S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7870
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               July 7, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. SIMON -- 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;
   (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
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD07207-01-3
              

 A. 7870                             2
 
   (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-FOUR, 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-FOUR, 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.