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ENGROSSED SENATE
BILL NO. 1408 By: Rosino of the Senate
and
Lawson of the House
An Act relating to children; amending 10 O.S. 2021,
Section 640.2, which relates to th e Oklahoma
Partnership for School Read iness Board; adding
responsibilities of Board; and providing an effective
date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 10 O.S. 2021, Section 6 40.2, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 640.2. A. The Oklahoma Partnership for School
Readiness Board may:
1. Establish guidelines for the disbursement of funds received
from any public or private source or otherwise made available to the
Board for the purpose of supporting community i nitiatives that are
consistent with the goals of the Oklahoma Partnership for School
Readiness Act and direct such other expenditur es as may be necessary
in the performance of its duties;
2. Establish other guidelines as necessary to carry out the
duties and responsibilities assigned to the Oklahoma Partnership for
School Readiness Board;
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3. Receive funds from any public or private source;
4. Enter into contractual agreements to assist with the
administration of the Board and to provide technical assista nce to
communities upon request;
5. Appoint subcommittees which may include persons who are not
Board members. Such persons shall not be entitled to compensation
but may be reimbursed, upon approval by the Director o f the
Department of Human Services, fo r necessary expenses incurred in the
performance of their duties in accordance with the State Travel
Reimbursement Act; and
6. The Board shall ensure, to the greatest extent possible,
that the needs and values of all parents are respected and protected
and that voluntary participation i s the basis for delivering all
school readiness programs. The Board shall act in ways which are
sensitive to the diverse religious and other values of Oklahomans.
B. The responsibiliti es of the Oklahoma Partnership for Sch ool
Readiness Board shall be to:
1. Conduct a thorough assessment of existing public and private
programs to determine their effec tiveness and to maximize the
efficient use of current state funds;
2. Implement a publ ic engagement campaign and establish a
structure to facilitate communi cation between communities;
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3. Provide leadership at the state level to encourage
communities to develop and improve school readiness opportunities at
the local level to encourage and e mpower local communities;
4. Encourage public and private programs, s ervices, and
initiatives be brought together to provide coordinated, community -
based, effective and cost-efficient programs;
5. Maximize the extent to which private sector funding is
leveraged and federal, state, and local funds are coordinated with
private funds;
6. Serve as the administrator of the statewide child care
resource and referral network;
7. Serve as the state clearinghouse for early childhood
education and development programs and services;
8. Establish standards of accountability in schoo l readiness
programs and policy and recognize and promote the best practices;
and
7. 9. Submit an annual report to the Governor an d the
Legislature no later than November 1 of each year . The report shall
include, but not be limited to, the following:
a. preparedness level of children entering kindergarten,
b. status and results of the effort of the Board to
engage the public regardi ng the care and education of
children under the age of five (5) years and of the
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efforts of the Board to develop and promote private
sector programs and voluntary parental involvement,
c. detailed summary of community initiatives an d programs
funded in whole, or in part, by the Board,
d. availability and cost of quality child care for
children under five (5) years of age needing care
outside their home,
e. number, location, and status of quality
prekindergarten programs in the state, and
f. percentage of third-grade students reading at or above
grade level.
C. The Department of Human Services shal l be the lead public
agency for general administration and monitoring of programs and
activities related to the Oklahoma Partnership for Sc hool Readiness
Act.
D. Each of the following agencies shall make staff availab le to
the Oklahoma Partnership for Sch ool Readiness Board for the purp ose
of providing professional consultation and staff support to assist
in the implementation of this act:
1. State Department of E ducation;
2. State Department of Health;
3. Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services;
4. Department of Hum an Services; and
5. Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth.
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SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2022.
Passed the Senate the 21st day of March, 2022.
Presiding Officer of the Senate
Passed the House of Represen tatives the ____ day of __________,
2022.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives