to enhance literacy teaching skills, (C) developing a 543
670	670		state-wide preschool curriculum, (D) developing student assessments 544
671	671		for students in grades kindergarten to two, inclusive, (E) developing 545
672	672		and implementing best practices for parents in supporting preschool 546
673	673		and kindergarten student learning, (F) developing and implementing 547
674	674		strategies for children to successfully transition to preschool and from 548
675	675		preschool to kindergarten, including through parental engagement and 549
676	676		whole-family supports that may be utilized through the two -550
677	677		generational initiative, established pursuant to section 17b-112l, or 551
678	678		through other available resources, (G) providing for professional 552
679	679		development, including assisting in career ladder advancement, for 553
680	680		school readiness staff, (H) providing supplemental grants to other 554
681	681		towns that are eligible for grants pursuant to subsection (c) of this 555
682	682		section, and (I) developing a plan to provide spaces in an accredited 556
683	683		school readiness program or a school readiness program seeking 557
684	684		accreditation to all eligible children who reside in an area or town 558
685	685		described in subparagraphs (A) to (D), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of 559
686	686		subsection (d) of this section. 560 Raised Bill No. 5465
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692	692
693	693		(f) Any school readiness program that receives funds pursuant to this 561
694	694		section or section 10-16u shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, 562
695	695		national origin, gender, religion or disability. For purposes of this 563
696	696		section, a nonsectarian program means any public or private school 564
697	697		readiness program that is not violative of the Establishment Clause of 565
698	698		the Constitution of the State of Connecticut or the Establishment Clause 566
699	699		of the Constitution of the United States of America. 567
700	700		(g) Subject to the provisions of this subsection, no funds received by 568
701	701		a town pursuant to subsection (c) or (d) of this section or section 10-16u 569
702	702		shall be used to supplant federal, state or local funding received by such 570
703	703		town for early childhood education, provided a town may use an 571
704	704		amount determined in accordance with this subsection for coordination, 572
705	705		program evaluation and administration. Such amount shall be at least 573
706	706		five per cent of the total grant allocation, but not more than seventy-five 574
707	707		thousand dollars and shall be determined by the commissioner based 575
708	708		on the school readiness grant award allocated to the town pursuant to 576
709	709		subsection (c) or (d) of this section or section 10-16u and the number of 577
710	710		operating sites for coordination, program evaluation and 578
711	711		administration. Such amount shall be increased by an amount equal to 579
712	712		local funding provided for early childhood education coordination, 580
713	713		program evaluation and administration, not to exceed twenty-five 581
714	714		thousand dollars. Each town that receives a grant pursuant to 582
715	715		subsection (c) or (d) of this section or section 10-16u shall designate a 583
716	716		person to be responsible for such coordination, program evaluation and 584
717	717		administration and to act as a liaison between the town and the 585
718	718		commissioner. Each school readiness program that receives funds 586
719	719		pursuant to this section or section 10-16u shall provide information to 587
720	720		the commissioner or the school readiness council, as requested, that is 588
721	721		necessary for purposes of any school readiness program evaluation. 589
722	722		(h) Any town receiving a grant pursuant to this section may use such 590
723	723		grant, with the approval of the commissioner, to prepare a facility or 591
724	724		staff for operating a school readiness program and shall be adjusted 592
725	725		based on the number of days of operation of a school readiness program 593 Raised Bill No. 5465
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731	731
732	732		if a shorter term of operation is approved by the commissioner. 594
733	733		(i) A town may use grant funds to purchase spaces for eligible 595
734	734		children who reside in such town at an accredited school readiness 596
735	735		program located in another town. A regional school readiness council 597
736	736		may use grant funds to purchase spaces for eligible children who reside 598
737	737		in the region covered by the council at an accredited school readiness 599
738	738		program located outside such region. 600
739	739		(j) Children enrolled in school readiness programs funded pursuant 601
740	740		to this section shall not be counted (1) as resident students for purposes 602
741	741		of subdivision (22) of section 10-262f, or (2) in the determination of 603
742	742		average daily membership pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (a) 604
743	743		of section 10-261. 605
744	744		(k) (1) Up to two per cent of the amount of the appropriation for this 606
745	745		section may be allocated to the competitive grant program pursuant to 607
746	746		subsection (d) of this section. The determination of the amount of such 608
747	747		allocation shall be made on or before August first. 609
748	748		(2) Up to two per cent of the amount of the appropriation for this 610
749	749		section may be used by the commissioner in a manner consistent with 611
750	750		the provisions of section 10-509. 612
751	751		[(l) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, and each fiscal year 613
752	752		thereafter, any school readiness program that (1) is licensed by the 614
753	753		Office of Early Childhood pursuant to chapter 368a, (2) provides full-615
754	754		day and year-round child care and education programs for children, 616
755	755		and (3) receives funds pursuant to this section or section 10-16u, shall 617
756	756		use any amount of the per child cost as described in subdivision (1) of 618
757	757		subsection (b) of section 10-16q that is over the amount of eight 619
758	758		thousand nine hundred twenty-seven dollars, exclusively to increase 620
759	759		the salaries of those individuals with direct responsibility for teaching 621
760	760		or caring for children in a classroom at such school readiness program.] 622
761	761		Sec. 7. Subsection (b) of section 8-210 of the 2022 supplement to the 623
762	762		general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 624 Raised Bill No. 5465
763	763
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768	768
769	769		thereof (Effective July 1, 2022): 625
770	770		(b) The state, acting by and in the discretion of the Commissioner of 626
771	771		Early Childhood, may enter into a contract with a municipality, a group 627
772	772		child care home or family child care home, as described in section 19a-628
773	773		77, as amended by this act, a human resource development agency or a 629
774	774		nonprofit corporation for state financial assistance in developing and 630
775	775		operating child care centers, group child care homes and family child 631
776	776		care homes for children disadvantaged by reasons of economic, social 632
777	777		or environmental conditions, provided no such financial assistance shall 633
778	778		be available for the operating costs of any such child care center, group 634
779	779		child care home or family child care home unless it has been licensed by 635
780	780		the Commissioner of Early Childhood pursuant to section 19a-80. Such 636
781	781		financial assistance shall be available for a program of a municipality, of 637
782	782		a group child care home or family child care home, of a human resource 638
783	783		development agency or of a nonprofit corporation which may provide 639
784	784		for personnel, equipment, supplies, activities, program materials and 640
785	785		renovation and remodeling of the physical facilities of such child care 641
786	786		centers, group child care homes or family child care homes. Such 642
787	787		contract shall provide for state financial assistance, within available 643
788	788		appropriations, in the form of a state grant-in-aid (1) for a portion of the 644
789	789		cost of such program, as determined by the Commissioner of Early 645
790	790		Childhood, if not federally assisted, (2) equal to one-half of the amount 646
791	791		by which the net cost of such program, as approved by the 647
792	792		Commissioner of Early Childhood, exceeds the federal grant-in-aid 648
793	793		thereof, or (3) in an amount not less than the per child cost as described 649
794	794		in subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 10-16q, as amended by this 650
795	795		act, for each child in such program that is three or four years of age and 651
796	796		each child that is five years of age who is not eligible to enroll in school, 652
797	797		pursuant to section 10-15c, while maintaining services to children under 653
798	798		three years of age under this section. [For the fiscal year ending June 30, 654
799	799		2020, and each fiscal year thereafter, the amount per child pursuant to 655
800	800		subdivision (3) of this subsection that is over the amount of the per child 656
801	801		cost that was prescribed pursuant to the contract for the fiscal year 657
802	802		ending June 30, 2019, shall be used exclusively to increase the salaries of 658 Raised Bill No. 5465
803	803
804	804
805	805		LCO 3151 {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2022HB-05465-
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807	807		22 of 28
808	808
809	809		early childhood educators employed at the child care center.] The 659
810	810		Commissioner of Early Childhood may authorize child care centers, 660
811	811		group child care homes and family child care homes receiving financial 661
812	812		assistance under this subsection to apply a program surplus to the next 662
813	813		program year. The Commissioner of Early Childhood shall consult with 663
814	814		directors of child care centers in establishing fees for the operation of 664
815	815		such centers. 665
816	816		Sec. 8. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 17b-749 of the 2022 666
817	817		supplement to the general statutes are repealed and the following is 667
818	818		substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2022): 668
819	819		(a) The Commissioner of Early Childhood shall establish and operate 669
820	820		a child care subsidy program to increase the availability, affordability 670
821	821		and quality of child care services for families with a parent or caretaker 671
822	822		who (1) is (A) working or attending high school, or (B) [subject to the 672
