Bill Text: CT HB07006 | 2017 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: An Act Concerning Funding For The Care 4 Kids Child Care Subsidy Program.
Spectrum: Committee Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-03-08 - Favorable Change of Reference, Senate to Committee on Appropriations [HB07006 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2017-HB07006-Introduced.html
General Assembly |
Raised Bill No. 7006 | ||
January Session, 2017 |
LCO No. 3471 | ||
*03471_______HS_* | |||
Referred to Committee on HUMAN SERVICES |
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Introduced by: |
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(HS) |
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AN ACT RESTORING OVERSIGHT OF THE CARE 4 KIDS PROGRAM TO THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND ALLOWING FOR THE TRANSFER OF FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUNDS TO THE PROGRAM.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 17b-2 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2017):
The Department of Social Services is designated as the state agency for the administration of (1) the Connecticut energy assistance program pursuant to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981; (2) the state plan for vocational rehabilitation services for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1994; (3) the refugee assistance program pursuant to the Refugee Act of 1980; (4) the legalization impact assistance grant program pursuant to the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986; (5) the temporary assistance for needy families program pursuant to the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996; (6) the Medicaid program pursuant to Title XIX of the Social Security Act; (7) the supplemental nutrition assistance program pursuant to the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008; (8) the state supplement to the Supplemental Security Income Program pursuant to the Social Security Act; (9) the state child support enforcement plan pursuant to Title IV-D of the Social Security Act; (10) the state social services plan for the implementation of the social services block grants and community services block grants pursuant to the Social Security Act; [and] (11) services for persons with autism spectrum disorder in accordance with sections 17a-215 and 17a-215c; and (12) the child care development block grant pursuant to the Child Care and Development Block Grant of 1990.
Sec. 2. Section 17b-7a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2017):
The Commissioner of Social Services shall develop a state-wide fraud early detection system. The purpose of such system shall be to identify, investigate and determine if an application for assistance under (1) programs administered by the department, including, but not limited to, (A) the temporary family assistance program, (B) the supplemental nutrition assistance program, (C) the child care subsidy program, or (D) the Medicaid program pursuant to Title XIX of the Social Security Act, and (2) the child care subsidy program administered by the [Office of Early Childhood] Department of Social Services, pursuant to section 17b-749, as amended by this act, is fraudulent prior to granting assistance. [The Commissioner of Social Services shall consult with the Commissioner of Early Childhood regarding the development of such state-wide fraud early detection system for such child care subsidy program.] The Commissioner of Social Services shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, for the purpose of developing and implementing said system. The Commissioner of Social Services shall submit quarterly reports concerning savings realized through the implementation of the state-wide fraud early detection system to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services and appropriations and the budgets of state agencies.
Sec. 3. Section 17b-12 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2017):
The Commissioner of [Early Childhood] Social Services may accept and receive, on behalf of the [Office of Early Childhood] Department of Social Services, any bequest or gift of personal property for services for a person who is, or members of whose immediate family are, receiving assistance or services from the [office] department or for services for a former or potential recipient of assistance from the [Department of Social Services or a potential recipient of assistance from the office] department. Any federal funds generated by virtue of any such bequest or gift may be used for the extension of services to such person or family members.
Sec. 4. Subsections (c) to (e), inclusive, of section 17b-705a of the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2017):
(c) On or after July 1, [2014] 2017, and monthly thereafter, the Commissioner of [Early Childhood] Social Services shall compile a list of the names of family child care providers who have participated in the child care subsidy program established pursuant to section 17b-749, as amended by this act, within the previous six calendar months. Such list shall be considered a public record, as defined in section 1-200.
(d) For purposes of sections 4-65a and 5-270 and subsection (a) of section 5-278, the [Office of Early Childhood] Department of Social Services shall be considered an executive branch employer and an organization representing family child care providers that has been designated by the State Board of Labor Relations, pursuant to section 5-275 or subsection (g) of this section, as the exclusive bargaining agent of such providers, shall have the right to bargain concerning the terms and conditions of participation of family child care providers in the program covered by this section, including, but not limited to, (1) state reimbursement rates, (2) benefits, (3) payment procedures, (4) contract grievance arbitration, and (5) training, professional development and other requirements and opportunities appropriate for family child care providers.
