RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
Act 180 (HB 251) 2020 Regular Session Hilferty
Existing law provides for the Early Childhood Care and Education Network, through which
the State Bd. of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) manages and oversees publicly
funded programs that provide early childhood care or education. Also establishes the
Advisory Council on Early Childhood Care and Education (advisory council), which
provides input and guidance to BESE and the state Dept. of Education on such programs.
Prior law, which terminated on March 31, 2020, created the Early Childhood Care and
Education Commission to study and make recommendations relative to early childhood care
and education. New law re-creates the commission and, consistent with prior law, requires
it to collect data, consider research and current practices, determine a sustainable
infrastructure, identify opportunities for collaboration, determine a time frame and necessary
funding to achieve affordable access to quality care and education for all children from birth
through age four, and make recommendations on the incorporation of family child care
providers into the early childhood care and education network. Also requires the
commission to produce reports for the governor, legislature, state superintendent of
education, and BESE and to establish a task force to identify and recommend funding
strategies.
New law provides for termination of the commission on July 1, 2022, and for the subsequent
responsibility of the advisory council to evaluate and provide recommendations to support
the implementation of the commission's plan.
Effective upon signature of governor (June 11, 2020); repeal of new law effective July 1,
2022.
(Amends R.S. 17:407.51(H)(2); Adds R.S. 17:407.23(D)(3) and 407.101 and R.S.
36:651(G)(8); Repeals R.S. 17:407.23(D)(3) and 407.101 and R.S. 36:651(G)(8))