HB06359 Summary

• Establishes the Office of Early Childhood effective July 1, 2013, headed by an executive director appointed by the Governor, to coordinate early care and education services for children from birth to age eight.

• Transfers early childhood program administration from the Department of Education and Department of Social Services to the Office of Early Childhood, including school readiness programs, child care subsidies, Head Start programs, and licensing of child day care facilities.

• Creates an Early Childhood Education Cabinet within the Office of Early Childhood to assist with administration of the coordinated early care and education system and compliance with federal Head Start requirements.

• Designates the Office of Early Childhood as the state agency for administering the child care development block grant and establishes regulatory authority over child day care centers, group day care homes, and family day care homes effective July 1, 2014.

• Requires development of an early childhood information system to track health, safety, school readiness, workforce characteristics, and program outcomes for all children in publicly-funded early care and education programs.