FINAL BILL REPORT

SB 5809

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Background: In 2006, the Legislature created a nongovernmental private-public partnership focused on investing in early learning. This partnership is known as Thrive by Five (Thrive).

In 2007, the Legislature directed the Council for Children and Families to develop a plan with the Department of Social and Health Services, Department of Health, and the Department of Early Learning (DEL) to coordinate or consolidate home visiting services, which were spread across multiple state agencies.

In 2010, the Home Visiting Services Account (HVSA) was created and is administered by DEL. The non-appropriated account contains a mixture of state and federal funds, which are used for home visiting activities aimed at enhancing child development and well-being, reducing the incidence of child abuse and neglect, and promoting school readiness. Revenues to HVSA consist of appropriations by the Legislature and federal grants. DEL contracts with Thrive to administer programs funded through HVSA. Thrive funds programs using a competitive bid process and convenes an advisory committee of early learning and home visiting experts to advise Thrive regarding research and distribution of funds. Authorization for expenditures from HVSA can only be made after private matching funds are committed.

Summary: HVSA is changed to an appropriated account. All federal funds received by DEL for home visiting must be deposited into HVSA.

DEL is designated as overseeing HVSA and is the lead agency for home visiting system development. Thrive will administer the home visiting services delivery system and provide support to funded programs. Thrive may fund programs through a competitive process or a process in compliance with regulations on the funding sources. Provisions related to the transition to the use of HVSA are removed.

It is specified that the intent of the Legislature is that state funds invested in HVSA be matched at 50 percent by the private-public partnership, Thrive, each fiscal year. However, state funds in the account may be accessed even in the event that Thrive fails to meet the 50 percent match rate target.

If Thrive fails to meet the 50 percent match rate target, Thrive and DEL must jointly submit a report to the relevant legislative committees detailing the reasons why the match rate target was not met, the actual match rate, and a plan to achieve the 50 percent match rate target the following year. The report must be submitted as promptly as practicable, but lack of receipt of the report must not prevent state funds in the account from being accessed.

Expenditures from the account used by DEL for program administration may not exceed an average of 4 percent of the amount in HVSA in any two consecutive fiscal years.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate	49	0
House	92	4	(House amended)
Senate	46	1	(Senate concurred)