Chapter 683
H.P. 1671 - L.D. 2311
PART A
Sec. A-1. 5 MRSA §12004-J, sub-§16  is enacted to read:
16.Â
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| Children |
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Maine Children's Growth Council |
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Legislative Per Diem and Expenses for Legislators and for Certain Members |
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5 MRSA §24001 |
Sec. A-2. 5 MRSA Pt. 30 Â is enacted to read:
PART 30
INVESTMENT IN YOUNG CHILDREN
CHAPTER 621
MAINE CHILDREN'S GROWTH COUNCIL
1. Definitions.
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As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. A. "Council" means the Maine Children's Growth Council established in subsection 2.
B. "Young children" means children from birth through 5 years of age.
2. Establishment.
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The Maine Children's Growth Council, as established in section 12004-J, subsection 16, is created to develop, maintain and evaluate a plan for sustainable social and financial investment in healthy development of the State's young children and their families.
3. Membership.
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The council consists of 27 members who must have a strong interest in early childhood and early care and education and must be influential in their communities: A. Two members of the Senate, one from each of the 2 political parties having the greatest number of members in the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate;
B. Two members of the House of Representatives, one from each of the 2 political parties having the greatest number of members in the House, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
C. The Governor or the Governor's designee and the Attorney General or the Attorney General's designee;
D. Three parents, at least one of whom has a young child, one each appointed by the Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House;
E. Two persons with experience in public funding and philanthropy, appointed by the President of the Senate;
F. One person representing child abuse and neglect prevention, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
G. One person representing postsecondary education, appointed by the Governor;
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Eight persons representing statewide, membership or constituent organizations that advance the well-being of young children and their families, nominated by their organizations and appointed by the Governor, of whom:
(1) Three must represent statewide organizations or associations involved in early care and education programs, child care centers, Head Start programs, family child care providers, resource development centers, programs for school-age children, child development services, physicians and child advocacy;
(2) One must represent a law enforcement organization involved with children;
(3) One must represent an organization that works on community organization and mobilization;
(4) One must represent public health;
(5) One must represent the Maine Economic Growth Council; and
(6) One must represent a labor organization.
I. One person representing a statewide association of business and industry and one person representing a business roundtable on early childhood investment, appointed by the Governor;
J. One member of the public, appointed by the Governor; and
K. Three ex-officio, nonvoting members: the Commissioner of Education or the commissioner's designee, a Department of Health and Human Services employee who works with early childhood programs including Head Start and a person representing the office within the Department of Health and Human Services that is the fiscal agent for the federal grant program for comprehensive early childhood initiatives.
4. Terms of appointment.
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Except for ex-officio members, members of the council are appointed for terms of 3 years. Members who are Legislators are appointed for the duration of the legislative terms in which they were appointed. Members who are not Legislators may serve beyond their designated terms until their successors are appointed.
5. Cochairs.
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The Governor shall appoint cochairs for the council.
6. Quorum; meetings.
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Thirteen members of the council constitute a quorum. The council may meet as often as necessary but shall meet at least 6 times a year. A meeting may be called by a cochair or by any 5 members.
7. Compensation.
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Members of the council serve without compensation for their services, except that parents appointed under subsection 3, paragraph D who are not reimbursed by another organization may receive mileage reimbursement and a per diem to cover related costs such as child care, and Legislators are entitled to receive the legislative per diem, as defined in Title 3, section 2, and reimbursement for travel and other necessary expenses for attendance at authorized meetings of the council.
8. Staffing; funding.
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The council may hire staff as necessary for its work and as resources permit. The council may accept grant funding and other funding as may be available for the work of the council. The Department of Health and Human Services shall act as fiscal agent for the council.
9. Logo.
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The council may develop, adopt and publicize a logo or slogan to identify its work.
1. Duties.
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The duties of the council include, but are not limited to: A. Reviewing and addressing recommendations of legislative studies and advisory committees regarding young children and the Children's Cabinet;
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Adopting and updating a long-term plan for investment in the healthy development of young children that will achieve sustainable social and financial investment in the healthy development of young children and their families.
(1) In adopting and updating the plan the council shall consult and coordinate with members of the public, the Children's Cabinet, the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services and advocates, community agencies and providers of early care and education and services to children and their families; monitor and evaluate progress in accomplishing the plan's vision, goals and performance indicators and best practice research; and consider the changing economic and demographic conditions and the effect of investments on economic growth and productivity.
(2) The plan must include strategies:
(a) To create and sustain a unified, statewide early childhood services system that provides essential resources for children, shares common standards for quality, respects the diversity and uniqueness of young children and their families, reflects a commitment to sustainable growth, includes family representation, recognizes the importance of child care in sustaining employment for parents and recognizes the value of new forms of cooperation among government, business and society in achieving the goals of the plan; and
(b) For overall investment and prioritization of early childhood and education programs, services and initiatives and to address workforce education and training issues, utilization of community partners across the state and investments in technology and infrastructure; and
C. Reporting by January 15, 2010 and every 2 years thereafter to the Department of Health and Human Services, the Governor, the Children's Cabinet and the Legislature on the activities and accomplishments of the council and its long-term plan for investment in the healthy development of young children, and issuing such other reports as the council determines to be appropriate.
1. Public records and meetings.
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The records of the council are public records and meetings of the council are public meetings for the purposes of the State's freedom of access laws.
This chapter is repealed October 1, 2009.
Sec. A-3. Initial appointments to the Maine Children's Growth Council. In making the initial appointments to the Maine Children's Growth Council established pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 623, the appointing authorities shall consider for appointment the persons who serve on the Children's Cabinet Task Force on Early Childhood.