SECOND REGULAR SESSION
SENATE BILL NO. 1159
92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATORS FOSTER AND DOUGHERTY.
Read 1st time January 26, 2004, and ordered printed.
TERRY L. SPIELER, Secretary.
4142S.01I
AN ACT
To repeal section 210.102, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to the coordinating board for early childhood.
Section A. Section 210.102, RSMo, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 210.102, to read as follows:
210.102. 1. It shall be the duty of the Missouri children's services commission to:
(1) Make recommendations which will encourage greater interagency coordination, cooperation, more effective utilization of existing resources and less duplication of effort in activities of state agencies which affect the legal rights and well-being of children in Missouri;
(2) Develop an integrated state plan for the care provided to children in this state through state programs;
(3) Develop a plan to improve the quality of [child day care] children's programs statewide. Such plan shall include, but not be limited to:
(a) Methods for promoting geographic availability and financial accessibility for all children and families in need of such services;
(b) Program recommendations for [child day care] children's services which include child development, education, supervision, health and social services;
(4) Design and implement evaluation of the activities of the commission in fulfilling the duties as set out in this section;
(5) Report annually to the governor with five copies each to the house of representatives and senate about its activities including, but not limited to the following:
(a) A general description of the activities pertaining to children of each state agency having a member on the commission;
(b) A general description of the plans and goals, as they affect children, of each state agency having a member on the commission;
(c) Recommendations for statutory and appropriation initiatives to implement the integrated state plan;
(d) A report from the commission regarding the state of children in Missouri.
2. There is hereby established within the children's services commission the "Coordinating Board for Early Childhood", which shall constitute a body corporate and politic, and shall include but not be limited to the following members:
(1) A representative from the governor's office;
(2) A representative from each of the following departments: health and senior services, mental health, social services, and elementary and secondary education;
(3) A representative of the judiciary;
(4) A representative of the family and community trust board (FACT);
(5) A representative from the head start program;
(6) Nine members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate who are representatives of the groups, such as business, philanthropy, civic groups, faith-based organizations, parent groups, advocacy organizations, early childhood service providers, and other stakeholders.
The coordinating board may make all rules it deems necessary to enable it to conduct its meetings, elect its officers, and set the terms and duties of its officers. The coordinating board shall elect from amongst its members a chairperson, vice chairperson, a secretary-reporter, and such other officers as it deems necessary. Members of the board shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for actual expenses necessary to the performance of their official duties for the board.
3. The coordinating board for early childhood shall have the power to:
(1) Develop a comprehensive statewide long-range strategic plan for a cohesive early childhood system;
(2) Confer with public and private entities for the purpose of promoting and improving the development of children from birth through age five of this state;
(3) Identify legislative recommendations to improve services for children from birth through age five;
(4) Promote coordination of existing services and programs across public and private entities;
(5) Promote research-based approaches to services and ongoing program evaluation;
(6) Identify service gaps and advise public and private entities on methods to close such gaps;
(7) Apply for and accept gifts, grants, appropriations, loans, or contributions to the coordinating board for early childhood fund from any source, public or private, and enter into contracts or other transactions with any federal or state agency, any private organizations, or any other source in furtherance of the purpose of subsections 2 and 3 of this section, and take any and all actions necessary to avail itself of such aid and cooperation;
(8) Direct disbursements from the coordinating board for early childhood fund as provided in this section;
(9) Administer the coordinating board for early childhood fund and invest any portion of the moneys not required for immediate disbursement in obligations of the United States or any agency or instrumentality of the United States, in obligations of the state of Missouri and its political subdivisions, in certificates of deposit and time deposits, or other obligations of banks and savings and loan associations, or in such other obligations as may be prescribed by the board;
(10) Purchase, receive, take by grant, gift, devise, bequest or otherwise, lease, or otherwise acquire, own, hold, improve, employ, use, and otherwise deal with real or personal property or any interests therein, wherever situated;
(11) Sell, convey, lease, exchange, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or any of its property or any interest therein, wherever situated;
(12) Employ and fix the compensation of an executive director and such other agents or employees as it considers necessary;
(13) Adopt, alter, or repeal by its own bylaws, rules, and regulations governing the manner in which its business may be transacted;
(14) Adopt and use an official seal;
(15) Assess or charge fees as the board determines to be reasonable to carry out its purposes;
(16) Make all expenditures which are incident and necessary to carry out its purposes;
(17) Sue and be sued in its official name;
(18) Take such action, enter into such agreements, and exercise all functions necessary or appropriate to carry out the duties and purposes set forth in this section.
4. There is hereby created the "Coordinating Board for Early Childhood Fund" which shall consist of the following:
(1) Any moneys appropriated by the general assembly for use by the board in carrying out the powers set out in subsections 2 and 3 of this section;
(2) Any moneys received from grants or which are given, donated, or contributed to the fund from any source;
(3) Any moneys received as fees authorized under subsections 2 and 3 of this section;
(4) Any moneys received as interest on deposits or as income on approved investments of the fund;
(5) Any moneys obtained from any other available source.
Notwithstanding the provisions of section 33.080, RSMo, to the contrary, any moneys remaining in the coordinating board for early childhood fund at the end of the biennium shall not revert to the credit of the general revenue fund.