S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2207
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 22, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. RICHARDSON, CARROLL, SIMON, HYNDMAN, DE LA ROSA,
   BICHOTTE -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ENGLEBRIGHT  --  read  once
   and referred to the Committee on Children and Families
 
 AN  ACT  to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing a divi-
   sion of early childhood within  the  office  of  children  and  family
   services
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 500 of the executive law is amended by adding a new
 subdivision 4 to read as follows:
   4. (A) THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE OFFICE OF  CHILDREN  AND
 FAMILY  SERVICES  A  DIVISION  OF EARLY CHILDHOOD. THE DIVISION SHALL BE
 UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE  OF  CHILDREN  AND
 FAMILY  SERVICES. THE DIVISION OF EARLY CHILDHOOD SHALL BE HEADED BY THE
 DIRECTOR OF EARLY CHILDHOOD  WHO  SHALL  BE  APPOINTED  BY  A  COMMITTEE
 COMPOSED  OF  THE  GOVERNOR  OR  HIS OR HER DESIGNEE, THE SPEAKER OF THE
 ASSEMBLY, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, THE MINORITY LEADER  OF
 THE ASSEMBLY AND THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE.
   (B) THE PRIMARY DUTIES OF THE DIVISION OF EARLY CHILDHOOD ARE TO COOR-
 DINATE,  CONSOLIDATE AND INTEGRATE EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS, IN ORDER TO
 ADMINISTER PROGRAMS AND FUNDING AS EFFICIENTLY AS  POSSIBLE.  THE  DIVI-
 SION'S DUTIES SHALL INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING:
   (I) TO DEVELOP, COORDINATE AND SUPPORT PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
 TO AID EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS ACROSS THE STATE;
   (II)  TO  WORK COOPERATIVELY AND IN COORDINATION WITH THE EARLY CHILD-
 HOOD ADVISORY COUNCIL;
   (III) TO COLLABORATE WITH THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT  TO  ENSURE  PROPER
 AND  APPROPRIATE CONNECTIONS AND SMOOTH TRANSITIONS BETWEEN EARLY CHILD-
 HOOD PROGRAMS AND KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE TWELVE PROGRAMS;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD04504-01-9

              

 A. 2207                             2
 
   (IV) TO COORDINATE THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES  FOR  YOUNG  CHILDREN  AND
 THEIR  FAMILIES  TO  ENSURE THE STATE IS UTILIZING ALL AVAILABLE FUNDING
 STREAMS IN A UNIFIED FASHION; AND
   (V)  TO  PERFORM ANY OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT WILL ASSIST IN THE DIVISION
 OF EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.
   (C) THE DIRECTOR OF EARLY CHILDHOOD SHALL BE  RESPONSIBLE  FOR  IMPLE-
 MENTING  THE POLICIES AND DIRECTIVES OF THE DIVISION OF EARLY CHILDHOOD.
 THE DIRECTOR MAY SEEK AND SHALL BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE FROM OTHER  STATE
 AGENCIES  SUCH  ASSISTANCE AS MAY BE REQUIRED TO PERFORM SUCH DIRECTOR'S
 DUTIES PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION. THE DIRECTOR MAY APPOINT SUCH OFFI-
 CERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS AND CONSULTANTS AS HE OR SHE MAY DEEM NECESSARY.
 TO THE EXTENT PRACTICABLE, THE  DIRECTOR  SHALL  APPOINT  THE  OFFICERS,
 EMPLOYEES,  AGENTS  AND CONSULTANTS FOR THE DIVISION OF EARLY CHILDHOOD,
 FROM AMONG THE EXISTING OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN
 AND FAMILY SERVICES.
   (D) ON OR BEFORE JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY, THE  DIVISION  OF
 EARLY CHILDHOOD SHALL BEGIN A STATEWIDE ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION OF THE
 CURRENT  FUNDING STREAMS FOR THE STATE. THE DIVISION SHALL, ON OR BEFORE
 OCTOBER FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY, PROVIDE  TO  THE  GOVERNOR  AND  THE
 LEGISLATURE  PROGRAMMATIC  AND LEGISLATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS, BASED ON ITS
 STATEWIDE ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION.
   (E) THE DIVISION OF EARLY CHILDHOOD SHALL SUBMIT TO THE  GOVERNOR  AND
 LEGISLATURE,  WITHIN ONE YEAR OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SUBDIVISION,
 A REPORT AS THE VARIOUS EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS THAT ARE  AVAILABLE  IN
 THE  STATE.  THE REPORT SHALL INCLUDE RECOMMENDATIONS AND AN ACTION PLAN
 TO FURTHER CONSOLIDATE AND COORDINATE EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS AND FUND-
 ING SOURCES THAT SUPPORT THESE PROGRAMS.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.