(e) (1) If the organization representing family child care providers and the [Office of Early Childhood] Department of Social Services do not reach an agreement not later than one hundred fifty days after negotiations have begun, the parties shall jointly select an arbitrator. The arbitrator selected shall have experience as an impartial arbitrator of labor-management disputes, and shall not be an individual employed as an advocate or consultant for labor or management in labor-management disputes. If the parties fail to agree on an arbitrator not later than one hundred sixty days after negotiations have begun, the selection of the arbitrator shall be made using the procedures under the voluntary labor arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association.
(2) Each party shall submit to the arbitrator, and to each other, a proposal setting forth such party's position on how each of the unresolved issues shall be resolved.
(3) The arbitrator shall convene a hearing to allow the parties to provide evidence and argument to the arbitrator. The parties shall have the right to submit written briefs to the arbitrator. The arbitration record shall be officially closed at the close of the hearing, or the arbitrator's receipt of briefs, whichever is later.
(4) The arbitrator's authority is limited to selecting the complete proposal of one party or the other on any unresolved issue. The arbitrator shall issue an award not later than forty-five days after the close of the record.
(5) The factors to be considered by the arbitrator in arriving at a decision are: (A) The nature and needs of the family child care program and the needs and welfare of parents and children served by that program, including interests in better recruitment, retention and quality with respect to the covered family child care provider; (B) the history of negotiations between the parties including those leading to the instant proceeding; (C) the existing conditions of employment of similar groups of workers; (D) changes in the cost of living; and (E) the interests and welfare of the covered family child care providers.
(6) The costs of the arbitrator and any fees associated with the arbitration proceeding shall be shared equally by the parties.
(7) Any agreement or award reached pursuant to this section shall be submitted to the General Assembly for approval by filing the agreement or award with the clerks of the House and Senate. No provision of any agreement or award resulting from the collective bargaining process which would require supercedence of any law or regulation shall take effect without affirmative legislative approval.
(8) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, any provision in any agreement or award which would require an additional appropriation in order to maintain the levels of services provided by existing appropriations shall be presented to the General Assembly for approval in accordance with the budgetary process applicable to appropriations, including, but not limited to, affirmative legislative approval. Other provisions of the agreement or award shall be deemed approved unless affirmatively rejected by a majority of either house not later than thirty days after the filing with the clerk of that chamber, provided the thirty-day period shall not begin or expire unless the General Assembly is in regular session. Once approved by the General Assembly, any provision of an agreement or award need not be resubmitted by the parties to such agreement or award as part of a future agreement approval process unless changes in the language of such provision are negotiated by the parties.
Sec. 5. Section 17b-730 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2017):
(a) The Commissioner of [Early Childhood] Social Services is authorized to take advantage of any federal statutes and regulations relating to child care services, as described in section 19a-77, and shall have the power to administer any federally assisted child care program in the event that such federal statutes or regulations require that such federally assisted program be administered by a single state agency.
(b) The Commissioner of [Early Childhood] Social Services is authorized to take advantage of Title V of Public Law 88-452, entitled "Economic Opportunity Act of 1964", with respect to providing work training, aid and assistance to persons eligible for state-administered general assistance or public assistance, and to administer the same in such manner as is required for the receipt of federal funds therefor.
