REPORT OF CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

S.B. No. 2618: Task Force on the Development and Implementation of Comprehensive Early Childhood Services in Mississippi; create.

SECTION 1. (1) The Legislature finds that:

(a) Studies show that children who experience quality comprehensive early childhood services have higher academic and social ratings by their kindergarten teachers and better kindergarten attendance than children who do not;

(b) Participation in quality comprehensive early childhood services helps children develop social and pre-academic skills that will help them succeed in kindergarten and throughout their educational experiences;

(c) Other southeastern states have implemented pre-kindergarten programs similar to the Georgia Pre-Kindergarten Program for four-year-old children, emphasizing growth in language and literacy, math concepts, science, arts, physical development, and personal and social competence.

(2) There is hereby created a Task Force to Study the Development and Implementation of Comprehensive Early Childhood Services in Mississippi. The task force shall make a report of its findings and recommendations to the Legislature at least thirty (30) days before the beginning of the 2000 Regular Session of the Legislature for implementation in the 2000-2001 school year.

(3) The task force shall be composed of twenty-five (25) members as follows:

(a) The Chairmen of the Senate Education and Appropriations Committees;

(b) Two (2) members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, or their designees;

(c) The Chairmen of the House Education and Appropriations Committees;

(d) Two (2) members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House, or their designees;

(e) A representative of the Governor;

(f) The State Superintendent of Education;

(g) The Executive Director of the Department of Health, the state child care licensing agency;

(h) The Executive Director of the Department of Human Services, the state Child Care Development Fund agency;

(i) Representatives of the early childhood profession:

(i) A Head Start director elected by the Mississippi Head Start Association;

(ii) A representative from a regulated family child care home network appointed by the Speaker of the House;

(iii) A representative from a licensed child care center appointed by the President of the Senate;

(iv) A representative from a public school pre-kindergarten program appointed by the Speaker of the House;

(v) A representative from a private school pre-kindergarten program appointed by the President of the Senate;

(vi) A representative from a half-day church sponsored pre-kindergarten program appointed by the Speaker of the House;

(vii) A representative from a university or college early childhood teacher preparation program appointed by the President of the Senate;

(viii) A representative of a tribal early childhood program appointed by the Speaker of the House;

(ix) A representative of an early childhood professional organization appointed by the President of the Senate; and

(x) A representative of an advocacy organization appointed by the Speaker of the House;

(j) A parent of a preschool-age child appointed by the President of the Senate;

(k) A parent of a preschool-age child with special needs appointed by the Speaker of the House; and

(l) A representative of the cooperative extension services appointed by the Speaker of the House.

(4) In the event the Chairman of the Senate or House Education or Appropriations Committees is unable to attend any meeting of the task force, the vice-chairman of the respective committee shall be authorized to attend and vote at such meeting. Appointments shall be made within thirty (30) days after passage of this act, and, within fifteen (15) days thereafter on a day to be designated jointly by the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House and the State Superintendent of Education, the task force shall meet. The Chairman of the Senate Education Committee shall appoint a chairman of the task force from its membership, and the Chairman of the House Education Committee shall appoint a vice-chairman of the task force from its membership. The vice-chairman also shall serve as secretary and shall be responsible for keeping all records of the task force. A majority of the members of the task force shall constitute a quorum. In the adoption of rules, resolutions and reports, an affirmative vote of a majority of the task force shall be required. All members shall be notified in writing of all meetings, such notices to be mailed at least five (5) days before the date on which a meeting is to be held.

(5) Members of the task force who are not legislators shall be compensated at the per diem rate authorized by Section 25-3-69, Mississippi Code of 1972, and shall be reimbursed in accordance with Section 25-3-41, Mississippi Code of 1972, for mileage and actual expense incurred in the performance of their duties. Any member who is also a state employee shall not be eligible to receive per diem compensation. No task force member may incur per diem, travel or other expenses unless previously authorized by vote, at a meeting of the task force, which action shall be recorded in the official minutes of the meeting. Legislative members of the committee shall be paid from the contingent expense funds of their respective houses in the same amounts as provided for committee meetings when the Legislature is not in session; however, no per diem or expense for attending meetings of the task force will be paid while the Legislature is in session. Non-legislative members shall be paid from any funds made available to the task force for that purpose.

(6) The task force may utilize clerical and legal staff employed by the State Department of Education, the Office of the Governor, the Legislature and any other staff assistance made available to it.

(7) Funding for the task force may be provided from any funds that may be appropriated by the Legislature to the State Department of Education for that purpose.

(8) Upon presentation of its report to the 2000 Regular Session, the task force shall be dissolved.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.