SENATE BILL 97174
BY SENATORS Lacy, Arnold, Bishop, Dennis, Martinez, Norton, Pascoe, Reeves, Rupert, Tebedo, Thiebaut, and Weddig;
also REPRESENTATIVES C. Berry, Alexander, Bacon,
Hagedorn, Reeser, Saliman, and Schwarz.
CONCERNING COMMUNITY CONSOLIDATED CHILD CARE SERVICES,
AND IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, ESTABLISHING A PILOT PROGRAM WITH
A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON MOVING FAMILIES FROM WELFARE TO WORK.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State
of Colorado:
SECTION 1. Title
26, Colorado Revised Statutes, 1989 Repl. Vol., as amended, is
amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW ARTICLE to read:
266.5101. Legislative declaration.
(1) THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HEREBY FINDS AND DECLARES
THAT THERE IS A CRITICAL NEED TO INCREASE FULLYEAR, FULLDAY
CHILD CARE SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WHOSE PARENTS ARE ENTERING THE
WORKFORCE DUE TO COLORADO'S REFORM OF THE WELFARE SYSTEM, TRANSITIONING
OFF WELFARE, OR IN NEED OF CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE TO AVOID THE
WELFARE SYSTEM.
(2) RESEARCH DEMONSTRATES THAT THERE ARE
POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN IN LOWINCOME FAMILIES WHO
RECEIVE QUALITY CHILD CARE SERVICES IN THEIR EARLY, PRESCHOOL
YEARS.
(3) PROVIDERS OF HALFDAY PRESCHOOL
AND FULLDAY CHILD CARE SERVICES HAVE TO OVERCOME BARRIERS
AND INFLEXIBLE REQUIREMENTS OF THE VARIOUS SOURCES OF FUNDING
IN ORDER TO DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS THAT ARE MORE RESPONSIVE
TO THE NEEDS OF WORKING FAMILIES.
(4) CONSOLIDATION OF THESE VARIOUS SOURCES
OF FUNDING FROM BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL SOURCES WOULD ALLOW FOR
AN INTEGRATED DELIVERY SYSTEM OF QUALITY PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN
IN LOWINCOME FAMILIES IN COLORADO'S COMMUNITIES.
(5) IT IS THEREFORE IN THE STATE'S BEST
INTEREST TO ESTABLISH A PILOT PROGRAM FOR COMMUNITY CONSOLIDATED
CHILD CARE SERVICES, AS PROVIDED IN THIS ARTICLE.
266.5102. Pilot program
established. THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED
A PILOT PROGRAM FOR COMMUNITY CONSOLIDATED CHILD CARE SERVICES
THAT SHALL BE IMPLEMENTED AND MONITORED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT
OF HUMAN SERVICES, WITH INPUT, COOPERATION, AND SUPPORT SERVICES
FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
266.5103. Program scope.
(1) ON OR BEFORE JULY 1, 1997, THE STATE DEPARTMENT
OF HUMAN SERVICES, WITH INPUT FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION,
SHALL DEVELOP A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE
GOVERNING BODIES OF MUNICIPALITIES, COUNTIES, AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS
THROUGHOUT THE STATE TO DESIGN CONSOLIDATED PROGRAMS OF COMPREHENSIVE
EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION SERVICES INTENDED TO SERVE
CHILDREN IN LOWINCOME FAMILIES WITH A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON
FAMILIES PARTICIPATING IN WORK ACTIVITIES RELATED TO WELFARE REFORM.
(2) THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS SHALL INCLUDE
BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF
UP TO TWELVE PILOT SITES:
(a) DEMONSTRATION OF SUPPORT AND COLLABORATION
OF KEY STAKEHOLDERS THAT MUST INCLUDE, AT A MINIMUM, THE BOARD
OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARDS, THE COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, THE LOCAL HEAD START GRANTEE, AND
PRIVATE FORPROFIT AND NONPROFIT LICENSED CHILD CARE PROVIDERS.
(b) A PLAN FOR THE CONSOLIDATION AND BLENDING
OF FUNDING TO CREATE A SEAMLESS DELIVERY SYSTEM OF EARLY CHILDHOOD
CARE AND EDUCATION SERVICES FOR CHILDREN FROM ONE OR MORE OF THE
AGE GROUPS FROM SIX WEEKS THROUGH FIVE YEARS.
