1999







SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 99-034

BY SENATORS Linkhart, Andrews, Arnold, Dennis, Dyer, Epps, Evans, Feeley, Hernandez, Martinez, Matsunaka, Musgrave, Nichol, Pascoe, Phillips, Reeves, Rupert, Sullivant, Tanner, Teck, Thiebaut, Weddig, Wham, Powers, and Tebedo;

also REPRESENTATIVES Alexander, Hefley, Johnson, Keller, Larson, Lawrence, Morrison, Tochtrop, S. Williams, Witwer, Coleman, Hoppe, Kaufman, Smith, Stengel, Veiga, and Vigil.



CONCERNING THE CREATION OF AN INTERIM COMMITTEE TO STUDY CHILD CARE.


WHEREAS, The safety and quality of available child care is a great concern for many Colorado citizens and is integral to the well­being and development of the children of the state; and

WHEREAS, In August 1998, the state auditor released a report containing the results of a performance audit of child care licensing in the state of Colorado; and

WHEREAS, The performance audit reviewed many aspects of Colorado's child care licensing system, including risk­based inspections of licensed facilities, enforcement of child care standards, and procedures for handling complaints, and also identified several areas in which the safety and quality of child care need improvement; and

WHEREAS, The audit showed that the current system for conducting criminal background checks of child care licensees is inadequate; and

WHEREAS, Several reports have been issued by state and nonprofit agencies indicating problems in the child care system, including issues related to quality of care, lack of training, safety, and accountability; and

WHEREAS, Given the recognized need for improvement in the safety and quality of child care in Colorado, the General Assembly finds that it would be beneficial to examine the current condition of child care in the state; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Sixty­second General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House concurring herein:

(1)  That there is hereby created an interim committee to work through the 1999 interim to study child care in the state of Colorado. The interim committee shall consider, but need not be limited to, the following issues:

(a)  The overall quality of child care in Colorado and recommendations for expected outcomes;

(b)  The quality of the workforce that provides child care, including but not limited to the following:

(I)  Training requirements and potential credentialing requirements for child care providers, including continuing education;

(II)  Cost­effective means of conducting criminal background checks of persons providing child care and working with or otherwise associated with child care providers, taking into consideration the results of any relevant research or studies conducted by the state Department of Human Services; and

(III)  Compensation and benefits received by qualified child care providers;

(c)  Licensing requirements for, and flexibility needs of, child care providers;

(d)  Alternative approaches to regulating the provision of child care in the state of Colorado;

(e)  Options for use of federal funds received by the state Department of Human Services for child care quality initiatives;

(f)  Methods of encouraging or facilitating the location of child care facilities in workplaces.

(2)  That the interim committee shall be representative of all geographic areas of the state and shall consist of eleven members, as follows:

(a) (I)  Three state senators appointed by the President of the Senate, one of whom shall be named chair of the committee;

(II)  Two state senators appointed by the minority leader of the Senate;



(b)  Six state representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be named vice-chair of the committee and no more than four of whom shall be members of the same political party.

(3)  That the interim committee shall consult with child care providers, parents, and related and concerned organizations.

(4)  That the interim committee shall make findings and recommendations regarding the issues reviewed in this study, including but not limited to any necessary legislation, and shall submit a written report on the interim committee's findings and recommendations to the Legislative Council no later than November 15, 1999. Legislation recommended by the interim committee shall be treated as legislation recommended by any other interim committee for purposes of any introduction deadlines or bill limitations imposed by the joint rules of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

(5)  That the interim committee shall meet at least four times to fulfill its responsibilities in this study.

(6)  That the members of the interim committee shall be compensated as provided in section 2­2­307, Colorado Revised Statutes, for attendance at meetings of the interim committee.

(7)  That the Legislative Council staff and the Office of Legislative Legal Services shall be made available to assist the interim committee in carrying out its duties. All personnel of the Department of Human Services shall cooperate with the interim committee and with any persons assisting the interim committee in carrying out its duties.

(8)  That all expenditures incurred while conducting this study shall be approved by the chair of the Legislative Council and paid by vouchers and warrants drawn as provided by law from moneys allocated to the Legislative Council for legislative studies from appropriations made by the General Assembly.


_________________________ _________________________

Ray Powers Russell George

PRESIDENT OF SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE

THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES


_________________________ _________________________

Patricia K. Dicks Judith M. Rodrigue

SECRETARY OF CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE

THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES