2023 -- H 6512

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LC003205

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

AMENDING THE JOINT RESOLUTION CREATING A PERMANENT LEGISLATIVE

COMMISSION ON CHILD CARE IN RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Representatives Diaz, Caldwell, Casimiro, Slater, Tanzi, Shallcross
Smith, Fogarty, and Edwards

     Date Introduced: June 10, 2023

     Referred To: House Health & Human Services

     WHEREAS, The Permanent Legislative Commission on Child Care (the "Commission")

was established by a Joint Resolution in 1989, and has been meeting faithfully since that time to

develop and recommend policies and legislation that will provide for quality, affordable, and

accessible child care and early education services in Rhode Island; and

     WHEREAS, Seventy-two percent (72%) of Rhode Island children under age six and

seventy-seven percent (77%) of Rhode Island children ages six to seventeen have all parents in

the workforce; and

     WHEREAS, Since the Commission was established, research has shown that

participating in high-quality early childhood programs supports children's learning and

development, can improve the trajectory of families' lives, and can close achievement gaps that

appear prior to kindergarten; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That the Permanent Legislative Commission on Child Care in Rhode

Island, created by resolution No. 217 passed by the General Assembly at its January session, A.D.

1989, and approved July 7, 1989, entitled "Joint Resolution Creating A Permanent Legislative

Commission On Child Care In Rhode Island," amended by resolution No. 219 passed by the

General Assembly at its January session, A.D. 1991, and approved June 20, 1991, entitled "Joint

Resolution In Amendment of The Joint Resolution Creating A Permanent Legislative

Commission On Child Care In Rhode Island," further amended by resolution No. 325 passed by

the General Assembly at its January session, A.D. 1998, and approved by the General Assembly

on June 27, 1998, entitled "Joint Resolution Amending the Joint Resolution Creating a Permanent

Legislative Commission on Child Care in Rhode Island," as further amended by resolution No.

346 passed by the General Assembly at its January session, A.D. 2007, and approved by the

General Assembly on June 13, 2007, entitled "Joint Resolution Amending the Joint Resolution

Creating a Permanent Legislative Commission on Child Care In Rhode Island," and as further

amended by resolution No. 410 passed by the General Assembly on July 6, 2007, entitled "Joint

Resolution Amending the Joint Resolution Creating a Permanent Legislative Commission on

Child Care in Rhode Island" and as further amended by resolution No. 372 passed by the General

Assembly at its January session, A.D. 2010, and approved by the General Assembly on June 25,

2010, entitled "Joint Resolution Amending the Joint Resolution Creating a Permanent Legislative

Commission on Child Care in Rhode Island" be and the same is hereby amended, as follows:

     The Commission shall be known as "The Permanent Legislative Commission on Child

Care and Early Learning".

     The purpose of the Commission shall be to review, develop, and recommend policies and

legislation to the General Assembly to ensure that Rhode Island has a network of child care and

early learning services that are high quality, affordable, accessible, and equitable, and to plan for

the state's current and future needs for child care, as well as early learning services, including the

expansion of pre-kindergarten.

     The Commission shall consist of thirty-one (31) members: five (5) of whom shall be

members of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, not more than four (4) from the same

political party, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; four (4) of whom shall be members

of the Rhode Island Senate, not more than three (3) from the same political party, to be appointed

by the President of the Senate; one of whom shall be from the Rhode Island Department of

Human Services State Child Care Licensing Office, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House;

one of whom shall be from the Rhode Island Department of Human Services State Child Care

Subsidy Program, to be appointed by the Senate President; one of whom shall be the Director of

the Head Start Collaboration Office, or designee; one of whom shall be the Child Advocate of the

State of Rhode Island, or designee; one of whom shall be the Commissioner of the Rhode Island

Department of Education, or designee; one of whom shall be a representative from Business

Owners of Childcare Association (BOCA), to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of

whom shall be a representative from the State Alliance of YMCAs, to be appointed by the Senate

President; one of whom shall be a representative from the Rhode Island Childcare Directors

Association (RICCDA), to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be a

representative from the RI Head Start Association, to be appointed by the Senate President; one

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of whom shall be a representative from Family Child Care Homes of Rhode Island, to be

appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be a representative from the SEIU

1199 Family Care Providers Union, to be appointed by the Senate President; one of whom shall

be a representative from the Rhode Island Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs, to be appointed by the

Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Rhode Island Parent

Information Network, Inc., or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of Rhode

Island KIDS COUNT, or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director at The

Economic Progress Institute, or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the

Rhode Island Association for the Education of Young Children, or designee; one of whom shall

be the Commissioner of the Office of the Postsecondary Education who has direct knowledge of

and experience working with an institution's early childhood education program or department, or

designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Local Initiatives Support

Corporation (LISC Rhode Island), or designee; one of whom shall be the President and Chief

Executive Officer of the United Way of Rhode Island, or designee; one of whom shall be the

Executive Director of the Rhode Island Developmental Disabilities Council, or designee; one of

whom shall be the Executive Director of Parents Leading for Educational Equity (PLEE), or

designee; and one of whom shall be an early childhood program leader in Rhode Island who has

expertise in early childhood through their own education and experience, focuses their work in

the urban core or similar community that is traditionally underserved, and whose work

predominantly serves historically marginalized populations, to be appointed jointly by the

Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate from a list provided by the Commission

Chairs.

     When making appointments, consideration shall be given to increasing diversity on the

Commission to more closely reflect the demographics of the State of Rhode Island.

     Membership in the Commission shall be reviewed and updated every two (2) or three (3)

years.

     The Commission shall be hosted by the House of Representatives in even-numbered

years and by the Senate in odd-numbered years.

     The Commission shall organize and execute an annual event for Child Care and Early

Education Awareness Day, and a planning retreat to discuss child care and early education

initiatives every two (2) or three (3) years.

     The Commission may be allotted an annual budget up to five thousand dollars ($5,000)

via grant funding, subject to approval by the Speaker of the House and the President of the

Senate, to support activities and costs associated with Child Care Awareness Day and the

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planning retreat.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

AMENDING THE JOINT RESOLUTION CREATING A PERMANENT LEGISLATIVE

COMMISSION ON CHILD CARE IN RHODE ISLAND

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     This resolution would amend the commission name, membership, appointment process,

purpose, funding allowance designation, timeline for membership, and meeting schedules.

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