S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  6961

                            I N  S E N A T E

                              April 9, 2014
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sens. AVELLA, VALESKY -- read twice and ordered printed,
  and when printed to be committed to  the  Committee  on  Children  and
  Families

AN  ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to the creation of
  the early learning council

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1. The social services law is amended by adding a new article
10-E to read as follows:
                              ARTICLE 10-E
                         EARLY LEARNING COUNCIL
SECTION 484-A. CREATION AND PURPOSE.
        484-B. COMPOSITION.
        484-C. POWERS AND DUTIES.
        484-D. TERM.
        484-E. SHARING OF INFORMATION.
  S 484-A. CREATION AND PURPOSE. THERE IS HEREBY  ESTABLISHED  AN  EARLY
LEARNING COUNCIL. THE PURPOSE OF THE EARLY LEARNING COUNCIL IS TO SECURE
SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN EARLY LEARNING FOR CHILDREN
UP  TO  THE AGE OF FIVE BY FOCUSING ON PRACTICES THAT ARE EDUCATIONALLY,
ECONOMICALLY, AND SCIENTIFICALLY SOUND.
  S 484-B. COMPOSITION. THE EARLY  LEARNING  COUNCIL  SHALL  CONSIST  OF
MEMBERS  INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE DIRECTORS OF THE BUDGET, THE
COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES, THE  COMMIS-
SIONER OF THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE
OF  TEMPORARY  AND  DISABILITY  ASSISTANCE,  THE PRESIDENT OF THE EMPIRE
STATE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, OR THEIR RESPECTIVE DESIGNEES;  AT  LEAST
FOUR  REPRESENTATIVES  OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY APPOINTED BY THE GOVER-
NOR,  AND  AT  LEAST  TWO  REPRESENTATIVES  OF  THE  BUSINESS  COMMUNITY
APPOINTED  BY  THE  SPEAKER  AND  THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE,
RESPECTIVELY. THE COUNCIL MAY ORGANIZE SUBCOMMITTEES TO REVIEW  SPECIFIC
FUNDING AND POLICY PRIORITIES.
  S  484-C.  POWERS  AND DUTIES. THE EARLY LEARNING COUNCIL WILL MEET AT
LEAST TWICE A YEAR AND WILL HAVE THE FOLLOWING POWERS AND DUTIES:

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                           LBD14008-02-4

S. 6961                             2

  1. DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING STRATEGIES TO ENGAGE BUSINESS AND CIVIC
LEADERS AND ORGANIZATIONS IN EARLY LEARNING PLANNING AND ADVOCACY AT THE
STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL;
  2.  CONSULTING  WITH  PERSONS  WITH  EXPERIENCE  IN THE FIELD OF EARLY
CHILDHOOD EDUCATION ON FUNDING AND POLICY PRIORITIES;
  3. INCREASING BUSINESS, CIVIC AND PUBLIC AWARENESS OF  THE  IMPORTANCE
OF  EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION; INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE DISTRIB-
UTION OF LITERATURE THROUGH MAIL OR ONLINE, ORGANIZING OF  MEETINGS  AND
EVENTS AND PROMOTING THE COST BENEFITS OF INVESTMENTS IN LEARNING; AND,
  4.  DEVELOPING  AN  ANNUAL  REPORT  TO  THE  GOVERNOR  AND LEGISLATURE
CONTAINING INFORMATION ON ALL ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE PREVIOUS YEAR AS
WELL AS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS  AND
POLICIES.
  S  484-D.  TERM. APPOINTED MEMBERS OF THE EARLY LEARNING COUNCIL SHALL
SERVE FOR A TERM OF THREE  YEARS  AND  CONTINUE  TO  SERVE  UNTIL  THEIR
SUCCESSOR  IS  APPOINTED.  MEMBERS SERVING AS A RESULT OF THEIR POSITION
WITH STATE GOVERNMENT SHALL SERVE SO LONG AS THEY REMAIN IN SUCH CAPACI-
TY. ANY VACANCIES SHALL BE  FILLED  PURSUANT  TO  SECTION  FOUR  HUNDRED
EIGHTY-FOUR-B  OF THIS ARTICLE. MEMBERS SHALL SERVE WITHOUT COMPENSATION
EXCEPT FOR PAYMENT OF NECESSARY AND ACTUAL EXPENSES INCURRED IN  ATTEND-
ING  MEETINGS  AND  IN  PERFORMING  THEIR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS
MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
  S 484-E. SHARING  OF  INFORMATION.  THE  EARLY  LEARNING  COUNCIL  MAY
REQUEST,  AND SHALL RECEIVE, INFORMATION FROM ANY STATE OR LOCAL GOVERN-
MENTAL AGENCY NECESSARY TO COMPLETE ITS DUTIES PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE,
SO LONG  AS  SUCH  INFORMATION  IS  NON-IDENTIFYING  AND  NOT  OTHERWISE
PROTECTED BY LAW.
  S  2.  This act shall take effect immediately; provided that the first
annual report required pursuant to section 484-c of the social  services
law  as  added by section one of this act shall be due September 1, 2015
and every September 1 thereafter.