Sec. 6. Section 17b-733 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2017):
The [Office of Early Childhood] Department of Social Services shall be the lead agency for child care services, as described in section 19a-77, in Connecticut. The [office] department shall: (1) Identify, annually, existing child care services and maintain an inventory of all available services; (2) provide technical assistance to corporations and private agencies in the development and expansion of child care services for families at all income levels, including families of their employees and clients; (3) study and identify funding sources available for child care services including federal funds and tax benefits; (4) study the cost and availability of liability insurance for providers of child care services; (5) encourage providers of child care services to obtain accreditation; (6) develop a range of financing options for child care services, including the use of a tax-exempt bond program, a loan guarantee program and the establishment of a direct revolving loan program; (7) promote the colocation of child care services and school readiness programs pursuant to section 4b-31; (8) establish a performance-based evaluation system; (9) develop for recommendation to the Governor and the General Assembly measures to provide incentives for the private sector to develop and support expanded child care services; (10) provide, within available funds and in conjunction with the temporary family assistance program, as [defined in section 17b-680] described in section 17b-112, and administered by the [Department of Social Services] department, child care services to public assistance recipients; (11) develop and implement, with the assistance of the Early Childhood Cabinet, established pursuant to section 10-16z, a coordinated and comprehensive state-wide early childhood care and education system of professional development for providers and staff of early childhood care and education programs, including child care centers, group child care homes and family child care homes that provide child care services, that makes available to such providers and their staff, within available appropriations, scholarship assistance, career counseling and training and advancement in career ladders, as defined in section 4-124bb; (12) plan and implement a unit cost reimbursement system for state-funded child care services such that, on and after January 1, 2008, any increase in reimbursement shall be based on a requirement that such centers meet the staff qualifications, as defined in subsection (b) of section 10-16p; (13) develop, within available funds, initiatives to increase compensation paid to providers of child care services for educational opportunities, including, but not limited to, (A) incentives for educational advancement paid to persons employed by child care centers receiving state or federal funds, and (B) support for the establishment and implementation by the Labor Commissioner of apprenticeship programs for child care center workers pursuant to sections 31-22m to 31-22q, inclusive, which programs shall be jointly administered by labor and management trustees; (14) evaluate the effectiveness of any initiatives developed pursuant to subdivision (13) of this section in improving staff retention rates and the quality of education and care provided to children; and (15) report annually to the Governor and the General Assembly, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, on the status of child care services in Connecticut. Such report shall include (A) an itemization of the allocation of state and federal funds for programs providing child care services; (B) the number of children served under each program so funded; (C) the number and type of such programs, providers and support personnel; (D) state activities to encourage partnership between the public and private sectors; (E) average payments issued by the state for both part-time and full-time child care; (F) the range of family income and percentages served within each range by such programs; and (G) the age range of children served.
Sec. 7. Section 17b-738 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2017):
The Commissioner of [Early Childhood] Social Services shall establish and administer a program of loans to business firms, as defined in subsection (a) of section 12-631, for the purpose of planning, site preparation, construction, renovation or acquisition of facilities, within the state, for use as licensed child care centers, family child care homes or group child care homes to be used primarily by the children of employees of such corporations and children of employees of the municipalities in which such facilities are located. Such loans shall be made in accordance with the terms and conditions as provided in regulations adopted by the commissioner, in accordance with chapter 54, shall be made for a period not to exceed five years and shall bear interest at a rate to be determined in accordance with subsection (t) of section 3-20.
Sec. 8. Section 17b-749 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2017):
(a) The Commissioner of [Early Childhood] Social Services shall establish and operate a child care subsidy program to increase the availability, affordability and quality of child care services for families with a parent or caretaker who (1) is working or attending high school, or (2) receives cash assistance under the temporary family assistance program from the Department of Social Services and is participating in an education, training or other job preparation activity approved pursuant to subsection (b) of section 17b-688i or subsection (b) of section 17b-689d. Services available under the child care subsidy program shall include the provision of child care subsidies for children under the age of thirteen or children under the age of nineteen with special needs. The [Office of Early Childhood] Department of Social Services shall open and maintain enrollment for the child care subsidy program and shall administer such program within [the existing budgetary resources] available appropriations. The [office] department shall issue a notice on the [office's] department's Internet web site any time the [office] department closes the program to new applications, changes eligibility requirements, changes program benefits or makes any other change to the program's status or terms, except the [office] department shall not be required to issue such notice when the [office] department expands program eligibility. Any change in the [office's] department's acceptance of new applications, eligibility requirements, program benefits or any other change to the program's status or terms for which the [office] department is required to give notice pursuant to this subsection, shall not be effective until thirty days after the [office] department issues such notice.
(b) The [commissioner] Commissioner of Social Services shall establish income standards for applicants and recipients at a level to include a family with gross income up to fifty per cent of the state-wide median income, except the commissioner (1) may increase the income level to up to seventy-five per cent of the state-wide median income, (2) upon the request of the Commissioner of Children and Families, may waive the income standards for adoptive families so that children adopted on or after October 1, 1999, from the Department of Children and Families are eligible for the child care subsidy program, and (3) on and after March 1, 2003, shall reduce the income eligibility level to up to fifty-five per cent of the state-wide median income for applicants and recipients who qualify based on their loss of eligibility for temporary family assistance. The [commissioner] Commissioner of Social Services may adopt regulations in accordance with chapter 54 to establish income criteria and durational requirements for such waiver of income standards.
(c) The [commissioner, in consultation with the] Commissioner of Social Services [,] shall establish eligibility and program standards including, but not limited to: (1) A priority intake and eligibility system with preference given to serving (A) recipients of temporary family assistance who are employed or engaged in employment activities under the Department of Social Services' "Jobs First" program, (B) working families whose temporary family assistance was discontinued not more than five years prior to the date of application for the child care subsidy program, (C) teen parents, (D) low-income working families, (E) adoptive families of children who were adopted from the Department of Children and Families and who are granted a waiver of income standards under subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section, (F) working families who are at risk of welfare dependency, and (G) any household with a child or children participating in the Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership federal grant program for a period of up to twelve months based on Early Head Start eligibility criteria; (2) health and safety standards for child care providers not required to be licensed; (3) a reimbursement system for child care services which account for differences in the age of the child, number of children in the family, the geographic region and type of care provided by licensed and unlicensed caregivers, the cost and type of services provided by licensed and unlicensed caregivers, successful completion of fifteen hours of annual in-service training or credentialing of child care directors and administrators, and program accreditation; (4) supplemental payment for special needs of the child and extended nontraditional hours; (5) an annual rate review process for providers which assures that reimbursement rates are maintained at levels which permit equal access to a variety of child care settings; (6) a sliding reimbursement scale for participating families; (7) an administrative appeals process; (8) an administrative hearing process to adjudicate cases of alleged fraud and abuse and to impose sanctions and recover overpayments; (9) an extended period of program and payment eligibility when a parent who is receiving a child care subsidy experiences a temporary interruption in employment or other approved activity; and (10) a waiting list for the child care subsidy program that reflects the priority and eligibility system set forth in subdivision (1) of this subsection. [, which is reviewed periodically, with the inclusion of this information] Information on the waiting list shall be included in the annual report required to be issued [annually] by the [office] department to the Governor and the General Assembly in accordance with section 17b-733, as amended by this act. Such [action] information will include, but not be limited to, family income, age of child, region of state and length of time on such waiting list.
(d) Not later than July 1, 2015, an applicant determined to be eligible for program benefits by the Commissioner of [Early Childhood] Social Services shall remain eligible for such benefits for a period prescribed by federal law.
(e) Within available appropriations, a recipient of program benefits who takes unpaid leave from such recipient's employment due to the birth or impending birth of a child shall be granted not more than six weeks of payment eligibility during the leave if: (1) The recipient intends to return to work at the end of the unpaid leave; (2) the recipient verifies that eligibility is needed to prevent the loss of a slot in a school-based program or licensed child care setting; and (3) the child receiving child care services under the program continues to attend the program during the recipient's leave.
(f) A provider under the child care subsidy program that qualifies for eligibility and subsequently receives payment for child care services for recipients under this section shall be reimbursed for such services until informed by the [office] Department of Social Services of the recipient's ineligibility.
(g) All licensed child care providers and those providers exempt from licensing shall provide the [office] Department of Social Services with the following information in order to maintain eligibility for reimbursement: (1) The name, address, appropriate identification, Social Security number and telephone number of the provider and all adults who work for or reside at the location where care is provided; (2) the name and address of the child's doctor, primary care provider and health insurance company; (3) whether the child is immunized and has had health screens pursuant to the federal Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment Services Program under 42 USC 1396d; and (4) the number of children cared for by the provider.
(h) [On or after July 1, 2014, the commissioner] The Commissioner of Social Services shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to implement the provisions of this section.
(i) The [commissioner] Commissioner of Social Services shall submit to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services and appropriations and the budgets of state agencies a copy of the Child Care and Development Fund Plan that the commissioner submits to the Administration for Children and Families pursuant to federal law. The copy of the plan shall be submitted to the committees not later than thirty days after submission of the plan to the Administration for Children and Families.
Sec. 9. Section 17b-749d of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2017):
Each licensed child care center receiving funding directly from the [Office of Early Childhood] Department of Social Services shall adopt a sliding fee scale based on family income. The Commissioner of [Early Childhood] Social Services shall develop a minimum sliding fee scale which may be adjusted upward by each such licensed child care center. All income derived from such fees shall be used to support the licensed child care center.
