Connecticut 2024 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB05051 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

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5		-	General Assembly ~~Substitute~~ Bill No. 5051
	7	+	General Assembly Governor's Bill No. 5051
6	8		February Session, 2024
	9	+	LCO No. 585
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	11	+
	12	+	Referred to Committee on EDUCATION
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	14	+
	15	+	Introduced by:
	16	+	Request of the Governor
	17	+	Pursuant to Joint Rule 9
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12	22		AN ACT ESTABLISHING EARLY START CT.
13	23		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
14	24		Assembly convened:
15	25
16		-	Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, ~~2026~~) As used in this section and 1
17		-	sections 2 to 10, inclusive, of this act: 2
	26	+	Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) As used in this section and 1
	27	+	sections 2 to 11, inclusive, of this act: 2
18	28		(1) "Accredited" means accredited by the National Association for the 3
19	29		Education of Young Children, National Association for Family Child 4
20	30		Care, Early Head Start or Head Start federal approval, or other 5
21	31		nationally recognized accreditations or certifications as approved by the 6
22	32		commissioner; 7
23	33		(2) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Early Childhood; 8
24	34		(3) "Office" means the Office of Early Childhood; and 9
25	35		(4) "Early Start CT" means the state-funded early care and education 10
26	36		system administered by the office that coordinates and facilitates the 11
27	37		efficient delivery of early childhood care and education programs for 12
28		-	eligible children. 13
29		-	Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2026) The Office of Early Childhood 14
30		-	shall operate and administer Early Start CT in order to: 15
31		-	(1) Provide open access for infants and toddlers and preschool-age 16 Substitute Bill No. 5051
	38	+	eligible children. 13 Bill No. 5051
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	45	+	Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) The Office of Early Childhood 14
	46	+	shall operate and administer Early Start CT in order to: 15
	47	+	(1) Provide open access for infants and toddlers and preschool-age 16
36	48		children to high-quality programs that promote the health and safety of 17
37	49		children and prepare them for school; 18
38	50		(2) Provide opportunities for parents to choose among affordable and 19
39	51		accredited and Head Start approved programs; 20
40	52		(3) Encourage coordination and cooperation among programs and 21
41	53		prevent the duplication of services; 22
42	54		(4) Recognize the specific service needs and unique resources 23
43	55		available to particular municipalities; 24
44	56		(5) Prevent or minimize the potential for developmental delay in 25
45	57		children prior to their reaching the age of five; 26
46	58		(6) Strengthen the family through: (A) Encouragement of family 27
47	59		engagement and partnership in a child's development and education, 28
48	60		and (B) enhancement of a family's capacity to meet the special needs of 29
49	61		the children, including children with disabilities; 30
50	62		(7) Reduce educational costs by decreasing the need for special 31
51	63		education services for school-age children; 32
52	64		(8) Assure that children with disabilities are integrated into programs 33
53	65		available to children who do not have disabilities; 34
54	66		(9) Improve the availability and quality of Early Start CT programs 35
55	67		and their coordination with the services of child care providers; 36
56	68		(10) Facilitate the racial, ethnic and socioeconomic diversity of the 37
57	69		children, families and staff in Early Start CT programs; and 38
58	70		(11) Maximize local and federal early childhood education funding 39
59		-	to expand capacity and access. 40
60		-	Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2026) The Office of Early Childhood 41
	71	+	to expand capacity and access. 40 Bill No. 5051
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	78	+	Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) The Office of Early Childhood 41
61	79		shall establish a sliding fee scale for families participating in Early Start 42
62	80		CT. Such sliding scale shall be based on family income and align with 43
63		-	the sliding fee scale used in the child care subsidy program described in 44 Substitute Bill No. 5051
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65		-
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67		-
68		-	section 17b-749 of the general statutes. 45
69		-	Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2026) The Commissioner of Early 46
	81	+	the sliding fee scale used in the child care subsidy program described in 44
	82	+	section 17b-249 of the general statutes. 45
	83	+	Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) The Commissioner of Early 46
70	84		Childhood shall implement policies and procedures necessary to (1) 47
71		-	administer the provisions of sections 1 to 3, inclusive, and 5 to 10, 48
	85	+	administer the provisions of sections 1 to 3, inclusive, and 5 to 11, 48
72	86		inclusive, of this act, (2) implement infant and toddler and school-age 49
73	87		ratios and group size requirements, and (3) implement head teacher 50
74	88		staffing requirements for programs that serve only school-age children, 51
75	89		while in the process of adopting such policies and procedures in 52
76	90		regulation form. Any existing regulations relating to infant and toddler 53
77	91		and school-age ratios, group size requirements and head teacher 54
78	92		staffing requirements for programs that serve only school-age children 55
79	93		that are generally applicable to child care centers and group child care 56
80	94		homes shall continue to be applicable to such centers and homes that 57
81	95		serve infants and toddlers and school-age children until replaced by the 58
82	96		policies and procedures described in this section. The commissioner 59
83	97		shall post notice of the intent to adopt regulations on the department's 60
84	98		Internet web site and the eRegulations System not later than twenty 61
85	99		days after the date of implementation of such policies and procedures. 62
86	100		Such policies and procedures shall be valid until the time final 63
87	101		regulations are adopted. 64
88		-	Sec. 5. (NEW) (Effective July 1, ~~2026~~) (a) As part of Early Start CT, the 65
	102	+	Sec. 5. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) As part of Early Start CT, the 65
89	103		state, acting by and in the discretion of the Commissioner of Early 66
90	104		Childhood, may enter into direct or third-party contracts to provide 67
91	105		financial assistance to municipalities, local and regional boards of 68
92	106		education, regional educational service centers, family resource centers, 69
93	107		Head Start programs, preschool programs, nonprofit organizations, 70
94	108		child care centers, group child care homes, family child care homes, as 71
95	109		such terms are described in section 19a-77 of the general statutes, and 72
96		-	any other programs that meet standards established by the 73
	110	+	any other programs that meet standards established by the 73 Bill No. 5051
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97	117		commissioner for the purpose of operating early childhood care and 74
98	118		education programs that focus on providing early childhood access 75
99	119		based on economic, social or environmental conditions, including in 76
100	120		regions with insufficient access to child care. At least sixty per cent of 77
101		-	the eligible children participating in Early Start CT and enrolled in a 78 Substitute Bill No. 5051
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103		-
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105		-
	121	+	the eligible children participating in Early Start CT and enrolled in a 78
106	122		child care center, group child care home or family child care home shall 79
107	123		be members of a family that is at or below seventy-five per cent of the 80
108	124		state median income. No such financial assistance shall be available to 81
109	125		(1) any such child care center, group child care home or family child care 82
110	126		home unless such center or home has been licensed by the 83
111	127		Commissioner of Early Childhood pursuant to section 19a-80 or 19a-87b 84
112	128		of the general statutes, as amended by this act, or (2) any such local or 85
113	129		regional board of education or regional educational service center 86
114	130		unless the preschool program is approved by the Department of 87
115	131		Education. The majority of such programs eligible for such financial 88
116	132		assistance shall serve children that reside in or attend programs located 89
117	133		in priority school districts pursuant to section 10-266p of the general 90
118	134		statutes, former priority school districts or towns with schools deemed 91
119	135		severe need schools because forty per cent or more of the lunches served 92
120	136		are served to students who are eligible for free or reduced price lunches 93
121	137		pursuant to federal law. In determining eligibility for financial 94
