House Bill 1082

AN ACT TO CREATE THE CHILD CARE ADVISORY COUNCIL TO ADVISE THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES DIVISION OF EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHILD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT STATE PLAN; TO PROVIDE THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE COUNCIL; TO PROVIDE THE TERMS OF THE MEMBERS; TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES FOR CALLING AND HOLDING MEETINGS; TO PROVIDE THE DUTIES OF THE COUNCIL; TO REQUIRE THE COUNCIL TO SUBMIT A REPORT OF ITS FINDINGS TO THE LEGISLATURE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. There is created the Child Care Advisory Council. The purpose of the council is to advise the Division of Early Childhood Care and Development at the Mississippi Department of Human Services on the development of the Child Care and Development Block Grant state plan, and all aspects of the implementation of the Child Care and Development Block Grant child care program and spending priorities.

SECTION 2. (1) The council shall be composed of the following twelve (12) members: Membership. The council has a maximum of 12 members, appointed as follows:

(a) Eight (8) licensed child care providers who participate in the Child Care Subsidy program; and

(b) Three (3) parents who receive a child care subsidy at the time of that parent's appointment, appointed by the Division Director; and

(c) One (1) parent or other consumer of child care services who does not receive a child care subsidy, appointed by the Governor.

(2) The child care providers will be selected from child care organizations such as Delta Licensed Providers, Child Care Directors Network, Mississippi Early Childhood Association, Mississippi Low Income Child Care Initiative, and Mississippi Early Childhood Alliance. Council members must be represented from each Congressional District.

SECTION 3. (1) The Division Director shall call the first meeting of the council by July 1, 2016. At the first meeting, the council shall select by majority vote a chair, vice chair, secretary, assistant secretary, and treasurer from among its members to serve a term of one (1) year. All other members serve three (3) year terms and may continue to serve beyond their terms until their successors are appointed. Each office may be reelected to subsequent terms. If a vacancy occurs before a term has expired, the vacancy must be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term by the authority who made the original appointment.

(2) The chair shall call subsequent meetings. The council may meet as often as determined necessary by the council members, and must meet at least four (4) times per year at a date, time and place determined by the council.

(3) The chair, in collaboration with the department, may call a special meeting to address an issue that, in the judgment of the chair, cannot wait until the next regularly scheduled meeting.

SECTION 4. The council must have access to all departmental records regarding child care programs and spending priorities administered under this act, except that the council may not have access to information that identifies individuals who receive assistance under this chapter.

SECTION 5. The council shall have the following duties:

(a) Advise the Division of Early Childhood Care and Development on the development of the Child Care and Development Block Grant state plan, and all aspects of the implementation of the Child Care and Development Block Grant child care program including spending and contracts;

(b) Advise Division of Early Childhood Care and Development regarding the preparation of any application, amendment, waiver request, plan or other document submitted by the department to the Federal Government regarding child care funding and recommend changes to the submission when appropriate; and

(c) Advise how the state can better use all funds related to the child care subsidy including the Quality Rate and Improvement System spending and contracts, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds for the child care subsidy program to serve more children and develop a funding proposal that will prioritize serving more children that qualify.

SECTION 6. By October 15, 2017 the council shall submit an annual report to the Governor's office and the standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over human services matters. The report must describe the council's activities for the year regarding its duties and must outline policy changes recommended by the council, along with necessary implementing legislation. All reports are public information and shall be posted on the Mississippi Department of Human Services website.

SECTION 7. The office shall provide staff and office supplies to the council within the office's existing resources. The council may refuse these services and supplies and may accept and expend private funds to carry out its duties under this chapter.

SECTION 8. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2016.