823	823		provisions of subsection (d) of this section,] is enrolled or participating 673
824	824		in (i) a public or independent institution of higher education, (ii) a 674
825	825		private occupational school authorized pursuant to sections 10a-22a to 675
826	826		10a-22o, inclusive, (iii) a job training or employment program 676
827	827		administered by a regional workforce development board, (iv) an 677
828	828		apprenticeship program administered by the Labor Department's office 678
829	829		of apprenticeship training, (v) an alternate route to certification program 679
830	830		approved by the State Board of Education, (vi) an adult education 680
831	831		program pursuant to section 10-69 or other high school equivalency 681
832	832		program, or (vii) a local Even Start program or other adult education 682
833	833		program approved by the Commissioner of Early Childhood; or (2) 683
834	834		receives cash assistance under the temporary family assistance program 684
835	835		from the Department of Social Services and is participating in an 685
836	836		education, training or other job preparation activity approved pursuant 686
837	837		to subsection (b) of section 17b-688i or subsection (b) of section 17b-687
838	838		689d. Services available under the child care subsidy program shall 688
839	839		include the provision of child care subsidies for children under the age 689
840	840		of thirteen or children under the age of nineteen with special needs. The 690
841	841		Office of Early Childhood shall open and maintain enrollment for the 691 Raised Bill No. 5465
842	842
843	843
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846	846		23 of 28
847	847
848	848		child care subsidy program and shall administer such program within 692
849	849		the existing budgetary resources available. The office shall issue a notice 693
850	850		on the office's Internet web site any time the office closes the program to 694
851	851		new applications, changes eligibility requirements, changes program 695
852	852		benefits or makes any other change to the program's status or terms, 696
853	853		except the office shall not be required to issue such notice when the 697
854	854		office expands program eligibility. Any change in the office's acceptance 698
855	855		of new applications, eligibility requirements, program benefits or any 699
856	856		other change to the program's status or terms for which the office is 700
857	857		required to give notice pursuant to this subsection, shall not be effective 701
858	858		until thirty days after the office issues such notice. 702
859	859		(b) The commissioner shall (1) establish income standards for 703
860	860		applicants and recipients at a level to include a family with gross income 704
861	861		up to [fifty] seventy-five per cent of the state-wide median income, 705
862	862		except the commissioner, [(1) may increase the income level up to the 706
863	863		maximum level allowed under federal law, (2)] upon the request of the 707
864	864		Commissioner of Children and Families, may waive the income 708
865	865		standards for adoptive families so that children adopted on or after 709
866	866		October 1, 1999, from the Department of Children and Families are 710
867	867		eligible for the child care subsidy program, and [(3) on and after March 711
868	868		1, 2003, shall reduce the income eligibility level to up to fifty-five per 712
869	869		cent of the state-wide median income for applicants and recipients who 713
870	870		qualify based on their loss of eligibility for temporary family assistance] 714
871	871		(2) limit the amount of a family copay to a maximum of seven per cent 715
872	872		of a family's household income. The commissioner may adopt 716
873	873		regulations in accordance with chapter 54 to establish income criteria 717
874	874		and durational requirements for such waiver of income standards. 718
875	875		Sec. 9. Subsection (d) of section 17b-749 of the 2022 supplement to the 719
876	876		general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 720
877	877		thereof (Effective July 1, 2022): 721
878	878		(d) (1) Not later than July 1, 2015, an applicant determined to be 722
879	879		eligible for program benefits by the Commissioner of Early Childhood 723
880	880		shall remain eligible for such benefits for a period prescribed by federal 724 Raised Bill No. 5465
881	881
882	882
883	883		LCO 3151 {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2022HB-05465-
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885	885		24 of 28
886	886
887	887		law. [, except any applicant determined to be eligible for program 725
888	888		benefits by the commissioner under subparagraph (B) of subdivision (1) 726
889	889		of subsection (a) of this section shall only be eligible for and receive such 727
890	890		benefits upon the availability of federal funds received pursuant to 728
891	891		Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 729
892	892		P.L. 116-260, as amended from time to time, or the American Rescue 730
893	893		Plan Act of 2021, P.L. 117-2, as amended from time to time, and 731
894	894		designated by the commissioner for such benefits.] 732
895	895		(2) For purposes of determining the eligibility of an applicant for 733
896	896		program benefits under subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of 734
897	897		subsection (a) of this section, the commissioner shall accept evidence of 735
898	898		registration with a job search assistance program administered by the 736