Sec. 10. Section 17b-749e of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2017):
The [Office of Early Childhood] Department of Social Services shall establish and fund five regional accreditation projects, within available appropriations. The [office] department shall select qualified applicants for each region through a request for proposal process. The [office] department shall give priority to child day care facilities where at least twenty per cent of the children live with families earning less than seventy-five per cent of the state median income level.
Sec. 11. Subsection (a) of section 17b-749f of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2017):
(a) The Commissioner of [Early Childhood] Social Services shall develop and implement a performance-based evaluation system to evaluate licensed child care centers, within available appropriations. Such a performance-based evaluation system shall be similar to the Head Start Performance Standards in 45 CFR 1304.
Sec. 12. Subsection (a) of section 17b-749g of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2017):
(a) There is established a child care facilities loan guarantee program for the purpose of guaranteeing loans for the expansion or development of child care and child development centers in the state. The program shall contain any moneys required by law to be deposited in the program, including, but not limited to, any moneys appropriated by the state, premiums and fees for guaranteeing loans, and proceeds from the sale, disposition, lease or rental of collateral relating to loan guarantees. Any balance remaining in the program at the end of any fiscal year shall be carried forward in the program for the fiscal year next succeeding. The program shall be used to guarantee loans pursuant to subsection (b) of this section and to pay reasonable and necessary expenses incurred for administration under this section. The Commissioner of [Early Childhood] Social Services may enter into a contract with a quasi-public agency, banking institution or nonprofit corporation to provide for the administration of the program, provided no loan guarantee shall be made from the program without the authorization of the commissioner as provided in subsection (b) of this section. The total aggregate amount of guarantees from the program, with respect to the insured portions of the loan, may not exceed at any one time an amount equal to three times the balance in the guarantee program.
Sec. 13. Section 17b-749j of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2017):
The Commissioner of [Early Childhood] Social Services shall establish health and safety standards, within available appropriations, for the child care subsidy program. The commissioner shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, which shall include, but not be limited to, the following: (1) A requirement for the provider or relative to apply for reimbursement from the [Office of Early Childhood] Department of Social Services; (2) a requirement for the provider or relative to provide reasonable confirmation of physical premises safety pursuant to 45 CFR Part 98.41; and (3) minimum health and safety training appropriate to the provider setting and the prevention and control of infectious diseases, including immunization. The commissioner shall, within available appropriations, distribute information on the availability of health and safety training and assistance.
Sec. 14. Subsection (a) of section 17b-749k of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2017):
(a) The Commissioner of [Early Childhood] Social Services shall, within available appropriations, require any person, other than a relative, providing child care services to a child in the child's home who receives a child care subsidy from the [Office of Early Childhood] Department of Social Services to submit to state and national criminal history records checks. The criminal history records checks required pursuant to this subsection shall be conducted in accordance with section 29-17a. The commissioner shall also request a check of the state child abuse registry established pursuant to section 17a-101k.
Sec. 15. Section 17b-750 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2017):
No child care subsidy shall be paid to an unlicensed child care provider if such provider has been convicted of any crime involving sexual assault of a minor or serious physical injury to a minor or any crime committed in any other state or jurisdiction the essential elements of which are substantially the same as such crimes. If the Commissioner of [Early Childhood] Social Services has reason to believe that a provider of child care services has been so convicted, the commissioner may demand that such provider be subject to state and national criminal history records checks. If criminal history records checks are required pursuant to this section, such checks shall be conducted in accordance with section 29-17a.
Sec. 16. Section 4-87 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) Whenever any specific appropriation of a budgeted agency proves insufficient to pay the expenditures required for the statutory purposes for which such appropriation was made, the Governor may, at the request of the budgeted agency, transfer from any other specific appropriation of such budgeted agency such amount as the Governor deems necessary to meet such expenditures, except that transfers made from appropriations for fringe benefits to the operating funds of any constituent unit of the state system of higher education may be made only at the close of the fiscal year. No transfer to or from any specific appropriation of a sum or sums of over one hundred seventy-five thousand dollars or ten per cent of any such specific appropriation, whichever is less, shall be made under this section in any one fiscal year without the consent of the Finance Advisory Committee except for transfer made from appropriations for fringe benefits to the operating funds of any constituent unit of the state system of higher education. Notification of all transfers made shall be sent to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies, through the Office of Fiscal Analysis.
(b) Whenever any allocation of the temporary assistance for needy families block grant funding to the child care subsidy program established pursuant to section 17b-749, as amended by this act, proves insufficient to pay the expenditures required for the statutory purposes for which such allocation was made, the Governor may transfer such grant funding from any other budgeted agency's allocation to the child care subsidy program in such amount as the Governor deems necessary to meet such expenditures. No transfer to or from any specific budgeted agency of such grant funding of over one hundred seventy-five thousand dollars or ten per cent of any budgeted agency's allocation of such grant funding, whichever is less, shall be made under this section in any one fiscal year without the consent of the Finance Advisory Committee. Notification of all such transfers made shall be sent to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies, through the Office of Fiscal Analysis.
[(b)] (c) When the work, procedures or organization of any budgeted agency is modified in any respect by reason of statutory changes or management studies, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, may prepare and submit to the Governor his recommendations to increase or decrease the number of appropriation functions of such budgeted agency and the amounts therefor. The Governor shall have full authority, with the approval of the Finance Advisory Committee, to make such revision and to certify the same to the Secretary of the State and the Comptroller. Appropriation revisions approved by the Governor for any specific agency shall not exceed in total the amount originally appropriated for that agency.
[(c)] (d) Whenever any appropriation of a budgeted agency located within the city of Hartford proves insufficient to pay the expenditures required for such agency to relocate outside the city of Hartford, the Governor, at the request of such agency, and with the consent of the Finance Advisory Committee, may transfer to such agency, from appropriations made to the Department of Administrative Services for rents and moving, such amount as the Governor deems necessary to meet such expenditures. Whenever the appropriations made to the Department of Administrative Services prove insufficient to pay the expenditures necessary to relocate a budgeted agency within the city of Hartford, the Governor, at the request of the department and the agency, and with the consent of the Finance Advisory Committee, may transfer to the department from appropriations made to the agency for relocation expenditures, such amount as the Governor deems necessary to meet such expenditures.
Sec. 17. Section 10-500 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2017):
(a) There is established an Office of Early Childhood. The office shall be under the direction of the Commissioner of Early Childhood, whose appointment shall be made by the Governor. Such appointment shall be in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-5 to 4-8, inclusive. The commissioner shall be responsible for implementing the policies and directives of the office. The commissioner shall have the authority to designate any employee as his or her agent to exercise all or part of the authority, powers and duties of the commissioner in his or her absence. Said office shall be within the Department of Education for administrative purposes only.
(b) The office shall be responsible for:
(1) The delivery of services to young children and their families to ensure optimal health, safety and learning for each young child;
(2) Developing and implementing the early childhood information system, in accordance with the provisions of section 10-501;
(3) Developing and reporting on the early childhood accountability plan, in accordance with the provisions of section 10-503;
(4) Implementing a communications strategy for outreach to families, service providers and policymakers;
(5) Not later than September 1, 2014, beginning a state-wide longitudinal evaluation of the school readiness program examining the educational progress of children from prekindergarten programs to grade four, inclusive;
(6) Developing, coordinating and supporting public and private partnerships to aid early childhood initiatives;
(7) Developing a state-wide developmentally appropriate kindergarten entrance inventory that measures a child's level of preparedness for kindergarten, but shall not be used as a measurement tool for program accountability;
(8) Creating a unified set of reporting requirements for the purpose of collecting the data elements necessary to perform quality assessments and longitudinal analysis;
(9) Comparing and analyzing data collected pursuant to reporting requirements created under subdivision (8) of this subsection with the data collected in the state-wide public school information system, pursuant to section 10-10a, for population-level analysis of children and families;
(10) Continually monitoring and evaluating all early care and education and child development programs and services, focusing on program outcomes in satisfying the health, safety, developmental and educational needs of all children, while retaining distinct separation between quality improvement services and licensing services for child care centers, group child care homes and family child care homes;
(11) Coordinating home visitation services across programs for young children;
(12) Providing information and technical assistance to persons seeking early care and education and child development programs and services;
(13) Assisting state agencies and municipalities in obtaining available federal funding for early care and education and child development programs and services;
(14) Providing technical assistance to providers of early care and education programs and services to obtain licensing and improve program quality;
(15) Establishing a quality rating and improvement system developed by the office that covers home-based, center-based and school-based early child care and learning;
(16) Maintaining an accreditation facilitation initiative to assist early childhood care and education program and service providers in achieving national standards and program improvement;
(17) Consulting with the Early Childhood Cabinet, established pursuant to section 10-16z, and the Head Start advisory committee, established pursuant to section 10-16n;
(18) Ensuring a coordinated and comprehensive state-wide system of professional development for providers and staff of early care and education and child development programs and services;
(19) Providing families with opportunities for choice in services including quality child care and community-based family-centered services;
(20) Integrating early childhood care and education and special education services;
(21) Promoting universal access to early childhood care and education;
(22) Ensuring nonduplication of monitoring and evaluation;
(23) Performing any other activities that will assist in the provision of early care and education and child development programs and services; and
(24) Developing early learning and development standards to be used by early care and education providers. [; and]
[(25) Developing and implementing a performance-based evaluation system to evaluate licensed child care centers, in accordance with the provisions of section 17b-749f.]
(c) The Office of Early Childhood may enter into memoranda of agreement with and accept donations from nonprofit and philanthropic organizations to accomplish the purposes of this section.
(d) The Office of Early Childhood shall constitute a successor department, in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-38d, 4-38e and 4-39, to (1) the Department of Education with respect to sections 8-210, 10-16n, 10-16p to 10-16r, inclusive, 10-16u, 10-16w, 10-16aa, 17b-749a [,] and 17b-749c, [and 17b-749g to 17b-749i,] inclusive; (2) [the Department of Social Services (A) with respect to sections 17b-12, as amended by this act, 17b-705a, as amended by this act, 17b-730, as amended by this act, 17b-733, as amended by this act, 17b-738, as amended by this act, 17b-749, as amended by this act, 17b-749d to 17b-749f, inclusive, as amended by this act, 17b-749j, as amended by this act, 17b-749k, as amended by this act, 17b-750 to 17b-751a, inclusive, as amended by this act, and 17b-751d, and (B) for the purpose of administering the child care development block grant pursuant to the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990; (3)] the Department of Public Health (A) with respect to sections 10a-194c, 12-634, 17a-28, 17a-101 and 19a-80f, (B) for the purpose of regulating child care services pursuant to sections 19a-77, 19a-79, 19a-80, 19a-82 and 19a-84 to 19a-87e, inclusive, (C) for the purpose of the conduct of regulation of youth camps, pursuant to sections 19a-420 to 19a-434, inclusive, and (D) for the purpose of administering the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program authorized under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, P.L. 111-148; and [(4)] (3) the Department of Developmental Services with respect to sections 17a-248, 17a-248b to 17a-248h, inclusive, 38a-490a and 38a-516a.
Sec. 18. Subsection (a) of section 17b-749h of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2017):
(a) There is established a program to be known as the "child care facilities direct revolving loan program". The program shall contain any moneys required by law to be deposited in the program, including, but not limited to, any moneys appropriated by the state, premiums, fees, interest payments and principal payments on direct loans and proceeds from the sale, disposition, lease or rental of collateral relating to direct loans. Any balance remaining in the program at the end of any fiscal year shall be carried forward in the program for the next succeeding fiscal year. The program shall be used to make loans pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, to make loan guarantees and to pay reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in administering loans and loan guarantees under this section. The Commissioner of [Early Childhood] Social Services may enter into a contract with a quasi-public agency, banking institution or nonprofit corporation to provide for the administration of the loan program, provided no loan or loan guarantee shall be made from the fund without the authorization of the commissioner as provided in subsection (b) of this section.
Sec. 19. Section 17a-301a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2017):
(a) Effective January 1, 2013, there shall be established a Department on Aging that shall be under the direction and supervision of the Commissioner on Aging who shall be appointed by the Governor in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-5 to 4-8, inclusive, with the powers and duties prescribed in said sections. The commissioner shall be knowledgeable and experienced with respect to the conditions and needs of elderly persons and shall serve on a full-time basis.
