S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
7553--A
I N S E N A T E
April 21, 2010
___________
Introduced by Sens. MONTGOMERY, DUANE, HASSELL-THOMPSON, OPPENHEIMER,
PARKER, SAVINO, SCHNEIDERMAN, SQUADRON, STEWART-COUSINS -- read twice
and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee
on Education -- reported favorably from said committee and committed
to the Committee on Finance -- committee discharged, bill amended,
ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the duties of the
commissioner of education with regard to early childhood education
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 305 of the education law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 42 to read as follows:
42. A. THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COMMISSIONER OR THE
COMMISSIONER'S DESIGNEE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THE OFFICE OF CHIL-
DREN AND FAMILY SERVICES AND THE OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY
ASSISTANCE AND THE CHAIR OR THE CHAIR'S DESIGNEE OF THE EARLY CHILDHOOD
ADVISORY COUNCIL OR ITS EQUIVALENT AS APPOINTED PURSUANT TO THE FEDERAL
HEAD START REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF TWO THOUSAND SEVEN, SHALL EXAMINE,
EVALUATE, AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING THE EDUCATION AND DEVELOP-
MENT OF CHILDREN FROM BIRTH THROUGH FIVE YEARS OF AGE. THE COMMISSIONER
SHALL IDENTIFY, REVIEW, ANALYZE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT STATE
LAWS AND REGULATIONS, PROGRAMS AND SERVICES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
THE FOLLOWING: REQUIREMENTS FOR THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN FROM BIRTH
THROUGH FIVE YEARS OF AGE AT ALL SETTINGS WHICH CARE FOR SUCH CHILDREN
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO PUBLIC AND NON-PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PRE-KINDER-
GARTEN PROGRAMS, DAY CARE CENTERS AND FAMILY DAY CARE, EARLY INTER-
VENTION PROGRAMS, SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND OTHER RELEVANT
SETTINGS; REQUIREMENTS FOR DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES NECESSARY TO THE
EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN FROM BIRTH THROUGH FIVE YEARS OF
AGE AT SUCH SETTINGS; THE HEALTH, FAMILY SUPPORT AND OTHER SERVICES
NECESSARY FOR THE EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN FROM BIRTH
THROUGH FIVE YEARS OF AGE; REQUIREMENTS FOR THE EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION
AND TRAINING OF PERSONNEL IN SUCH SETTINGS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
EDUCATION, DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES AND SUPERVISION OF CHILDREN FROM BIRTH
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD16950-05-0
S. 7553--A 2
THROUGH FIVE YEARS OF AGE INCLUDING TEACHERS, TEACHER ASSISTANTS AND DAY
CARE PROVIDERS, DIRECTORS AND EMPLOYEES; AND THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND
LOCAL FUNDING STREAMS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AT PUBLIC AND
NON-PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS, DAY CARE CENTERS AND
FAMILY DAY CARE AND OTHER RELEVANT SETTINGS.
B. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL REPORT ITS FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMEN-
DATIONS WITHIN EIGHT MONTHS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SUBDIVISION TO
THE GOVERNOR, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, THE SPEAKER OF THE
ASSEMBLY, THE CHAIRS OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY COMMITTEES ON EDUCATION,
THE CHAIRS OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY COMMITTEES ON CHILDREN AND FAMI-
LIES, THE CHAIRS OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY COMMITTEES ON SOCIAL
SERVICES AND THE CHAIRS OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY COMMITTEES ON HEALTH.
THE REPORT SHALL INCLUDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STRENGTHENING ACCESS TO AND
THE QUALITY OF EDUCATIONAL, DEVELOPMENTAL AND FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAMS
AND SERVICES AT ALL SETTINGS WHERE SUCH PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ARE
PROVIDED TO CHILDREN FROM BIRTH THROUGH FIVE YEARS OF AGE AND THE
CONSOLIDATION OF FUNDING, OVERSIGHT AND ENFORCEMENT FOR SUCH PROGRAMS
AND SERVICES.
S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