899	899		Labor Department. An applicant determined to be eligible for program 737
900	900		benefits under this subdivision shall be considered employed half-time 738
901	901		and eligible for such benefits for a period of ninety days while such 739
902	902		applicant seeks employment. 740
903	903		Sec. 10. Section 17b-749 of the 2022 supplement to the general statutes 741
904	904		is amended by adding subsection (l) as follows (Effective July 1, 2022): 742
905	905		(NEW) (l) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, and each fiscal year 743
906	906		thereafter, the amount of the subsidy paid to providers under the child 744
907	907		care subsidy program shall be at least seventy-five per cent of the market 745
908	908		rate, as determined by the Commissioner of Early Childhood pursuant 746
909	909		to the current market rate study required under federal law. 747
910	910		Sec. 11. Subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section 19a-77 of the 748
911	911		general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 749
912	912		thereof (Effective July 1, 2022): 750
913	913		(3) A "family child care home" which consists of a private family 751
914	914		home (A) caring for not more than six children, including the provider's 752
915	915		own children not in school full time, or if there is an assistant or 753
916	916		substitute staff member approved by the Commissioner of Early 754
917	917		Childhood present, not more than nine children, (B) where the children 755 Raised Bill No. 5465
918	918
919	919
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922	922		25 of 28
923	923
924	924		are cared for not less than three or more than twelve hours during a 756
925	925		twenty-four-hour period, and (C) where care is given on a regularly 757
926	926		recurring basis except that care may be provided in excess of twelve 758
927	927		hours but not more than seventy -two consecutive hours to 759
928	928		accommodate a need for extended care or intermittent short-term 760
929	929		overnight care. [During the regular school year, a maximum of three 761
930	930		additional children who are in school full time, including the provider's 762
931	931		own children, shall be permitted, except that if the provider has more 763
932	932		than three children who are in school full time] At any time during the 764
933	933		year, all of the provider's children shall be permitted; [. During the 765
934	934		summer months when regular school is not in session, a maximum of 766
935	935		three additional children who are otherwise enrolled in school full time, 767
936	936		including the provider's own children, shall be permitted if there is an 768
937	937		assistant or substitute staff member approved by the Commissioner of 769
938	938		Early Childhood, pursuant to section 19a-87b, present and assisting the 770
939	939		provider, except that (A) if the provider has more than three such 771
940	940		additional children who are the provider's own children, all of the 772
941	941		provider's own children shall be permitted, and (B) such approved 773
942	942		assistant or substitute staff member shall not be required if all of such 774
943	943		additional children are the provider's own children;] 775
944	944		Sec. 12. Section 10-16r of the 2022 supplement to the general statutes 776
945	945		is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 777
946	946		1, 2022): 778
947	947		(a) A town seeking to apply for a grant pursuant to subsection (c) of 779
948	948		section 10-16p, as amended by this act, or section 10-16u shall convene 780
949	949		a local school readiness council or shall establish a regional school 781
950	950		readiness council pursuant to subsection (c) of this section. Any other 782
951	951		town may convene such a council. The chief elected official of the town 783
952	952		or, in the case of a regional school district, the chief elected officials of 784
953	953		the towns in the school district and the superintendent of schools for the 785
954	954		school district shall jointly appoint and convene such council. Each 786
955	955		school readiness council shall be composed of: (1) The chief elected 787
956	956		official, or the official's designee; (2) the superintendent of schools, or a 788 Raised Bill No. 5465
957	957
958	958
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961	961		26 of 28
962	962
963	963		management level staff person as the superintendent's designee; (3) 789
964	964		parents; (4) representatives from local programs such as Head Start, 790
965	965		child care providers receiving state financial assistance pursuant to 791
966	966		section 8-210, as amended by this act, family resource centers, nonprofit 792
967	967		and for-profit child care centers, group child care homes, 793
968	968		prekindergarten and nursery schools, and family child care home 794
969	969		providers; (5) a representative from a health care provider in the 795
970	970		community; (6) the local homeless education liaison designated by the 796
971	971		local or regional board of education for the school district, pursuant to 797
972	972		Subtitle B of Title VII of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, 798
973	973		42 USC 11431 et seq., as amended from time to time; (7) a representative 799
974	974		from a workforce or job training entity in the community; (8) a 800
975	975		representative from a local business in the community; and (9) other 801
