S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  4421

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                             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:

  Section 1. The social services law is amended by adding a new  article
10-E to read as follows:
                              ARTICLE 10-E
                  EARLY LEARNING INVESTMENT COMMISSION
SECTION 484-A. CREATION AND PURPOSE.
        484-B. COMPOSITION.
        484-C. POWERS AND DUTIES.
        484-D. TERM.
        484-E. SHARING OF INFORMATION.
  S  484-A.  CREATION  AND PURPOSE. THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED AN EARLY
LEARNING INVESTMENT  COMMISSION.  THE  PURPOSE  OF  THE  EARLY  LEARNING
INVESTMENT  COMMISSION  IS  TO  SECURE  SUPPORT  FOR  PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
INVESTMENT IN EARLY LEARNING FOR CHILDREN UP  TO  THE  AGE  OF  FIVE  BY
FOCUSING  ON  PRACTICES THAT ARE EDUCATIONALLY, ECONOMICALLY, AND SCIEN-
TIFICALLY SOUND.
  S 484-B. COMPOSITION. THE EARLY LEARNING INVESTMENT  COMMISSION  SHALL
CONSIST  OF  MEMBERS  INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE DIRECTOR OF THE
BUDGET, THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY  SERVICES,
THE  COMMISSIONER OF THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, THE COMMISSIONER OF
THE OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE, THE PRESIDENT OF  THE
EMPIRE  STATE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, OR THEIR RESPECTIVE DESIGNEES; AT
LEAST FIVE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY  APPOINTED  BY  THE
GOVERNOR,  AND  AT LEAST THREE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY
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

THE  SENATE,  RESPECTIVELY. THE COMMISSION MAY ORGANIZE SUBCOMMITTEES TO
REVIEW SPECIFIC FUNDING AND POLICY PRIORITIES.
  S  484-C.  POWERS AND DUTIES. THE EARLY LEARNING INVESTMENT COMMISSION
WILL MEET AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR AND WILL HAVE THE FOLLOWING  POWERS  AND
DUTIES:
  1. DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING STRATEGIES TO ENGAGE BUSINESS AND CIVIC
LEADERS AND ORGANIZATIONS IN EARLY LEARNING PLANNING AND ADVOCACY AT THE
STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL;
  2.   INCREASING BUSINESS, CIVIC AND PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE
OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION; INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE  DISTRIB-
UTION  OF  LITERATURE THROUGH MAIL OR ONLINE, ORGANIZING OF MEETINGS AND
EVENTS AND PROMOTING THE COST BENEFITS OF INVESTMENTS IN LEARNING;
  3. PLANNING, IMPLEMENTING AND HOSTING AN  ANNUAL  ECONOMIC  SUMMIT  ON
EARLY  CHILDHOOD  INVESTMENT.  THE  ANNUAL ECONOMIC SUMMIT SHALL INCLUDE
OUTREACH TO BUSINESS, CIVIC, EDUCATIONAL AND GOVERNMENTAL LEADERS;
  4. PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTING AN ANNUAL  MEETING  FOR  LEGISLATORS  AND
LEGISLATIVE  STAFF  TO  UNDERSTAND  THE ECONOMIC, EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL
IMPACT OF INVESTING IN QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION;
  5. DEVELOPING AND RECOMMENDING UPDATES TO A  MULTIYEAR  PLAN  FOR  THE
EXPANSION OF EFFECTIVE EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES; AND
  6.  DEVELOPING  AN  ANNUAL  REPORT  TO  THE  GOVERNOR  AND LEGISLATURE
CONTAINING INFORMATION ON ALL ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE PREVIOUS YEAR AS
WELL AS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS  AND
POLICIES.
  S  484-D.  TERM.  APPOINTED  MEMBERS  OF THE EARLY LEARNING INVESTMENT
COMMISSION SHALL SERVE FOR A TERM OF THREE YEARS AND CONTINUE  TO  SERVE
UNTIL THEIR SUCCESSOR IS APPOINTED. MEMBERS SERVING AS A RESULT OF THEIR
POSITION  WITH  STATE  GOVERNMENT  SHALL SERVE SO LONG AS THEY REMAIN IN
SUCH CAPACITY. ANY VACANCIES SHALL BE FILLED PURSUANT  TO  SECTION  FOUR
HUNDRED  EIGHTY-FOUR-B  OF  THIS  ARTICLE.  MEMBERS  SHALL SERVE WITHOUT
COMPENSATION  EXCEPT  FOR  PAYMENT  OF  NECESSARY  AND  ACTUAL  EXPENSES
INCURRED  IN  ATTENDING  MEETINGS  AND  IN  PERFORMING  THEIR DUTIES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES AS MEMBERS OF THE INVESTMENT COMMISSION.
  S 484-E. SHARING OF INFORMATION. THE EARLY LEARNING INVESTMENT COMMIS-
SION MAY REQUEST, AND SHALL RECEIVE, INFORMATION FROM ANY STATE OR LOCAL
GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY NECESSARY TO COMPLETE ITS DUTIES  PURSUANT  TO  THIS
ARTICLE,  SO  LONG AS SUCH INFORMATION IS NON-IDENTIFYING AND NOT OTHER-
WISE PROTECTED BY LAW.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately; provided that  the  first
annual  report required pursuant to section 484-c of the social services
law, as added by section one of this act, shall be due September 1, 2016
and every September 1 thereafter.