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 make recommendations to the General Assembly regarding the best structure for coordinated early childhood services provided to children from birth to age 5 currently operating across multiple systems and funding streams for the purpose of improving the delivery of services, maximizing the number of children served, ensuring that all children are ready to enter school, and delivering cohesive high quality early childhood education, care and parental support to all children in South Carolina. The Committee must solicit input from and consider the recommendations of affected constituencies, such as the report of the Office of First Steps Study Committee established pursuant to Act 287 of 2014, in the development of its report.
Programs to be included in the study must include, but are not limited to: Head Start Collaboration 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) Four members appointed by the Governor who must be representative of the population of the State and have skills, knowledge and interest in early childhood care, education and improving the school readiness of young children for success; and
6) Chairman of the Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children, 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 General Assembly and the Governor by December 1, 2019./
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend sections, totals and title to conform.