Bill Text: PA HB1407 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Amended


Bill Title: In early learning programs, further providing for Head Start expansion and for duties of department.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 19-4)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-06-20 - Laid on the table [HB1407 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2011-HB1407-Amended.html

  

 

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1681

PRINTER'S NO.  1754

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

HOUSE BILL

 

No.

1407

Session of

2011

  

  

INTRODUCED BY CLYMER, BARRAR, BRENNAN, R. BROWN, DENLINGER, FABRIZIO, GEIST, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, HARHAI, HARHART, HENNESSEY, HESS, MAHER, MILLER, MILNE, RAPP, READSHAW, SCAVELLO, TALLMAN, VULAKOVICH AND GROVE, APRIL 28, 2011

  

  

AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, MAY 4, 2011   

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

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Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An

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act relating to the public school system, including certain

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provisions applicable as well to private and parochial

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schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the

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laws relating thereto," in early learning programs, further

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providing for Head Start expansion and for duties of

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department.

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The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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hereby enacts as follows:

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Section 1.  Section 1505-D of the act of March 10, 1949

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(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is

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amended by adding subsections to read:

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Section 1505-D.  Head Start expansion.

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* * *

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(c)  Moratorium.--

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(1)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a

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moratorium is established on the implementation of 22 Pa.

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Code § 405.44(a) (relating to staffing and professional

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development) until December 31, 2015 2012.

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(2)  The department shall post on its Internet website

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and send written notification to school entities and eligible

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providers registered with the Commonwealth of the moratorium

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of the implementation of 22 Pa. Code § 405.44(a).

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Section 2.  Section 1513-D of the act, added July 20, 2007

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(P.L.278, No.45), is amended to read:

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Section 1513-D.  Duties of department.

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(a)  General rule.--The department shall have the following

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powers and duties:

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(1)  To promulgate regulations and establish guidelines

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and standards necessary to implement this subarticle. In

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promulgating the initial regulations, the department shall

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follow the procedures provided in the act of July 31, 1968

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(P.L.769, No.240), referred to as the Commonwealth Documents

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Law, and the act of June 25, 1982 (P.L.633, No.181), known as

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the Regulatory Review Act, for promulgation and review of

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final-omitted regulations. Subsequent regulations promulgated

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under this subarticle or amendments to the initial

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regulations shall not be in final-omitted form.

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(2)  To establish the process through which eligible

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providers may apply for grant funds, allowable and required

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grant uses and per-student funding levels and the criteria

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used to identify approved providers for grant funds.

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(3)  To identify one or more assessments to be used by

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approved providers, the cost of which shall be paid as part

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of an approved provider's grant award.

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(4)  To encourage the development and maintenance of

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community coordination and partnerships.

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(5)  To perform all other functions necessary to carry

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out the program, including the monitoring of approved

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providers.

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(6)  To enter into agreements with third-party entities,

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to include intermediate units, to carry out the provisions of

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this subarticle.

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(7)  To publish the process through which eligible

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providers may apply for grant funds, the criteria used to

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identify approved providers for grant funds and the per-

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student funding levels of approved providers, by county, on

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the department's Internet website and in the Pennsylvania

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Bulletin within 60 days of the effective date of this

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section.

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(b)  Moratorium.--

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(1)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a

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moratorium is established on the implementation of 22 Pa.

15

Code § 405.44(a) (relating to staffing and professional

16

development) until December 31, 2015 2012.

<--

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(2)  The department shall post on its Internet website

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and send written notification to school entities and eligible

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providers registered with the Commonwealth of the moratorium

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of the implementation of 22 Pa. Code § 405.44(a).

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(c)  Work group.--

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(1)  The department shall convene a work group of program

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operators, association representatives and department

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personnel to conduct a review of early childhood programs

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funded through the department and the Department of Public

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Welfare as follows:

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(i)  Departmental location and organizational

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structure shall be assessed regarding the various early

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childhood programs' legal authority, overlap of duties

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and responsibilities and communication mechanisms.

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(ii)  Programs, policies and guidelines shall be

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reviewed and revised to reduce unnecessary and

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duplicative administrative procedures and paperwork.

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(iii)  Existing eligibility requirements for both

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providers and program participants shall be reviewed to

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ensure the greatest amount of opportunity across all

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programs to the students most at risk.

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(iv)  Certification and inspection requirements shall

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be reviewed and consolidated.

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(v)  Funding criteria and distribution across early

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childhood programs shall be evaluated to ensure

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compliance with legal requirements, focus on quality

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programs and equity in the distribution where possible.

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(vi)  Reporting and information systems shall be

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reviewed and limited to those data elements needed to

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meet Federal program requirements and ensure program

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quality and accountability.

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(vii)  Program copays across all early childhood

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programs shall be reviewed for consistency of application

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and administration and a determination of when copays

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should be instituted to increase access to early

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childhood programs.

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(2)  The majority of the work group shall consist of

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program operators selected in consultation with the chairman

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and minority chairman of the Education Committee of the

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Senate and the chairman and minority chairman of the

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Education Committee of the House of Representatives. The work

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group shall consult with representatives of higher education

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institutions and with child advocacy groups.

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(3)  No later than February 1, 2012, the work group shall

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submit to the Education Committee of the Senate and the

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Education Committee of the House of Representatives a report

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identifying recommended legislative and program changes,

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provided that all changes shall be child and funding neutral. 

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Each Education Committee director shall distribute the report

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to the chairmen of other relevant committees of the

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respective chamber.

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Section 3.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.

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