976	976		representatives from the community who provide services to children. 802
977	977		On and after July 1, 2021, the members of the school readiness council 803
978	978		shall elect the chairperson of the school readiness council. Each school 804
979	979		readiness council is required to document efforts to ensure that the 805
980	980		racial, ethnic and socioeconomic composition of the council reflects that 806
981	981		of its town or region, as applicable. At least twenty-five per cent of the 807
982	982		membership of the school readiness council shall be parents or 808
983	983		guardians of children eligible to attend a school readiness program. 809
984	984		Such parents or guardians may, within available appropriations, be 810
985	985		compensated for any time and travel related to council meetings, and 811
986	986		any activities related to training, leadership and community 812
987	987		engagement. School readiness council meetings shall be held at times 813
988	988		and locations that are convenient for the council members, including the 814
989	989		parent and guardian members. 815
990	990		(b) The local school readiness council shall: (1) Make 816
991	991		recommendations to the chief elected official and the superintendent of 817
992	992		schools on issues relating to school readiness, including any 818
993	993		applications for grants pursuant to sections 10-16p, as amended by this 819
994	994		act, 10-16u, 17b-749a and 17b-749c; (2) foster partnerships among 820
995	995		providers of school readiness programs; (3) cooperate with the Office of 821
996	996		Early Childhood in any evaluation of a school readiness program; (4) 822 Raised Bill No. 5465
997	997
998	998
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1001	1001		27 of 28
1002	1002
1003	1003		identify existing and prospective resources and services available to 823
1004	1004		children and families; (5) facilitate the coordination of the delivery of 824
1005	1005		services to children and families, including (A) referral procedures, and 825
1006	1006		(B) before and after-school child care for children attending 826
1007	1007		kindergarten programs; (6) exchange information with other councils, 827
1008	1008		the community and organizations serving the needs of children and 828
1009	1009		families; (7) make recommendations to school officials concerning 829
1010	1010		transition from school readiness programs to kindergarten; (8) 830
1011	1011		encourage public participation; [and] (9) collaborate with the Office of 831
1012	1012		Early Childhood related to planning improvements to the state early 832
1013	1013		care and education governance structure; and (10) conduct, as 833
1014	1014		necessary, a needs assessment for early childhood education for 834
1015	1015		children and families in the community. 835
1016	1016		(c) Two or more towns or school districts and appropriate 836
1017	1017		representatives of groups or entities interested in early childhood 837
1018	1018		education in a region may establish a regional school readiness council. 838
1019	1019		If a priority school is located in at least one of such school districts, the 839
1020	1020		regional school readiness council may apply for a grant pursuant to 840
1021	1021		subsection (d) of section 10-16p, as amended by this act. The regional 841
1022	1022		school readiness council may perform the duties outlined in 842
1023	1023		subdivisions (2) to (8), inclusive, and (10) of subsection (b) of this 843
1024	1024		section. 844
1025	1025		(d) On and after July 1, 2022, following a local needs assessment 845
1026	1026		conducted pursuant to subdivision (10) of subsection (b) of this section, 846
1027	1027		that reveals a surplus of unused school readiness spaces, a local or 847
1028	1028		regional school readiness council may convert such unused school 848
1029	1029		readiness spaces to infant and toddler spaces, provided the per child 849
1030	1030		cost for such converted spaces does not exceed the per child cost for 850
1031	1031		infant and toddler spaces for state-funded child care centers pursuant to 851
1032	1032		section 8-210, as amended by this act. 852
1033	1033		Sec. 13. (Effective July 1, 2022) The sum of ____ dollars is appropriated 853
1034	1034		to the Office of Early Childhood from the General Fund, for the fiscal 854
1035	1035		year ending June 30, 2023, for the purpose of expending such funds in 855 Raised Bill No. 5465
1036	1036
1037	1037
1038	1038		LCO 3151 {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2022HB-05465-
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1040	1040		28 of 28
1041	1041
1042	1042		accordance with the provisions of subdivision (2) of subsection (e) of 856
1043	1043		section 10-16p of the general statutes, as amended by this act. 857
1044	1044		This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
1045	1045		sections:
1046	1046
1047	1047		Section 1 July 1, 2022 New section
1048	1048		Sec. 2 July 1, 2022 New section
1049	1049		Sec. 3 July 1, 2022 10-531
1050	1050		Sec. 4 July 1, 2022 New section
1051	1051		Sec. 5 July 1, 2022 10-16q(b)(1)
1052	1052		Sec. 6 July 1, 2022 10-16p
1053	1053		Sec. 7 July 1, 2022 8-210(b)
1054	1054		Sec. 8 July 1, 2022 17b-749(a) and (b)
1055	1055		Sec. 9 July 1, 2022 17b-749(d)
1056	1056		Sec. 10 July 1, 2022 17b-749
1057	1057		Sec. 11 July 1, 2022 19a-77(a)(3)
1058	1058		Sec. 12 July 1, 2022 10-16r
1059	1059		Sec. 13 July 1, 2022 New section
1060	1060
1061	1061		ED Joint Favorable
1062		-	APP Joint Favorable
1063	1062