Amend the bill, as and if amended, Part IB, Section 117, GENERAL PROVISIONS, page 529, after line 15, by adding an appropriately numbered new proviso to read:
/ (GP: Early Childhood Education Study Committee) There is established the Early Childhood Education Study Committee to study the implementation of the recommendations included in the report of the Office of First Steps Study Committee established pursuant to Act 287 of 2014, for the establishment of a cabinet-level agency reporting directly to the governor under which certain programs shall be reorganized so that all early childhood services currently operating across multiple systems and funding streams will be coordinated to streamline an otherwise fragmented system of services resulting in more accountability, efficiency, and reduction of duplicative services.
The committee shall study how specific early childhood programs should more appropriately be housed at a combined agency, as recommended in the report of the First Steps Study Committee established pursuant to Act 287 of 2014, in order to more efficiently and effectively manage those services while ensuring existing funding streams avoid disruption and while ensuring that the operations and individual 501(c)(3) status of local First Steps Partnerships are maintained and not disrupted. Applicable programs shall include, but are not limited to: Head Start Collaboration Office, First Steps to School Readiness State Office, Office of Early Learning, ABC Childcare Program, Childcare Licensing Office, Childcare Resource and Referral Network, Child Early Reading Development & Education Program, BabyNet, Women, Infants and Children Supplemental Food Program (WIC), and the Postpartum Newborn Home Visitation Program.
The study committee shall be comprised of the following:
1) Chairman of the Senate Family & Veterans' Services Committee, or their designee, who shall serve as Co-Chair;
2) Chairman of the House of Representatives Education & Public Works Committee, or their designee, who shall serve as Co-Chair;
3) Two members of the Senate, appointed by the Chairman of the Family & Veterans' Services Committee;
4) Two members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Education & Public Works Committee;
5) Three members appointed by the Governor;
6) Chairman of the Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children, or their designee; and
7) President of the Institute for Child Success, or their designee.
Staff support shall be provided by the Senate Family & Veterans' Services Committee and the House of Representatives Education & Public Works Committee. Findings and recommendations shall be submitted to the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, the Chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee, and the Governor by December 1, 2019./
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend sections, totals and title to conform.