(b) The Commissioner on Aging shall administer all laws under the jurisdiction of the Department on Aging and shall employ the most efficient and practical means for the provision of care and protection of elderly persons. The commissioner shall have the power and duty to do the following: (1) Administer, coordinate and direct the operation of the department; (2) adopt and enforce regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, as necessary to implement the purposes of the department as established by statute; (3) establish rules for the internal operation and administration of the department; (4) establish and develop programs and administer services to achieve the purposes of the department; (5) contract for facilities, services and programs to implement the purposes of the department; (6) act as advocate for necessary additional comprehensive and coordinated programs for elderly persons; (7) assist and advise all appropriate state, federal, local and area planning agencies for elderly persons in the performance of their functions and duties pursuant to federal law and regulation; (8) plan services and programs for elderly persons; (9) coordinate outreach activities by public and private agencies serving elderly persons; and (10) consult and cooperate with area and private planning agencies.
(c) The Department on Aging is designated as the State Unit on Aging to administer, manage, design and advocate for benefits, programs and services for the elderly and their families pursuant to the Older Americans Act. The department shall study continuously the conditions and needs of elderly persons in this state in relation to nutrition, transportation, home care, housing, income, employment, health, recreation and other matters. The department shall be responsible, in cooperation with federal, state, local and area planning agencies on aging, for the overall planning, development and administration of a comprehensive and integrated social service delivery system for elderly persons. The department shall: (1) Measure the need for services; (2) survey methods of administration of programs for service delivery; (3) provide for periodic evaluations of social services; (4) maintain technical, information, consultation and referral services in cooperation with other state agencies to local and area public and private agencies to the fullest extent possible; (5) develop and coordinate educational outreach programs for the purposes of informing the public and elderly persons of available programs; (6) cooperate in the development of performance standards for licensing of residential and medical facilities with appropriate state agencies; (7) supervise the establishment, in selected areas and local communities of the state, of pilot programs for elderly persons; (8) coordinate with the Department of Transportation to provide adequate transportation services related to the needs of elderly persons; and (9) cooperate with other state agencies to provide adequate and alternate housing for elderly persons, including congregate housing, as defined in section 8-119e.
(d) The functions, powers, duties and personnel of the Division of Aging Services of the Department of Social Services, or any subsequent division or portion of a division with similar functions, powers, personnel and duties, shall be transferred to the Department on Aging pursuant to the provisions of sections 4-38d, 4-38e and 4-39.
[(e) The Department of Social Services shall administer programs under the jurisdiction of the Department on Aging until the Commissioner on Aging is appointed and administrative staff are hired.
(f) The Governor may, with the approval of the Finance Advisory Committee, transfer funds between the Department of Social Services and the Department on Aging pursuant to subsection (b) of section 4-87 during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013.]
[(g)] (e) Any order or regulation of the Department of Social Services or the former Commission on Aging that is in force on January 1, 2013, shall continue in force and effect as an order or regulation until amended, repealed or superseded pursuant to law.
Sec. 20. Section 10-504 of the general statutes is repealed. (Effective July 1, 2017)
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: | ||
Section 1 |
July 1, 2017 |
17b-2 |
Sec. 2 |
July 1, 2017 |
17b-7a |
Sec. 3 |
July 1, 2017 |
17b-12 |
Sec. 4 |
July 1, 2017 |
17b-705a(c) to (e) |
Sec. 5 |
July 1, 2017 |
17b-730 |
Sec. 6 |
July 1, 2017 |
17b-733 |
Sec. 7 |
July 1, 2017 |
17b-738 |
Sec. 8 |
July 1, 2017 |
17b-749 |
Sec. 9 |
July 1, 2017 |
17b-749d |
Sec. 10 |
July 1, 2017 |
17b-749e |
Sec. 11 |
July 1, 2017 |
17b-749f(a) |
Sec. 12 |
July 1, 2017 |
17b-749g(a) |
Sec. 13 |
July 1, 2017 |
17b-749j |
Sec. 14 |
July 1, 2017 |
17b-749k(a) |
Sec. 15 |
July 1, 2017 |
17b-750 |
Sec. 16 |
from passage |
4-87 |
Sec. 17 |
July 1, 2017 |
10-500 |
Sec. 18 |
July 1, 2017 |
17b-749h(a) |
Sec. 19 |
July 1, 2017 |
17a-301a |
Sec. 20 |
July 1, 2017 |
Repealer section |
Statement of Purpose:
To restore oversight of the Care 4 Kids child-care subsidy program to the Department of Social Services and allow for transfer of federal block grant funds to the program.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]