Capital letters indicate new material to be added to existing statute.
Dashes through the words indicate deletions from existing statute.

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:

ARTICLE 6.5

Consolidated Child Care Services

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