MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2023 Regular Session

To: Education

By: Senator(s) Wiggins

Senate Bill 2601

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-21-53, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PRESCRIBE ADDITIONAL DUTIES FOR THE STATE EARLY CHILDHOOD ADVISORY COUNCIL; TO PROVIDE FOR ADDITIONAL MEMBERS WHO ARE RECOMMENDED BY THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 37-21-53, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     37-21-53.  (1)  The State Early Childhood Advisory Council (SECAC), located in the Office of the Governor, * * * is (a) shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

          (a)  Ensuring coordination among the various agencies and programs serving preschool children in order to leverage resources, align processes, reduce duplication of effort, and strengthen the quality of all state and federally funded programs serving preschool-age children;

          (b)  Coordinating for the various agencies and state-funded programs serving preschool children and their families in the State of Mississippi;

          (c)  Coordinating paperwork, monitoring visits and evaluating early education providers when state or federally funded programs overlap to eliminate duplication of effort.  Alignment tasks may include:

(i)  Jointly conducting monitoring or evaluation visits;

(ii)  Developing and using common forms of other paperwork;

(iii)  Sharing compliance or other data across agencies to reduce the number of agencies seeking similar information;

          (d)  Coordinating policy recommendation for Early Learning Collaboratives;

          (e)  Developing standards for core competency development for teachers through professional continuing education, in consultation with the schools of education in the university system for articulation purposes;

(f)  To assist the State Department of Education with the implementation of the Early Learning Collaborative Act of 2013 * * *, (b) to ensure coordination among the various agencies and programs serving preschool children in order to support school district's efforts to achieve the goal of readiness to start school, (c) to facilitate communication, cooperation and maximum use of resources and to promote high standards for all programs serving preschool children and their families in Mississippi,;

          ( * * *dg)  To serve as the designated council for early childhood education and care pursuant to federal Public Law 110-134 * * *, and;

          ( * * *eh)  To carry out any responsibilities assigned to SECAC by the Governor and/or by applicable federal law.

     (2)  The membership of the State Early Childhood Advisory Council (SECAC) in accordance with Public Law 110-134, shall include the following members to be appointed by the Governor:

          (a)  A representative of the Mississippi Department of Human Services;

          (b)  A representative of the Mississippi Department of Education;

          (c)  A representative of local educational agencies;

          (d)  A representative of Mississippi Institutions of Higher Education;

          (e)  A representative of local providers of early childhood education and care services from each congressional district;

          (f)  A representative from Head Start agencies located in the state, including Indian Head Start programs and migrant and seasonal Head Start programs as available;

          (g)  The State Director of Head Start Collaboration;

          (h)  The Part C Coordinator and/or the Section 619 Coordinator of programs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 USC 1419, 1431 et seq.);

          (i)  A representative of the Mississippi Department of Health;

          (j)  A representative of the Mississippi Department of Mental Health; * * * and

          (k)  A representative of the Mississippi Senate recommended by the Lieutenant Governor;

(l)  A representative of the Mississippi House of Representatives recommended by the Speaker; and

          ( * * *km)  Representatives of other entities deemed relevant by the Governor.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2023.

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