122	138		assistance, the commissioner may consider (A) a community's 95
123	139		participation in the state's subsidized child care subsidy program 96
124		-	established pursuant to section 17b-749 of the general statutes, and (B) 97
125		-	the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's social vulnerability 98
126		-	index determined by census tract, and such index may include a review 99
127		-	of a community's indices of social, economic, racial, ethnic, housing, 100
128		-	transportation and household characteristics as determined by the 101
129		-	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 102
130		-	(b) Any contract entered into under this section shall be contingent 103
131		-	upon available funding and a successful application to a request for 104
132		-	proposal issued by the office and informed by the appropriate local or 105
133		-	regional governance partner's needs assessment and community plan, 106
134		-	as described in section 8 of this act. Any Early Start CT facility that has 107
135		-	been approved to operate a child care program financed through the 108
136		-	Connecticut Health and Education Facilities Authority and has received 109
137		-	a commitment for debt service from the Department of Social Services, 110
138		-	pursuant to section 17b-749i of the general statutes, on or before June 30, 111
139		-	2014, and on or after July 1, 2014, from the office are exempt from the 112 Substitute Bill No. 5051
	140	+	established pursuant to section 17b-749 of the general statutes, as 97
	141	+	amended by this act, and (B) the Centers for Disease Control and 98
	142	+	Prevention's social vulnerability index determined by census tract, and 99
	143	+	such index may include a review of a community's indices of social, 100
	144	+	economic, racial, ethnic, housing, transportation and household 101
	145	+	characteristics as determined by the Centers for Disease Control and 102
	146	+	Prevention. 103
	147	+	(b) Any contract entered into under this section shall be made 104
	148	+	contingent upon available funding and a successful application to a 105
	149	+	request for proposal issued by the office and informed by the 106
	150	+	appropriate local governance partner's needs assessment and 107 Bill No. 5051
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144		-	~~requirement for issuance~~ of ~~requests for proposals~~. ~~113~~
145		-	~~(c) The office,~~ ~~in operating and administering Early Start CT,~~ ~~shall 114~~
146		-	~~allocate an amount up to five per cent of~~ the ~~total funding for each town 115~~
147		-	~~or city,~~ ~~or, in~~ the ~~case~~ of ~~a regional application, the participating towns 116~~
148		-	~~or cities~~, ~~but not more than seventy-five~~ ~~thousand dollars per town or 117~~
149		-	~~city~~, ~~for coordination~~, ~~program evaluation~~ and ~~administration. Such 118~~
150		-	~~amount shall be increased by an amount equal to local funding provided 119~~
151		-	~~for~~ early ~~childhood education coordination~~, ~~program evaluation and 120~~
152		-	~~administration, not~~ to ~~exceed twenty-five~~ ~~thousand dollars.~~ Each ~~local 121~~
153		-	or regional ~~governance partner~~, ~~established pursuant to section 8 of this 122~~
154		-	~~act~~, ~~shall designate a staff person to be responsible for such 123~~
155		-	coordination, program evaluation and administration ~~and to act as a 124~~
156		-	~~liaison between the town and the commissioner.~~ ~~125~~
157		-	~~(d) Any~~ program ~~under Early Start CT that receives funds pursuant 126~~
158		-	~~to this section shall~~ not ~~discriminate based on ancestry,~~ ~~race, color,~~ ~~127~~
159		-	~~national origin~~, ~~sex~~, ~~gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, 128~~
160		-	~~religion~~, ~~learning, physical, intellectual or mental disability or any other 129~~
161		-	~~protected class described in chapter 814c of the general statutes.~~ ~~130~~
162		-	~~(e) No funds received as part of Early Start CT under this section shall 131~~
163		-	~~be used to supplant federal, state or local funding received for~~ early ~~132~~
164		-	~~childhood education~~ on ~~behalf of children in an early childhood 133~~
165		-	~~education program.~~ ~~134~~
166		-	~~(f) For the fiscal year ending June 30~~, ~~2027~~, ~~the office may pay~~, ~~in an 135~~
167		-	~~individual contract entered into under this section,~~ ~~a per-child~~ ~~rate, or 136~~
168		-	~~an equivalent per-classroom~~ ~~rate, that has been determined by the 137~~
169		-	~~commissioner. The per-child~~ ~~cost paid by the office under this section 138~~
170		-	~~for each eligible child enrolled~~ in ~~a program under~~ Early ~~Start CT who 139~~
171		-	~~is three or four years of age and each child who is five years of age and 140~~
172		-	~~not eligible to enroll~~ in ~~school, pursuant to section 10-15c of the general 141~~
173		-	~~statutes~~, ~~shall be at least ten thousand five hundred dollars for each such 142~~
174		-	~~child, or paid at~~ an equivalent ~~rate and amount~~ per classroom ~~for 143~~
175		-	~~eighteen children~~. ~~For each eligible~~ child ~~who is~~ under ~~the age of three 144 Substitute~~ Bill No. 5051
	157	+	community plan, as described in section 8 of this act. Any Early Start CT 108
	158	+	facility that has been approved to operate a child care program financed 109
	159	+	through the Connecticut Health and Education Facilities Authority and 110
	160	+	has received a commitment for debt service from the Department of 111
	161	+	Social Services, pursuant to section 17b-749i of the general statutes, on 112
	162	+	or before June 30, 2014, and on or after July 1, 2014, from the office are 113
	163	+	exempt from the requirement for issuance of requests for proposals. 114
	164	+	(c) The office, in operating and administering Early Start CT, shall 115
	165	+	allocate an amount up to ten per cent of the total funding for each town 116
	166	+	or city, or, in the case of a regional application, the participating towns 117
	167	+	or cities, but not more than one hundred fifty thousand dollars per town 118
	168	+	or city, for coordination, program evaluation and administration. Such 119
	169	+	amount shall be increased by an amount equal to local funding provided 120
	170	+	for early childhood education coordination, program evaluation and 121
	171	+	administration, not to exceed fifty thousand dollars. Each local 122
	172	+	governance partner, established pursuant to section 8 of this act, shall 123
	173	+	designate a staff person to be responsible for such coordination, 124
	174	+	program evaluation and administration and to act as a liaison between 125
	175	+	the town and the commissioner. 126
	176	+	(d) Any program under Early Start CT that receives funds pursuant 127
	177	+	to this section shall not discriminate based on ancestry, race, color, 128
	178	+	national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, 129
	179	+	religion, learning, physical, intellectual or mental disability or any other 130
	180	+	protected class described in chapter 814c of the general statutes. 131
	181	+	(e) No funds received as part of Early Start CT under this section shall 132
	182	+	be used to supplant federal, state or local funding received for early 133
	183	+	childhood education on behalf of children in an early childhood 134
	184	+	education program. 135
	185	+	(f) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, the office may pay, in an 136
	186	+	individual contract entered into under this section, a per-child rate, or 137
	187	+	an equivalent per-classroom rate, that has been determined by the 138
	188	+	commissioner. The per-child cost paid by the office under this section 139 Bill No. 5051
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180		-	~~and~~ enrolled in ~~an infant or toddler classroom and not in~~ a ~~preschool 145~~
181		-	~~classroom, the per-~~child ~~cost paid by the office shall be at least thirteen 146~~
182		-	~~thousand five hundred dollars for each such child~~, ~~or paid at an 147~~
183		-	~~equivalent rate and amount per classroom of eight children.~~ ~~The office 148~~
184		-	~~shall use data-driven~~, ~~outcomes-based contract provisions to facilitate 149~~
185		-	~~and incentivize full enrollment~~. ~~150~~
186		-	~~(g) The office may use up to two per cent of funds allocated to the 151~~
187		-	~~early care and education appropriation to evaluate program 152~~
188		-	~~effectiveness and impact on participating children~~, ~~families and 153~~
189		-	~~programs, including,~~ ~~but not limited to,~~ ~~child outcomes,~~ ~~later school 154~~
190		-	~~performance~~, ~~quality standards,~~ ~~professional development and 155~~
191		-	~~preparation,~~ and ~~parent engagement impact~~. ~~156~~
192		-	~~Sec. 6.~~ (~~NEW~~) ~~(Effective July 1,~~ ~~2026) (a) Except as otherwise provided 157~~
193		-	~~in subsection (b) of this section,~~ ~~for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, 158~~
194		-	and ~~each fiscal year thereafter~~, ~~if funds appropriated to the Office of 159~~
195		-	~~Early Childhood for Early Start CT are~~ not ~~expended by the 160~~
196		-	~~Commissioner of Early Childhood~~, ~~an amount up to one million dollars 161~~
197		-	~~of such unexpended funds may be available (1) for the provision of 162~~
198		-	~~professional development for early childhood care and education 163~~
199		-	~~program providers~~, ~~and staff employed in such programs~~, ~~provided 164~~
200		-	~~such programs accept state~~ funds ~~for infant,~~ ~~toddler and preschool slots,~~ ~~165~~
201		-	~~or (2) to support~~ early childhood ~~education programs in satisfying~~ the ~~166~~
202		-	~~staff qualifications requirements~~, ~~provided such programs accept state 167~~
203		-	~~funds. The commissioner shall determine how~~ such unexpended funds ~~168~~
204		-	~~shall be distributed.~~ ~~169~~
205		-	~~(b) If any unexpended funds described~~ in ~~subsection (a) of this section 170~~
206		-	~~are not expended by the office under said subsection (a)~~, ~~the 171~~
207		-	~~commissioner, with~~ the ~~consent of the Secretary of the Office of Policy 172~~
208		-	~~and Management~~, ~~may use~~ such ~~unexpended funds to provide support 173~~
209		-	~~for purposes that include,~~ ~~but are not limited to,~~ ~~(1) assisting programs 174~~
210		-	~~in meeting and maintaining accreditation requirements, (2) providing 175~~
211		-	~~training~~ in ~~implementing preschool assessments and curricula,~~ ~~176~~
212		-	~~including training to enhance literacy teaching skills~~, ~~(3) developing and 177 Substitute~~ Bill No. 5051
	195	+	for each eligible child enrolled in a program under Early Start CT who 140
	196	+	is three or four years of age and each child who is five years of age and 141
	197	+	not eligible to enroll in school, pursuant to section 10-15c of the general 142
	198	+	statutes, shall be at least ten thousand five hundred dollars for each such 143
	199	+	child, or paid at an equivalent rate and amount per classroom for 144
	200	+	eighteen children. For each eligible child who is under the age of three 145
	201	+	and enrolled in an infant or toddler classroom and not in a preschool 146
	202	+	classroom, the per-child cost paid by the office shall be at least thirteen 147
	203	+	thousand five hundred dollars for each such child, or paid at an 148
	204	+	equivalent rate and amount per classroom of eight children. The office 149
	205	+	shall use data-driven, outcomes-based contract provisions to facilitate 150
	206	+	and incentivize full enrollment. 151
	207	+	(g) The office may use up to three per cent of funds allocated to the 152
	208	+	early care and education appropriation to evaluate program 153
	209	+	effectiveness and impact on participating children, families and 154
	210	+	programs, including, but not limited to, child outcomes, later school 155
	211	+	performance, quality standards, professional development and 156
	212	+	preparation, and parent engagement impact. 157
	213	+	Sec. 6. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) Except as otherwise provided 158
	214	+	in subsection (b) of this section, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 159
	215	+	and each fiscal year thereafter, if funds appropriated to the Office of 160
	216	+	Early Childhood for Early Start CT are not expended by the 161
	217	+	Commissioner of Early Childhood, an amount up to two million dollars 162
	218	+	of such unexpended funds may be available (1) for the provision of 163
	219	+	professional development for early childhood care and education 164
	220	+	program providers, and staff employed in such programs, provided 165
	221	+	such programs accept state funds for infant, toddler and preschool slots, 166
	222	+	or (2) to support early childhood education programs in satisfying the 167
	223	+	staff qualifications requirements, provided such programs accept state 168
	224	+	funds. The commissioner shall determine how such unexpected funds 169
	225	+	shall be distributed. 170
	226	+	(b) If any unexpended funds described in subsection (a) of this section 171
	227	+	are not expended by the office under said subsection (a), the 172 Bill No. 5051
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217		-	~~implementing best practices for parents in supporting preschool and 178~~
218		-	~~kindergarten student learning~~, ~~(4) developing and implementing 179~~
219		-	~~strategies~~ for ~~children~~ to ~~successfully transition to preschool and from 180~~
220		-	~~preschool to kindergarten, including through parental engagement~~ and ~~181~~
221		-	~~whole-family supports that may be utilized through the two -182~~
222		-	~~generational initiative, established pursuant~~ to ~~section 17b-112l~~ ~~of the 183~~
223		-	~~general statutes,~~ ~~or through other available resources,~~ and ~~(5) providing 184~~
224		-	~~for professional development.~~ ~~185~~
225		-	~~Sec. 7.~~ ~~(NEW) (Effective~~ ~~July 1,~~ ~~2026) Any program participating in 186~~
226		-	~~Early Start CT~~, including~~, but not limited to,~~ ~~licensed family child care 187~~
227		-	~~homes, group child care homes,~~ ~~child care centers and other licensed 188~~
228		-	~~exempt child care providers and settings~~, ~~shall be accredited or Early 189~~
229		-	~~Head Start~~ or ~~Head Start approved not later than three years after 190~~
230		-	~~entering into a contract with the Office of Early Childhood to serve 191~~
231		-	~~children under Early Start CT.~~ Any ~~such~~ program ~~that is not accredited 192~~
232		-	~~shall have an approved program plan~~ not ~~later than twelve months after 193~~
233		-	~~entering into a contract with the office.~~ ~~194~~
234		-	~~Sec. 8.~~ ~~(NEW) (Effective~~ ~~July 1~~, ~~2026) (a) There~~ shall be ~~established, 195~~
235		-	~~within available appropriations,~~ ~~local governance partners to assist in 196~~
236		-	the ~~provision~~ of early ~~care and education in a community under Early 197~~
237		-	Start CT. ~~Two or more towns or school districts and appropriate 198~~
238		-	~~representatives of groups or entities interested in early childhood 199~~
239		-	~~education in~~ a ~~region may establish a regional governance partner~~. ~~200~~
240		-	(b) ~~The membership of each~~ local ~~or regional governance partner 201~~
241		-	~~shall reflect~~ the ~~racial, ethnic~~ and ~~socioeconomic composition of the 202~~
242		-	~~town~~ or ~~region it serves and consist of early care and education 203~~
243		-	~~stakeholders, including, but not limited to, elected~~ and ~~appointed 204~~
244		-	~~officials, parents, representatives with expertise~~ in early childhood ~~205~~
245		-	~~education, a representative,~~ ~~where applicable, of Smart Start established 206~~
246		-	~~pursuant to section 10-506~~ of ~~the general statutes,~~ local ~~education and 207~~
247		-	~~healthcare providers in~~ the ~~community, a local homeless education 208~~
248		-	~~liaison~~, ~~community representatives from a workforce or job training 209~~
249		-	~~entity~~ and ~~other community representatives who provide services to 210 Substitute~~ Bill No. 5051
	234	+	commissioner, with the consent of the Secretary of the Office of Policy 173
	235	+	and Management, may use such unexpended funds to provide support 174
	236	+	for purposes that include, but are not limited to, (1) assisting programs 175
	237	+	in meeting and maintaining accreditation requirements, (2) providing 176
	238	+	training in implementing preschool assessments and curricula, 177
	239	+	including training to enhance literacy teaching skills, (3) developing and 178
	240	+	implementing best practices for parents in supporting preschool and 179
	241	+	kindergarten student learning, (4) developing and implementing 180
	242	+	strategies for children to successfully transition to preschool and from 181
	243	+	preschool to kindergarten, including through parental engagement and 182
	244	+	whole-family supports that may be utilized through the two -183
	245	+	generational initiative, established pursuant to section 17b-112l of the 184
	246	+	general statutes, or through other available resources, and (5) providing 185
	247	+	for professional development. 186
	248	+	Sec. 7. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) Any program participating in 187
	249	+	Early Start CT, including, but not limited to, licensed family child care 188
	250	+	homes, group child care homes, child care centers and other licensed 189
	251	+	exempt child care providers and settings, shall be accredited or Early 190
	252	+	Head Start or Head Start approved not later than three years after 191
	253	+	entering into a contract with the Office of Early Childhood to serve 192
	254	+	children under Early Start CT. Any such program that is not accredited 193
	255	+	shall have an approved program plan not later than twelve months after 194
	256	+	entering into a contract with the office. 195
	257	+	Sec. 8. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) There shall be established local 196
	258	+	governance partners to assist in the provision of early care and 197
	259	+	education in a community under Early Start CT. Two or more towns or 198
	260	+	school districts and appropriate representatives of groups or entities 199
	261	+	interested in early childhood education in a region may establish a 200
	262	+	regional governance partner. 201
	263	+	(b) The membership of each local governance partner shall reflect the 202
	264	+	racial, ethnic and socioeconomic composition of the town or region it 203
	265	+	serves and consist of early care and education stakeholders, including, 204
	266	+	but not limited to, elected and appointed officials, parents, 205 Bill No. 5051
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254		-	~~children. 211~~