(3) ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER 1, 1997, THE
STATE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, WITH INPUT FROM THE STATE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, SHALL DESIGNATE NOT MORE THAN TWELVE
PILOT SITE AGENCIES TO DELIVER COMMUNITY CONSOLIDATED CHILD CARE
SERVICES FOR UP TO TWO THOUSAND CHILDREN STATEWIDE. OF THE PILOT
SITE AGENCIES DESIGNATED, NOT MORE THAN TWO MAY BE LOCATED IN
THE DENVER METROPOLITAN AREA AND AT LEAST ONE SHALL BE LOCATED
IN EACH OF THE FOLLOWING AREAS OF THE STATE TO ASSURE ADEQUATE
GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION: A RURAL COMMUNITY, AN URBAN COMMUNITY
OTHER THAN THE DENVER METROPOLITAN AREA, AND A WESTERN SLOPE COMMUNITY.
THE PILOT SITE AGENCIES SHALL:
(a) CONSOLIDATE OR COORDINATE FUNDING
TO CREATE A SEAMLESS SYSTEM;
(b) ENSURE COLLABORATION AMONG PUBLIC
AND PRIVATE STAKEHOLDERS IN THE DELIVERY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE;
(c) INCLUDE AS PROGRAM COMPONENTS:
(I) FULLDAY AND FULLYEAR PROGRAMS;
(II) EDUCATIONALLY ENRICHED PROGRAMS;
(III) HEALTH SCREENINGS AND FOLLOWUPS;
(IV) PARENT EDUCATION AND HOME VISITS
UPON THE SPECIFIC REQUEST OF THE PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN OF THE
CHILD;
(V) NUTRITIONALLY SOUND MEALS AND SNACKS;
(VI) SPECIAL NEEDS SERVICES;
(VII) STAFF DEVELOPMENT;
(VIII) FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES; AND
(IX) OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE INVOLVEMENT
OF VOLUNTEERS AND EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBERS IN THE DELIVERY OF CHILD
CARE SERVICES IN BOTH TRADITIONAL PROGRAMS AND COOPERATIVE CHILD
CARE PROGRAMS.
266.5104. Funding.
(1) APPLICANTS FOR THE PILOT SITE AGENCIES MUST AT
A MINIMUM CONSOLIDATE FUNDING FROM THE COLORADO PRESCHOOL PROGRAM
THAT OPERATES UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND
CHILD CARE SUBSIDY MONEYS THAT ARE ADMINISTERED BY LOCAL BOARDS
OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
(2) APPLICANTS MAY UTILIZE FEDERAL FUNDING
AVAILABLE THROUGH HEAD START GRANTEES AND OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICT
FEDERAL FUNDING FOR PRESCHOOL SERVICES WITHIN APPLICABLE FEDERAL
LAWS AND REGULATIONS.
(3) THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
IS AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE LOCAL PILOT PROJECT WAIVERS OF ANY STATE
LAWS OR RULES THAT WOULD PREVENT PILOT SITE AGENCIES FROM IMPLEMENTING
THE PILOT PROJECTS.
266.5105. Evaluation.
(1) NO LATER THAN MARCH 1, 1999, THE STATE DEPARTMENT
OF HUMAN SERVICES SHALL PREPARE AN ASSESSMENT OF THE PILOT PROGRAM
TO DETERMINE ITS EFFECTIVENESS IN SERVING CHILDREN IN COMMUNITY
CONSOLIDATED CHILD CARE PROGRAMS.
(2) THE ASSESSMENT SHALL INCLUDE CONSIDERATION
OF THE FOLLOWING FACTORS:
(a) THE FEASIBILITY OF COMBINING THE FUNDING
SOURCES UNDER THIS ARTICLE;
(b) THE BARRIERS TO DELIVERY OF QUALITY
CHILD CARE SERVICES;
(c) MONITORING SYSTEMS FOR OVERSEEING
THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES UNDER A SYSTEM OF COMMUNITY CONSOLIDATED
CHILD CARE SERVICES.
SECTION 2. No appropriation. The general assembly has determined that this act can be implemented within existing appropriations, and therefore no separate appropriation of state moneys is necessary to carry out the purposes of this act.
SECTION 3. Safety clause.
The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that
this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public
peace, health, and safety.
____________________________ ____________________________
Tom Norton Charles E. Berry
PRESIDENT OF SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES
____________________________ ____________________________
Joan M. Albi Judith M. Rodrigue
SECRETARY OF CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE
THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APPROVED________________________________________
_________________________________________
Roy Romer
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO