Bill No.: HB0012 Drafter: JWL

LSO No.: 06LSO-0228 Effective Date:

Enrolled Act No.: HEA0022

Chapter No.: 85

Prime Sponsor: Select Committee on Developmental Programs

Catch Title: Developmental preschool funding.

Subject: Creates funding mechanism for developmental preschools

Summary/Major Elements: This act:

· Directs Developmental Disabilities Division ("DDD") to pay developmental preschool contractors sufficiently to pay salaries competitive with local school districts and to pay for staff professional development activities;

· Requires developmental preschool contractors to adopt best practices as prescribed by DDD rules;

· Prescribes a per child amount ($7,206), adjusted for inflation the same as the school funding model, to calculate provider contract amounts and future budget requests.

Comments:

· Report required annually from DDD to select committee or joint education committee and joint labor committee regarding preschool funding, best practices and parent satisfaction;

· Report required by October 1, 2006 from DDD to select committee or joint education committee and joint labor committee regarding mental health/developmental preschools pilot project and developmental preschool capital construction needs;

· Report required by October 1, 2006 from Department of Education to select committee or joint education committee and joint labor committee regarding school district expenditures for "Child Find" developmental screening activities;

· $11,113,171 appropriated to Dept. of Health from general fund for payments to developmental preschool contractors;

· Immediately effective.