255		-	~~(c) The role and responsibilities~~ of ~~a local or regional governance 212~~
256		-	~~partner shall include~~, ~~but are not limited to, (1) conducting~~ and ~~213~~
257		-	~~administering~~ a ~~data-driven needs assessment for its respective 214~~
258		-	community or ~~region in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) 215~~
259		-	~~of this section,~~ ~~(2) employing strategies~~ to ~~solicit parental engagement 216~~
260		-	and ~~membership, (3) providing periodic technical assistance regarding 217~~
261		-	~~best practices in early childhood~~ and ~~family engagement for its town or 218~~
262		-	region~~, (4) jointly sponsoring with the office, professional development 219~~
263		-	~~opportunities~~, ~~and~~ (5) ~~ensuring that community outreach is regularly 220~~
264		-	~~conducted~~ and ~~maintained with community stakeholders. 221~~
265		-	(d) ~~Each local or regional governance partner shall,~~ ~~within available 222~~
266		-	~~appropriations, conduct a data-driven~~ ~~needs assessment~~ for ~~the~~ town or ~~223~~
267		-	~~region in which such partner serves.~~ ~~Such needs assessment may 224~~
268		-	~~include recommendations for the preferred distribution~~ and ~~allocation 225~~
269		-	~~of child care spaces within such partner's respective town or region, and, 226~~
270		-	~~subject to the office's approval,~~ ~~may include~~ a data-driven ~~methodology 227~~
271		-	~~to reassign child care spaces before~~ the ~~contract date has lapsed~~. Such ~~228~~
272		-	needs assessment ~~shall be created by~~ the ~~office in collaboration with 229~~
273		-	~~communities~~ and ~~shall directly inform,~~ ~~among other things,~~ ~~the 230~~
274		-	~~assignment of child care spaces across a mixed-delivery system~~, ~~231~~
275		-	~~including, but not limited~~ to~~, licensed family~~ child care ~~providers, group 232~~
276		-	~~child care homes,~~ ~~child care centers and license-exempt public schools~~. ~~233~~
277		-	~~(e) Each local or regional governance partner~~ shall ~~employ a staff 234~~
278		-	~~liaison to aid and support~~ the ~~local or regional governance partner in 235~~
279		-	~~implementing the provisions of this section.~~ ~~Each staff liaison shall 236~~
280		-	~~ensure (1) that partnerships are established~~ and ~~fostered among child 237~~
281		-	~~care providers,~~ ~~(2) that cooperation is maintained with the Office of 238~~
282		-	~~Early Childhood in monitoring and evaluating child care programs,~~ (3) ~~239~~
283		-	~~that existing~~ and ~~potential resources and services available to children 240~~
284		-	~~and families are identified, (4) facilitation and coordination~~ of ~~efficient, 241~~
285		-	~~data-driven, delivery of services to children~~ and ~~families~~, ~~including (A) 242~~
286		-	~~referral procedures, and~~ (B) ~~before and after school child care for 243 Substitute~~ Bill No. 5051
	273	+	representatives with expertise in early childhood education, a 206
	274	+	representative, where applicable, of Smart Start established pursuant to 207
	275	+	section 10-506 of the general statutes, local education and healthcare 208
	276	+	providers in the community, a local homeless education liaison, 209
	277	+	community representatives from a workforce or job training entity and 210
	278	+	other community representatives who provide services to children. 211
	279	+	(c) The role and responsibilities of a local governance partner shall 212
	280	+	include, but are not limited to, (1) conducting and administering a data-213
	281	+	driven needs assessment for its respective community or region in 214
	282	+	accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, (2) 215
	283	+	employing strategies to solicit parental engagement and membership, 216
	284	+	(3) providing periodic technical assistance regarding best practices in 217
	285	+	early childhood and family engagement for its town or region, (4) jointly 218
	286	+	sponsoring with the office, professional development opportunities, 219
	287	+	and (5) ensuring that community outreach is regularly conducted and 220
	288	+	maintained with community stakeholders. 221
	289	+	(d) Each local governance partner shall conduct a data-driven needs 222
	290	+	assessment for the town or region in which such partner serves. Such 223
	291	+	needs assessment may include recommendations for the preferred 224
	292	+	distribution and allocation of child care spaces within such partner's 225
	293	+	respective town or region, and, subject to the office's approval, may 226
	294	+	include a data-driven methodology to reassign child care spaces before 227
	295	+	the contract date has lapsed. Such needs assessment shall be created by 228
	296	+	the office in collaboration with communities and shall directly inform, 229
	297	+	among other things, the assignment of child care spaces across a mixed-230
	298	+	delivery system, including, but not limited to, licensed family child care 231
	299	+	providers, group child care homes, child care centers and license-232
	300	+	exempt public schools. 233
	301	+	(e) Each local governance partner shall employ a staff liaison to aid 234
	302	+	and support the local governance partner in implementing the 235
	303	+	provisions of this section. Each staff liaison shall ensure (1) that 236
	304	+	partnerships are established and fostered among child care providers, 237
	305	+	(2) that cooperation is maintained with the Office of Early Childhood in 238 Bill No. 5051
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291		-	children attending school day, school year programs, (5) the exchange 244
292		-	of information with other community organizations serving the needs 245
293		-	of children and families, (6) that recommendations are made to school 246
	312	+	monitoring and evaluating child care programs, (3) that existing and 239
	313	+	potential resources and services available to children and families are 240
	314	+	identified, (4) facilitation and coordination of efficient, data-driven, 241
	315	+	delivery of services to children and families, including (A) referral 242
	316	+	procedures, and (B) before and after school child care for children 243
	317	+	attending school day, school year programs, (5) the exchange of 244
	318	+	information with other community organizations serving the needs of 245
	319	+	children and families, (6) that recommendations are made to school 246
294	320		officials concerning transition from child care programs to preschool 247
295	321		programs and kindergarten, (7) that effective community engagement 248
296	322		strategies are employed to ensure diverse participation, (8) that 249
297	323		biannual child assessments, approved by the office, are performed at 250
298	324		programs, and conducted in partnership with families, and (9) 251
299	325		collaboration with the office related to planning improvements to the 252
300	326		state early care and education governance structure. 253
301		-	(f) The office shall monitor each local or regional governance partner 254
302		-	to ensure compliance with the provisions of this section. 255
303		-	Sec. 9. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2026) (a) As part of Early Start CT, the 256
304		-	Commissioner of Early Childhood shall establish a state-funded 257
305		-	competitive program in which contracts are entered into with nonprofit 258
306		-	agencies and local and regional boards of education, which are federal 259
307		-	Head Start grantees, to assist in (1) establishing extended-day and full-260
308		-	day, year-round, Head Start programs or expanding existing Head Start 261
309		-	programs to extended-day or full-day, year-round programs, (2) 262
310		-	enhancing program quality, (3) increasing the number of children 263
311		-	served in programs that are both a Head Start program and Early Head 264
312		-	Start grantee or delegate, (4) increasing the number of Early Head Start 265
313		-	children served above those who are federally funded, and (5) 266
314		-	increasing the hours for children currently receiving Early Head Start 267
315		-	services. Nonprofit agencies or boards of education seeking contracts 268
316		-	pursuant to this section shall make application to the commissioner on 269
317		-	such forms and at such times as the commissioner shall prescribe. The 270
318		-	commissioner shall include contract provisions that mandate at least 271
319		-	twenty-five per cent of the funding for such contracts shall be for the 272
320		-	purpose of enhancing program quality. All contracts entered into under 273
321		-	this section shall be funded within the limits of available appropriations 274
322		-	or otherwise from federal funds and private donations. All Head Start 275
323		-	programs funded pursuant to this section shall be in compliance with 276
324		-	federal Head Start performance standards. 277 Substitute Bill No. 5051
	327	+	(f) The office shall monitor each local governance partner to ensure 254
	328	+	compliance with the provisions of this section. 255
	329	+	Sec. 9. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) As used in this section: 256
	330	+	(1) "Office of Early Childhood funded early childhood education 257
	331	+	program" means a program that accepts state funds directly from the 258
	332	+	office or indirectly through office subcontractors, for any combination 259
	333	+	of infant, toddler, preschool and before and after school, but does not 260
	334	+	include the child care subsidy program established pursuant to section 261
	335	+	17b-749 of the general statutes, as amended by this act. 262
	336	+	(2) "Designated staff member" means the person assigned the 263
	337	+	primary responsibility for a classroom of children. 264
	338	+	(3) "Designated qualified staff member" means a designated staff 265
	339	+	member who possesses at least one of the following: 266
	340	+	(A) A bachelor's degree or higher with a concentration in early 267
	341	+	childhood education from an institution of higher education that is (i) 268
	342	+	regionally accredited and accredited by the National Association for the 269 Bill No. 5051
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329		-	(b) The commissioner may adopt regulations, in accordance with the 278
330		-	provisions of chapter 54 of the general statutes, for purposes of this 279
331		-	section. 280
332		-	Sec. 10. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2026) Notwithstanding the provisions 281
333		-	of sections 4-98, 4-212 to 4-219, inclusive, 4a-51 and 4a-57 of the general 282
334		-	statutes, the Commissioner of Early Childhood may, within available 283
335		-	appropriations, allocate funds to regional educational service centers for 284
336		-	the provision of professional development services, technical assistance 285
337		-	and evaluation and program planning and implementation activities, 286
338		-	local and regional boards of education, child care centers, group child 287
339		-	care homes and family child care homes, as such terms are described in 288
340		-	section 19a-77 of the general statutes, and other early childhood care and 289
341		-	education entities, as determined by the commissioner. Any funds 290
342		-	allocated by the commissioner under this section shall be expended in 291
343		-	accordance with procedures and conditions prescribed by the 292
344		-	commissioner. 293
345		-	Sec. 11. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) For the fiscal years ending June 294
346		-	30, 2025, and June 30, 2026, the office may pay, in an individual contract 295
347		-	entered into under sections 8-210 of the general statutes, as amended by 296
348		-	this act, and 10-16p of the general statutes, or a grant awarded pursuant 297
349		-	to section 10-16n of the general statutes, as amended by this act, a per-298
350		-	child rate, or an equivalent per-classroom rate, that has been determined 299
351		-	by the commissioner. The per-child cost paid by the office under this 300
352		-	section for each eligible child enrolled in a program who is three or four 301
353		-	years of age and each child who is five years of age and not eligible to 302
354		-	enroll in school, pursuant to section 10-15c of the general statutes, shall 303
355		-	be at least ten thousand five hundred dollars for each such child, or paid 304
356		-	at an equivalent rate and amount per classroom for eighteen children. 305
357		-	For each eligible child who is under the age of three and enrolled in an 306
358		-	infant or toddler classroom and not in a preschool classroom, the per-307
359		-	child cost paid by the office shall be at least thirteen thousand five 308
360		-	hundred dollars for each such child, or paid at an equivalent rate and 309
361		-	amount per classroom of eight children. The office shall use data-driven, 310
362		-	outcomes-based contract provisions to facilitate and incentivize full 311 Substitute Bill No. 5051
	349	+	Education of Young Children, (ii) regionally accredited and working 270
	350	+	toward achieving accreditation from the National Association for the 271
	351	+	Education of Young Children, or (iii) regionally accredited; 272
	352	+	(B) A certificate issued pursuant to section 10-145b of the general 273
	353	+	statutes with an endorsement in early childhood education or early 274
	354	+	childhood special education; 275
	355	+	(C) Deemed to meet the bachelor's degree requirements by the office 276
	356	+	by confirmed employment, without a concentration in early childhood 277
	357	+	education, but with at least twelve early childhood credits from an 278
	358	+	institution of higher education that is regionally accredited; 279
	359	+	(D) A bachelor's degree from an institution of higher education that 280
	360	+	is regionally accredited, without a concentration in early childhood 281
	361	+	education, but with at least twelve applicable early childhood credits as 282
	362	+	determined by the office; 283
	363	+	(E) Permission from the office if such designated staff member is 284
	364	+	enrolled in an institution of higher education and engaged in and 285
	365	+	making progress in an early childhood planned program of study 286
	366	+	leading to an early childhood bachelor's degree. 287
	367	+	(b) When a bachelor-level designated qualified staff member is not 288
	368	+	assigned, a person may be deemed a designated qualified staff member 289
	369	+	if such person possesses at least one of the qualifications included in 290
	370	+	subsection (c) of this section and is under the supervision of an on-site 291
	371	+	bachelor's degree designated qualified staff member, except any family 292
	372	+	child care home provider that accepts state funds shall meet the 293
	373	+	designated qualified staff member qualifications. 294
	374	+	(c) When a bachelor's degree designated qualified staff member 295
	375	+	supervises an associate degree designated qualified staff member, the 296
	376	+	person possessing a bachelor's degree may supervise off-site. The 297
	377	+	designated qualified staff member, under the supervision of a bachelor-298
	378	+	level qualified staff member, shall possess at least one of the following: 299 Bill No. 5051
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367		-	enrollment. 312
368		-	Sec. 12. Subsection (b) of section 8-210 of the 2024 supplement to the 313
369		-	general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 314
370		-	thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 315
371		-	(b) The state, acting by and in the discretion of the Commissioner of 316
372		-	Early Childhood, may enter into a contract with a municipality, a group 317
373		-	child care home or family child care home, as described in section 19a-318
374		-	77, a human resource development agency or a nonprofit corporation 319
375		-	for state financial assistance in developing and operating child care 320
376		-	centers, group child care homes and family child care homes for 321
377		-	children disadvantaged by reasons of economic, social or environmental 322
378		-	conditions, provided no such financial assistance shall be available for 323
379		-	the operating costs of any such child care center, group child care home 324
380		-	or family child care home unless it has been licensed by the 325
381		-	Commissioner of Early Childhood pursuant to section 19a-80. Such 326
382		-	financial assistance shall be available for a program of a municipality, of 327
383		-	a group child care home or family child care home, of a human resource 328
384		-	development agency or of a nonprofit corporation which may provide 329
385		-	for personnel, equipment, supplies, activities, program materials and 330
386		-	renovation and remodeling of the physical facilities of such child care 331
387		-	centers, group child care homes or family child care homes. Such 332
388		-	contract shall provide for state financial assistance, within available 333
389		-	appropriations, in the form of a state grant-in-aid (1) for a portion of the 334
390		-	cost of such program, as determined by the Commissioner of Early 335
391		-	Childhood, if not federally assisted, (2) equal to one-half of the amount 336
392		-	by which the net cost of such program, as approved by the 337
393		-	Commissioner of Early Childhood, exceeds the federal grant-in-aid 338
394		-	thereof, or (3) (A) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, in an amount 339
395		-	not less than [(A)] (i) the per child cost as described in subdivision (1) of 340
396		-	subsection (b) of section 10-16q, as amended by this act, for each child 341
397		-	in such program that is three or four years of age and each child that is 342
398		-	five years of age who is not eligible to enroll in school, pursuant to 343
399		-	section 10-15c, while maintaining services to children under three years 344
400		-	of age under this section, and [(B)] (ii) thirteen thousand five hundred 345 Substitute Bill No. 5051
	385	+	(1) An associate degree or higher with a concentration in early 300
	386	+	childhood education from an institution of higher education that is (i) 301
	387	+	regionally accredited and accredited by the National Association for the 302
	388	+	Education of Young Children, (ii) regionally accredited and working 303
	389	+	toward achieving accreditation from the National Association for the 304
	390	+	Education of Young Children, or (iii) regionally accredited; 305
	391	+	(2) Deemed to meet the associate degree requirements by the office 306
	392	+	through confirmed employment in the Early Childhood Professional 307
	393	+	Registry, without a concentration in early childhood education, but with 308
	394	+	at least twelve early childhood credits from an institution of higher 309
	395	+	education that is regionally accredited; 310
	396	+	(3) An associate degree from an institution of higher education that is 311
