Public Act No. 22-100 - Early Childhood Legislation

• Establishes the Early Childhood Cabinet with 20 members including state commissioners, educators, parents, providers, and business representatives, effective July 1, 2022, with the Commissioner of Early Childhood serving as cochairperson.

• Allows parent and guardian members of the Early Childhood Cabinet to be compensated for time and travel related to meetings within available appropriations, removing previous automatic resignation provisions for missed meetings.

• Requires relatives providing child care services and receiving subsidies from the Office of Early Childhood to submit to background checks including National Sex Offender Website, state child abuse registry, and Connecticut Criminal History Request System checks.

• Modifies early childhood teacher credential requirements to allow issuance to individuals holding an associate or bachelor's degree with a concentration in early childhood education from regionally accredited institutions approved by the Board of Regents and Office of Early Childhood.

• Redefines "year-round" school readiness programs from fifty weeks to forty-eight weeks per year and expands the definition of "concentration in early childhood education" to include child study, child development, and human growth and development programs.