HB 1208 establish the South Dakota Early Learning Advisory Council.

State of South Dakota

EIGHTY-SEVENTH SESSION
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY, 2012

Introduced by: Representatives Elliott, Abdallah, Blake, Deelstra, Fargen, Gibson, Hawley, Hickey, Jones, Kirschman, Lucas, Perry, Rozum, Schrempp, Sigdestad, Stricherz, Tulson, and Wismer and Senators Buhl, Adelstein, Bradford, Krebs, Lederman, Nygaard, Sutton, Tidemann, and Tieszen

        FOR AN ACT ENTITLED, An Act to establish the South Dakota Early Learning Advisory Council.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:
    Section 1. There is hereby established the South Dakota Early Learning Advisory Council consisting of sixteen members appointed by the Governor. The council, established pursuant to the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007, as amended to January 1, 2012, is within the Department of Social Services, and both the Department of Social Services and the Department of Education shall provide the council with administrative support.
    Section 2. The Governor shall appoint members to the South Dakota Early Learning Advisory Council who have training, experience, or special knowledge of early childhood education and care, and the appointees shall include one representative from each of the following categories:

(1) The Department of Education;

(2) The Department of Health;

(3) The Department of Human Services;

(4) The Department of Social Services;

(5) The Legislature;

(6) A local education agency (LEA);

(7) An institution of higher education;

(8) A provider of early childhood education;

(9) A faith-based provider of early childhood education;

(10) A provider of Head Start;

(11) A provider of tribal Head Start;

(12) The state's director of Head Start Collaboration;

(13) A licensed provider of child care;

(15) The business community; and

(16) Child advocacy groups.
Section 3. The council shall review any available research that assesses the need for high quality early learning programs in the state, and shall report its findings and recommendations to the Department of Social Services, the Department of Education, and the Legislature.