	397	+	regionally accredited, without a concentration in early childhood 312
	398	+	education, but with at least twelve applicable early childhood credits as 313
	399	+	determined by the office; 314
	400	+	(4) Permission from the office if such designated qualified staff 315
	401	+	member is enrolled in an institution of higher education and engaged in 316
	402	+	an early childhood planned program of study leading to an early 317
	403	+	childhood associate degree. 318
	404	+	(d) (1) From July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2027, inclusive, twenty-five per 319
	405	+	cent of the designated staff members at each Office of Early Childhood 320
	406	+	funded early childhood education program shall be designated 321
	407	+	qualified staff members meeting one of the criteria at the bachelor's 322
	408	+	degree level. For family child care providers accepting state funds, the 323
	409	+	designated qualified staff member shall have achieved or be working 324
	410	+	toward an early childhood associate degree or bachelor's degree. 325
	411	+	(2) From July 1, 2027, to June 30, 2030, inclusive, fifty per cent of the 326
	412	+	designated qualified members at each Office of Early Childhood funded 327
	413	+	early childhood education program shall be designated qualified staff 328
	414	+	members meeting one of the criteria at the bachelor's degree level. For 329
	415	+	family child care providers accepting state funds, the designated 330 Bill No. 5051
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405		-	~~dollars for each child three years of age~~ or ~~under who is in infant or 346~~
406		-	~~toddler care and not in a preschool program,~~ ~~and (B) for the fiscal years 347~~
407		-	~~ending June 30, 2025,~~ and ~~June 30~~, ~~2026~~, ~~in accordance with~~ the ~~348~~
408		-	~~provisions~~ of ~~section 11 of this act.~~ ~~Any such contract entered into on or 349~~
409		-	~~after July 1, 2022,~~ shall ~~include a provision that at least sixty per cent~~ of ~~350~~
410		-	the ~~children enrolled in such~~ child care ~~center, group child care home or 351~~
411		-	~~family child care home are members of families who are at or below 352~~
412		-	~~seventy-five per cent of the state median income.~~ ~~The Commissioner of 353~~
413		-	~~Early Childhood may authorize child care centers, group child care 354~~
414		-	~~homes and family child care homes receiving financial assistance under 355~~
415		-	~~this subsection to apply~~ a ~~program surplus to the next program year. 356~~
416		-	~~The Commissioner of Early Childhood shall consult~~ with ~~directors of 357~~
417		-	~~child care centers in establishing fees for the operation~~ of ~~such centers.~~ ~~358~~
418		-	~~For the fiscal year ending June 30~~, ~~2023, the Commissioner of Early 359~~
419		-	~~Childhood shall~~, ~~within available appropriations~~, ~~enter into contracts 360~~
420		-	~~under this section for the purpose of expanding the number of spaces 361~~
421		-	~~available to~~ children ~~three years of age or under who are in infant or 362~~
422		-	~~toddler care~~ and ~~not in a preschool program. 363~~
423		-	~~Sec. 13.~~ ~~Subdivision~~ (1) of ~~subsection (b) of section 10-16q of the 2024 364~~
424		-	~~supplement to the general statutes is repealed~~ and ~~the following is 365~~
425		-	~~substituted in lieu thereof (Effective~~ ~~July 1,~~ ~~2024): 366~~
426		-	~~(b) (1) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, the per child cost~~ of ~~367~~
427		-	the ~~Office of Early Childhood school readiness program offered by a 368~~
428		-	~~school readiness provider~~ shall ~~not exceed eight thousand nine hundred 369~~
429		-	~~twenty-seven dollars.~~ ~~For the fiscal years ending June 30,~~ ~~2021, to June 370~~
430		-	~~30, 2024, inclusive, the~~ per ~~child cost~~ of the ~~Office of Early Childhood 371~~
431		-	~~school readiness~~ program ~~offered by a school readiness provider shall 372~~
432		-	~~not exceed nine thousand twenty-seven~~ ~~dollars. For~~ the ~~fiscal [year] 373~~
433		-	~~years ending June 30,~~ ~~2025,~~ and ~~June 30,~~ ~~2026, the per child cost of the 374~~
434		-	~~Office of Early Childhood full-time~~ ~~school readiness program offered by 375~~
435		-	~~a school readiness provider shall [not~~ ~~exceed ten thousand five hundred 376~~
436		-	~~dollars] be~~ in accordance with the ~~provisions of section 11 of this act. 377~~
437		-	~~Sec. 14. Subsection (b)~~ of ~~section 10-16n~~ of the general statutes ~~is 378 Substitute~~ Bill No. 5051
	422	+	qualified staff member shall have achieved or be working toward an 331
	423	+	early childhood associate degree or bachelor's degree. 332
	424	+	(3) On and after July 1, 2030, sixty per cent of the designated qualified 333
	425	+	members at each Office of Early Childhood funded child care program 334
	426	+	shall be designated qualified staff members meeting one of the criteria 335
	427	+	at the bachelor's degree level. For family child care providers accepting 336
	428	+	state funds, the designated qualified staff member shall have achieved 337
	429	+	or be working toward an early childhood associate degree or bachelor's 338
	430	+	degree. 339
	431	+	Sec. 10. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) As part of Early Start CT, the 340
	432	+	Commissioner of Early Childhood shall establish a state-funded 341
	433	+	competitive program in which contracts are entered into with nonprofit 342
	434	+	agencies and local and regional boards of education, which are federal 343
	435	+	Head Start grantees, to assist in (1) establishing extended-day and full-344
	436	+	day, year-round, Head Start programs or expanding existing Head Start 345
	437	+	programs to extended-day or full-day, year-round programs, (2) 346
	438	+	enhancing program quality, (3) increasing the number of children 347
	439	+	served in programs that are both a Head Start program and Early Head 348
	440	+	Start grantee or delegate, (4) increasing the number of Early Head Start 349
	441	+	children served above those who are federally funded, and (5) 350
	442	+	increasing the hours for children currently receiving Early Head Start 351
	443	+	services. Nonprofit agencies or boards of education seeking contracts 352
	444	+	pursuant to this section shall make application to the commissioner on 353
	445	+	such forms and at such times as the commissioner shall prescribe. The 354
	446	+	commissioner shall include contract provisions that mandate at least 355
	447	+	twenty-five per cent of the funding for such contracts shall be for the 356
	448	+	purpose of enhancing program quality. All contracts entered into under 357
	449	+	this section shall be funded within the limits of available appropriations 358
	450	+	or otherwise from federal funds and private donations. All Head Start 359
	451	+	programs funded pursuant to this section shall be in compliance with 360
	452	+	federal Head Start performance standards. 361
	453	+	(b) The commissioner may adopt regulations, in accordance with the 362
	454	+	provisions of chapter 54 of the general statutes, for purposes of this 363 Bill No. 5051
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441	460
442		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 379
443		-	2024): 380
444		-	(b) The Office of Early Childhood shall annually allocate to each town 381
445		-	in which the number of children under the temporary family assistance 382
446		-	program, as defined in subdivision (17) of section 10-262f, equals or 383
447		-	exceeds nine hundred children, (1) determined for the fiscal [year] years 384
448		-	ending June 30, 1996, to June 30, 2024, inclusive, an amount equal to one 385
449		-	hundred fifty thousand dollars plus eight and one-half dollars for each 386
450		-	child under the temporary family assistance program, provided such 387
451		-	amount may be reduced proportionately so that the total amount 388
452		-	awarded pursuant to this subsection does not exceed two million seven 389
453		-	hundred thousand dollars, and (2) for the fiscal years ending June 30, 390
454		-	2025, and June 30, 2026, an amount determined in accordance with the 391
455		-	provisions of section 11 of this act. The office shall award grants to the 392
456		-	local and regional boards of education for such towns and nonprofit 393
457		-	agencies located in such towns which meet the criteria established 394
458		-	pursuant to subsection (a) of this section to maintain the programs 395
459		-	established or expanded with funds provided pursuant to this 396
460		-	subsection in the fiscal years ending June 30, 1996, and June 30, 1997. 397
461		-	Any funds remaining in the allocation to such a town after grants are so 398
462		-	awarded shall be used to increase allocations to other such towns. Any 399
463		-	funds remaining after grants are so awarded to boards of education and 400
464		-	nonprofit agencies in all such towns shall be available to local and 401
465		-	regional boards of education and nonprofit agencies in other towns in 402
466		-	the state for grants for such purposes. 403
467		-	Sec. 15. Subsection (l) of section 19a-87b of the 2024 supplement to the 404
468		-	general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 405
469		-	thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 406
470		-	(l) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2022, to June 30, [2026] 2028, 407
