Relates to the creation of an early learning investment commission; provides support for public and private investment in early learning for children up to the age of five.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4421
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 19, 2015
___________
Introduced by Sen. AVELLA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Social Services
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to the creation of
the early learning investment commission
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The social services law is amended by adding a new article
2 10-E to read as follows:
3 ARTICLE 10-E
4 EARLY LEARNING INVESTMENT COMMISSION
5 Section 484-a. Creation and purpose.
6 484-b. Composition.
7 484-c. Powers and duties.
8 484-d. Term.
9 484-e. Sharing of information.
10 § 484-a. Creation and purpose. There is hereby established an early
11 learning investment commission. The purpose of the early learning
12 investment commission is to secure support for public and private
13 investment in early learning for children up to the age of five by
14 focusing on practices that are educationally, economically, and scien-
15 tifically sound.
16 § 484-b. Composition. The early learning investment commission shall
17 consist of members including, but not limited to, the director of the
18 budget, the commissioner of the office of children and family services,
19 the commissioner of the state education department, the commissioner of
20 the office of temporary and disability assistance, the president of the
21 empire state development corporation, or their respective designees; at
22 least five representatives of the business community appointed by the
23 governor, and at least three representatives of the business community
24 appointed by the speaker of the assembly and the temporary president of
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09214-02-5
S. 4421 2
1 the senate, respectively. The commission may organize subcommittees to
2 review specific funding and policy priorities.
3 § 484-c. Powers and duties. The early learning investment commission
4 will meet at least twice a year and will have the following powers and
5 duties:
6 1. Developing and implementing strategies to engage business and civic
7 leaders and organizations in early learning planning and advocacy at the
8 state and local level;
9 2. Increasing business, civic and public awareness of the importance
10 of early childhood education; including but not limited to the distrib-
11 ution of literature through mail or online, organizing of meetings and
12 events and promoting the cost benefits of investments in learning;
13 3. Planning, implementing and hosting an annual economic summit on
14 early childhood investment. The annual economic summit shall include
15 outreach to business, civic, educational and governmental leaders;
16 4. Planning and implementing an annual meeting for legislators and
17 legislative staff to understand the economic, educational and social
18 impact of investing in quality early childhood education;
19 5. Developing and recommending updates to a multiyear plan for the
20 expansion of effective early childhood services; and
21 6. Developing an annual report to the governor and legislature
22 containing information on all activities throughout the previous year as
23 well as recommendations for improvements in early learning programs and
24 policies.
25 § 484-d. Term. Appointed members of the early learning investment
26 commission shall serve for a term of three years and continue to serve
27 until their successor is appointed. Members serving as a result of their
28 position with state government shall serve so long as they remain in
29 such capacity. Any vacancies shall be filled pursuant to section four
30 hundred eighty-four-b of this article. Members shall serve without
31 compensation except for payment of necessary and actual expenses
32 incurred in attending meetings and in performing their duties and
33 responsibilities as members of the investment commission.
34 § 484-e. Sharing of information. The early learning investment commis-
35 sion may request, and shall receive, information from any state or local
36 governmental agency necessary to complete its duties pursuant to this
37 article, so long as such information is non-identifying and not other-
38 wise protected by law.
39 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately; provided that the first
40 annual report required pursuant to section 484-c of the social services
41 law, as added by section one of this act, shall be due September 1, 2016
42 and every September 1 thereafter.
