BILL REQ. #:  Z-0048.3 

Read first time 01/24/11.   Referred to Committee on Early Learning & Human Services.

     AN ACT Relating to the membership of the early learning advisory council; reenacting and amending RCW 43.215.090; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that to fully comply with requirements in section 642B of the federal head start act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 9837b, regarding state advisory council membership, Washington must amend existing law to reflect necessary changes in early learning advisory council membership in accordance with the federal requirement.
     Accordingly, the purpose of this act is to specify four of the governor's appointees as permanent members on the early learning advisory council to comply with state advisory council requirements as follows: The head start state collaboration office director or a designee; a representative of a head start, early head start, migrant/seasonal head start, or tribal head start program; a representative of a local education agency; and a representative of the state agency responsible for programs under section 619 or part C of the federal individuals with disabilities education act. This act also revises the categories of groups from which the governor may appoint additional representatives as members of the council.

Sec. 2   RCW 43.215.090 and 2010 c 234 s 3 and 2010 c 12 s 1 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     (1) The early learning advisory council is established to advise the department on statewide early learning issues that would build a comprehensive system of quality early learning programs and services for Washington's children and families by assessing needs and the availability of services, aligning resources, developing plans for data collection and professional development of early childhood educators, and establishing key performance measures.
     (2) The council shall work in conjunction with the department to develop a statewide early learning plan that guides the department in promoting alignment of private and public sector actions, objectives, and resources, and ensuring school readiness.
     (3) The council shall include diverse, statewide representation from public, nonprofit, and for-profit entities. Its membership shall reflect regional, racial, and cultural diversity to adequately represent the needs of all children and families in the state.
     (4) Councilmembers shall serve two-year terms. However, to stagger the terms of the council, the initial appointments for twelve of the members shall be for one year. Once the initial one-year to two-year terms expire, all subsequent terms shall be for two years, with the terms expiring on June 30th of the applicable year. The terms shall be staggered in such a way that, where possible, the terms of members representing a specific group do not expire simultaneously.
     (5) The council shall consist of not more than twenty-three members, as follows:
     (a) The governor shall appoint at least one representative from each of the following: The department, the office of financial management, the department of social and health services, the department of health, the higher education coordinating board, and the state board for community and technical colleges;
     (b) One representative from the office of the superintendent of public instruction, to be appointed by the superintendent of public instruction;
     (c) The governor shall appoint seven leaders in early childhood education, with at least one representative with experience or expertise in ((each)) one or more of the areas such as the following: ((Children with disabilities,)) The K-12 system, family day care providers, and child care centers with four of the seven governor's appointees made as follows:
     (i) The head start state collaboration office director or the director's designee;
     (ii) A representative of a head start, early head start, migrant/seasonal head start, or tribal head start program;
     (iii) A representative of a local education agency; and
     (iv) A representative of the state agency responsible for programs under section 619 or part C of the federal individuals with disabilities education act;
     (d) Two members of the house of representatives, one from each caucus, and two members of the senate, one from each caucus, to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate, respectively;
     (e) Two parents, one of whom serves on the department's parent advisory ((council)) group, to be appointed by the governor;
     (f) One representative of the private-public partnership created in RCW 43.215.070, to be appointed by the partnership board;
     (g) One representative designated by sovereign tribal governments; and
     (h) One representative from the Washington federation of independent schools.
     (6) The council shall be cochaired by one representative of a state agency and one nongovernmental member, to be elected by the council for two-year terms.
     (7) The council shall appoint two members and stakeholders with expertise in early learning to sit on the technical working group created in section 2, chapter 234, Laws of 2010.
     (8) Each member of the board shall be compensated in accordance with RCW 43.03.240 and reimbursed for travel expenses incurred in carrying out the duties of the board in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
     (9) The department shall provide staff support to the council.