471		-	inclusive, the Commissioner of Early Childhood may issue a license to 408
472		-	maintain a family child care home in New Britain, New Haven, 409
473		-	Bridgeport, Stamford, Hartford, Danbury, [or] Waterbury or a town in 410
474		-	New London County in accordance with the provisions of this chapter 411 Substitute Bill No. 5051
	461	+	section. 364
	462	+	Sec. 11. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) Notwithstanding the provisions 365
	463	+	of sections 4-98, 4-212 to 4-219, inclusive, 4a-51 and 4a-57 of the general 366
	464	+	statutes, the Commissioner of Early Childhood may allocate funds to 367
	465	+	regional educational service centers for the provision of professional 368
	466	+	development services, technical assistance and evaluation and program 369
	467	+	planning and implementation activities, local and regional boards of 370
	468	+	education, child care centers, group child care homes and family child 371
	469	+	care homes, as such terms are described in section 19a-77 of the general 372
	470	+	statutes, and other early childhood care and education entities, as 373
	471	+	determined by the commissioner. Any funds allocated by the 374
	472	+	commissioner under this section shall be expended in accordance with 375
	473	+	procedures and conditions prescribed by the commissioner. 376
	474	+	Sec. 12. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) The Office of Early 377
	475	+	Childhood shall, within available appropriations, establish and 378
	476	+	administer the Tri-Share Child Care Matching Program serving New 379
	477	+	London County. Under such program, child care costs shall be shared 380
	478	+	equally among participating employers, employees and the state. 381
	479	+	(b) The office shall select a regional or state-wide educational or 382
	480	+	business organization to collaborate with employers and participating 383
	481	+	licensed child care providers to provide child care placement for 384
	482	+	participating employees. 385
	483	+	(c) An administrator shall serve as an intermediary among 386
	484	+	participating employers, employees and licensed child care providers 387
	485	+	and perform fiduciary, administrative and outreach services to recruit 388
	486	+	employer participation in the program. Not more than ten per cent of 389
	487	+	the administrator's award may be used for administrative costs. 390
	488	+	(d) The Commissioner of Early Childhood shall establish policies and 391
	489	+	procedures to implement the provisions of this section. 392
	490	+	Sec. 13. Subsection (b) of section 17b-749 of the 2024 supplement to 393
	491	+	the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 394 Bill No. 5051
475	492
476	493
477		-	LCO 14 of 15
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	496	+	14 of 19
478	497
479		-	to a person or group of persons who have partnered with an association, 412
480		-	organization, corporation, institution or agency, public or private, to 413
481		-	provide child care services in a space provided by such association, 414
482		-	organization, corporation, institution or agency, provided such space 415
483		-	has been approved by the commissioner and is not in a private family 416
484		-	home. The commissioner shall not approve more than one facility in 417
485		-	each such city to be used for licenses issued under this subsection. An 418
486		-	application for a license under this subsection shall include a copy of the 419
487		-	current fire marshal certificate of compliance with the Fire Safety Code, 420
488		-	and written verification of compliance with the State Building Code, 421
489		-	local zoning and building requirements and local health ordinances. The 422
490		-	commissioner may require an applicant for a license under this 423
491		-	subsection to comply with additional conditions relating to the health 424
492		-	and safety of the children who will be served in such facility. The 425
493		-	commissioner may waive any requirement that does not apply to such 426
494		-	facility. Any license issued under this subsection shall expire on June 30, 427
495		-	2026, except that the commissioner may suspend or revoke any such 428
496		-	license at any time in accordance with the provisions of section 19a-87e. 429
497		-	Sec. 16. Sections 8-210, 10-16n to 10-16r, inclusive, 10-16t, 10-16u, 10-430
498		-	16aa, 10-520b, 17b-749a and 17b-749d of the general statutes are 431
499		-	repealed. (Effective July 1, 2026) 432
	498	+	thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 395
	499	+	(b) The commissioner shall establish income standards for applicants 396
	500	+	and recipients at a level to include a family with gross income up to 397
	501	+	[fifty] sixty-five per cent of the state-wide median income, except the 398
	502	+	commissioner (1) may increase the income level up to the maximum 399
	503	+	level allowed under federal law, (2) upon the request of the 400
	504	+	Commissioner of Children and Families, may waive the income 401
	505	+	standards for adoptive families so that children adopted on or after 402
	506	+	October 1, 1999, from the Department of Children and Families are 403
	507	+	eligible for the child care subsidy program, and (3) shall establish a two-404
	508	+	tiered income eligibility threshold in accordance with 45 CFR 98.21(b), 405
	509	+	as amended from time to time. The commissioner may adopt 406
	510	+	regulations in accordance with chapter 54 to establish income criteria 407
	511	+	and durational requirements for such waiver of income standards. 408
	512	+	Sec. 14. (Effective July 1, 2024) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 409
	513	+	the office may pay, in an individual contract entered into under sections 410
	514	+	8-210, as amended by this act, and 10-16p of the general statutes, or a 411
	515	+	grant awarded pursuant to section 10-16n of the general statutes, as 412
	516	+	amended by this act, a per-child rate, or an equivalent per-classroom 413
	517	+	rate, that has been determined by the commissioner. The per-child cost 414
	518	+	paid by the office under this section for each eligible child enrolled in a 415
	519	+	program who is three or four years of age and each child who is five 416
	520	+	years of age and not eligible to enroll in school, pursuant to section 10-417
	521	+	15c of the general statutes, shall be at least ten thousand five hundred 418
	522	+	dollars for each such child, or paid at an equivalent rate and amount per 419
	523	+	classroom for eighteen children. For each eligible child who is under the 420
	524	+	age of three and enrolled in an infant or toddler classroom and not in a 421
	525	+	preschool classroom, the per-child cost paid by the office shall be at least 422
	526	+	thirteen thousand five hundred dollars for each such child, or paid at an 423
	527	+	equivalent rate and amount per classroom of eight children. The office 424
	528	+	shall use data-driven, outcomes-based contract provisions to facilitate 425
	529	+	and incentivize full enrollment. 426
	530	+	Sec. 15. Subsection (b) of section 8-210 of the 2024 supplement to the 427 Bill No. 5051
	531	+
	532	+
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	535	+	15 of 19
	536	+
	537	+	general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 428
	538	+	thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 429
	539	+	(b) The state, acting by and in the discretion of the Commissioner of 430
	540	+	Early Childhood, may enter into a contract with a municipality, a group 431
	541	+	child care home or family child care home, as described in section 19a-432
	542	+	77, a human resource development agency or a nonprofit corporation 433
	543	+	for state financial assistance in developing and operating child care 434
	544	+	centers, group child care homes and family child care homes for 435
	545	+	children disadvantaged by reasons of economic, social or environmental 436
	546	+	conditions, provided no such financial assistance shall be available for 437
	547	+	the operating costs of any such child care center, group child care home 438
	548	+	or family child care home unless it has been licensed by the 439
	549	+	Commissioner of Early Childhood pursuant to section 19a-80. Such 440
	550	+	financial assistance shall be available for a program of a municipality, of 441
	551	+	a group child care home or family child care home, of a human resource 442
	552	+	development agency or of a nonprofit corporation which may provide 443
	553	+	for personnel, equipment, supplies, activities, program materials and 444
	554	+	renovation and remodeling of the physical facilities of such child care 445
	555	+	centers, group child care homes or family child care homes. Such 446
	556	+	contract shall provide for state financial assistance, within available 447
	557	+	appropriations, in the form of a state grant-in-aid (1) for a portion of the 448
	558	+	cost of such program, as determined by the Commissioner of Early 449
	559	+	Childhood, if not federally assisted, (2) equal to one-half of the amount 450
	560	+	by which the net cost of such program, as approved by the 451
	561	+	Commissioner of Early Childhood, exceeds the federal grant-in-aid 452
	562	+	thereof, or (3) (A) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, in an amount 453
	563	+	not less than [(A)] (i) the per child cost as described in subdivision (1) of 454
	564	+	subsection (b) of section 10-16q, as amended by this act, for each child 455
	565	+	in such program that is three or four years of age and each child that is 456
	566	+	five years of age who is not eligible to enroll in school, pursuant to 457
	567	+	section 10-15c, while maintaining services to children under three years 458
	568	+	of age under this section, and [(B)] (ii) thirteen thousand five hundred 459
	569	+	dollars for each child three years of age or under who is in infant or 460
	570	+	toddler care and not in a preschool program, and (B) for the fiscal year 461 Bill No. 5051
	571	+
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	575	+	16 of 19
	576	+
	577	+	ending June 30, 2025, in accordance with the provisions of section 14 of 462
	578	+	this act. Any such contract entered into on or after July 1, 2022, shall 463
	579	+	include a provision that at least sixty per cent of the children enrolled in 464
	580	+	such child care center, group child care home or family child care home 465
	581	+	are members of families who are at or below seventy-five per cent of the 466
	582	+	state median income. The Commissioner of Early Childhood may 467
	583	+	authorize child care centers, group child care homes and family child 468
	584	+	care homes receiving financial assistance under this subsection to apply 469
	585	+	a program surplus to the next program year. The Commissioner of Early 470
	586	+	Childhood shall consult with directors of child care centers in 471
	587	+	establishing fees for the operation of such centers. For the fiscal year 472
	588	+	ending June 30, 2023, the Commissioner of Early Childhood shall, 473
	589	+	within available appropriations, enter into contracts under this section 474
	590	+	for the purpose of expanding the number of spaces available to children 475
	591	+	three years of age or under who are in infant or toddler care and not in 476
	592	+	a preschool program. 477
	593	+	Sec. 16. Subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 10-16q of the 2024 478
	594	+	supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is 479
	595	+	substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 480
	596	+	(b) (1) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, the per child cost of 481
	597	+	the Office of Early Childhood school readiness program offered by a 482
	598	+	school readiness provider shall not exceed eight thousand nine hundred 483
	599	+	twenty-seven dollars. For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2021, to June 484
	600	+	30, 2024, inclusive, the per child cost of the Office of Early Childhood 485
	601	+	school readiness program offered by a school readiness provider shall 486
	602	+	not exceed nine thousand twenty-seven dollars. For the fiscal year 487
	603	+	ending June 30, 2025, the per child cost of the Office of Early Childhood 488
	604	+	full-time school readiness program offered by a school readiness 489
	605	+	provider shall [not exceed ten thousand five hundred dollars] be in 490
	606	+	accordance with the provisions of section 14 of this act. 491
	607	+	Sec. 17. Subsection (b) of section 10-16n of the general statutes is 492
	608	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 493
	609	+	2024): 494 Bill No. 5051
	610	+
	611	+
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	614	+	17 of 19
	615	+
	616	+	(b) The Office of Early Childhood shall annually allocate to each town 495
	617	+	in which the number of children under the temporary family assistance 496
	618	+	program, as defined in subdivision (17) of section 10-262f, equals or 497
	619	+	exceeds nine hundred children, (1) determined for the fiscal [year] years 498
	620	+	ending June 30, 1996, to June 30, 2024, inclusive, an amount equal to one 499
	621	+	hundred fifty thousand dollars plus eight and one-half dollars for each 500
	622	+	child under the temporary family assistance program, provided such 501
	623	+	amount may be reduced proportionately so that the total amount 502
	624	+	awarded pursuant to this subsection does not exceed two million seven 503
	625	+	hundred thousand dollars, and (2) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 504
	626	+	2025, an amount determined in accordance with the provisions of 505
	627	+	section 14 of this act. The office shall award grants to the local and 506
	628	+	regional boards of education for such towns and nonprofit agencies 507
	629	+	located in such towns which meet the criteria established pursuant to 508
	630	+	subsection (a) of this section to maintain the programs established or 509
	631	+	expanded with funds provided pursuant to this subsection in the fiscal 510
	632	+	years ending June 30, 1996, and June 30, 1997. Any funds remaining in 511
	633	+	the allocation to such a town after grants are so awarded shall be used 512
	634	+	to increase allocations to other such towns. Any funds remaining after 513
	635	+	grants are so awarded to boards of education and nonprofit agencies in 514
	636	+	all such towns shall be available to local and regional boards of 515
	637	+	education and nonprofit agencies in other towns in the state for grants 516
	638	+	for such purposes. 517
	639	+	Sec. 18. Subsection (l) of section 19a-87b of the 2024 supplement to the 518
	640	+	general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 519
	641	+	thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 520
	642	+	(l) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2022, to June 30, [2026] 2028, 521
	643	+	inclusive, the Commissioner of Early Childhood may issue a license to 522
	644	+	maintain a family child care home in New Britain, New Haven, 523
	645	+	Bridgeport, Stamford, Hartford, Danbury, [or] Waterbury or a town in 524
	646	+	New London County in accordance with the provisions of this chapter 525
	647	+	to a person or group of persons who have partnered with an association, 526
	648	+	organization, corporation, institution or agency, public or private, to 527 Bill No. 5051
	649	+
	650	+
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	653	+	18 of 19
	654	+
	655	+	provide child care services in a space provided by such association, 528
	656	+	organization, corporation, institution or agency, provided such space 529
	657	+	has been approved by the commissioner and is not in a private family 530
	658	+	home. The commissioner shall not approve more than one facility in 531
	659	+	each such city to be used for licenses issued under this subsection. An 532
	660	+	application for a license under this subsection shall include a copy of the 533
	661	+	current fire marshal certificate of compliance with the Fire Safety Code, 534
	662	+	and written verification of compliance with the State Building Code, 535
	663	+	local zoning and building requirements and local health ordinances. The 536
	664	+	commissioner may require an applicant for a license under this 537
	665	+	subsection to comply with additional conditions relating to the health 538
	666	+	and safety of the children who will be served in such facility. The 539
	667	+	commissioner may waive any requirement that does not apply to such 540
	668	+	facility. Any license issued under this subsection shall expire on June 30, 541
	669	+	2026, except that the commissioner may suspend or revoke any such 542
	670	+	license at any time in accordance with the provisions of section 19a-87e. 543
	671	+	Sec. 19. Sections 8-210, 10-16n to 10-16r, inclusive, 10-16t, 10-16u, 10-544
	672	+	16aa, 10-520b, 17b-749a and 17b-749d of the general statutes are 545
	673	+	repealed. (Effective July 1, 2025)546
500	674		This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
501	675		sections:
502	676
503		-	Section 1 July 1, 2026 New section
504		-	Sec. 2 July 1, 2026 New section
505		-	Sec. 3 July 1, 2026 New section
506		-	Sec. 4 July 1, 2026 New section
507		-	Sec. 5 July 1, 2026 New section
508		-	Sec. 6 July 1, 2026 New section
509		-	Sec. 7 July 1, 2026 New section
510		-	Sec. 8 July 1, 2026 New section
511		-	Sec. 9 July 1, 2026 New section
512		-	Sec. 10 July 1, 2026 New section
513		-	Sec. 11 July 1, 2024 New section
514		-	Sec. 12 July 1, 2024 8-210(b) Substitute Bill No. 5051
	677	+	Section 1 July 1, 2025 New section
	678	+	Sec. 2 July 1, 2025 New section
	679	+	Sec. 3 July 1, 2025 New section
	680	+	Sec. 4 July 1, 2025 New section
	681	+	Sec. 5 July 1, 2025 New section
	682	+	Sec. 6 July 1, 2025 New section
	683	+	Sec. 7 July 1, 2025 New section
	684	+	Sec. 8 July 1, 2025 New section
	685	+	Sec. 9 July 1, 2025 New section
	686	+	Sec. 10 July 1, 2025 New section
	687	+	Sec. 11 July 1, 2025 New section
	688	+	Sec. 12 July 1, 2024 New section
	689	+	Sec. 13 July 1, 2024 17b-749(b) Bill No. 5051
515	690
516	691
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518	695
519		-	Sec. 13 July 1, 2024 10-16q(b)(1)
520		-	Sec. 14 July 1, 2024 10-16n(b)
521		-	Sec. 15 July 1, 2024 19a-87b(l)
522		-	Sec. 16 July 1, 2026 Repealer section
523		-
524		-	Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
525		-	In Sections 5 and 8, references to "local governance partner" were
526		-	changed to "local or regional governance partner" for consistency.
	696	+	Sec. 14 July 1, 2024 New section
	697	+	Sec. 15 July 1, 2024 8-210(b)
	698	+	Sec. 16 July 1, 2024 10-16q(b)(1)
	699	+	Sec. 17 July 1, 2024 10-16n(b)
	700	+	Sec. 18 July 1, 2024 19a-87b(l)
	701	+	Sec. 19 July 1, 2025 Repealer section
527	702
528	703		ED Joint Favorable C/R APP
529		-	APP Joint Favorable Subst.
530	704