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S1195..........................................................by EDUCATION HEAD START - Adds to existing law to provide a statement of legislative findings regarding the Head Start Grant Program; to create an advisory council; and to provide procedures for the Head Start Grant Program. 02/15 Senate intro - 1st rdg - to printing 02/16 Rpt prt - to Educ
S1195|||| LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO |||| Fifty-fifth Legislature First Regular Session - 1999IN THE SENATE SENATE BILL NO. 1195 BY EDUCATION COMMITTEE 1 AN ACT 2 RELATING TO THE HEAD START GRANT PROGRAM; AMENDING TITLE 33, IDAHO CODE, BY 3 THE ADDITION OF A NEW CHAPTER 53, TITLE 33, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE A 4 STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS REGARDING THE HEAD START GRANT PROGRAM, 5 TO CREATE AN ADVISORY COUNCIL AND TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES FOR THE HEAD START 6 GRANT PROGRAM. 7 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho: 8 SECTION 1. That Title 33, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby amended 9 by the addition thereto of a NEW CHAPTER , to be known and desig- 10 nated as Chapter 53, Title 33, Idaho Code, and to read as follows: 11 CHAPTER 53 12 HEAD START GRANT PROGRAM 13 33-5301. HEAD START GRANT PROGRAM -- LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS. The legisla- 14 ture finds and declares that head start, a successful thirty-four (34) year 15 old federal program dedicated to at-risk, low-income preschool age children 16 and their families, is important in helping many Idaho children prepare for 17 school by providing a quality early-learning environment, immunizations, 18 health checks and support services for the family and community. The legisla- 19 ture further finds that only one (1) out of five (5) eligible children in 20 Idaho are served. Therefore, additional support of the program, through state 21 funds, is warranted and desirable. 22 There is hereby created in the state department of education, the state 23 head start grant program, the purpose of which is to distribute state-funded 24 grants to the head start grantees, subject to annual appropriation. 25 33-5302. ADVISORY COUNCIL. There is hereby created the head start advi- 26 sory which shall provide oversight to the department of education in develop- 27 ment of rules and administration of grants pursuant to the head start program. 28 The council shall consist of five (5) members representing early childhood 29 professionals and parents. Council members shall be appointed by the governor 30 for three (3) year terms. Council members shall be compensated as provided in 31 section 59-509(b), Idaho Code, which shall be paid from federal funds for head 32 start collaboration until state funds are appropriated. 33 33-5303. GRANTS. Appropriations for the purpose of head start grants 34 shall be administered by the department of education with the advice of the 35 advisory council created in section 33-5302, Idaho Code. All programs must 36 meet the performance standards, rules and policies of the head start program. 37 Grantees may have the discretion to delay enrollment for a prearranged period 38 of time until facilities, staff and equipment have been secured. Grants will 39 be awarded at the average cost per child of the head start program in the 40 state of Idaho. Rules governing the head start program, implementing the per- 2 1 formance standards, rules and policies of the head start program and the pro- 2 visions of this section, shall be adopted by the state department of education 3 pursuant to chapter 52, title 67, Idaho Code.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE RS08978 Head Start, a 34 year old federal preschool program for at-risk, low-income children, reaches only one out of five eligible children in Idaho. Thirty-nine states help close a similar gap in service by supplementing the federal grants with state funds. This bill does two things: 1. It requests that the state appropriate funds to Idaho's Head Start program, and, 2. It creates a five-person council, appointed by the governor and housed in the Department of Education, to approve the distribution of state funds to Head Start grantees. FISCAL NOTE The bill itself is revenue neutral, but the intent is to seek state general funds. For example, a minimal request of $500,000 would create 5 new classrooms and serve 90 families. Contact: SenatorGaryJ. Schroeder 332-1321 Rep. Tom Trail 332-1202 Senator Shawn Keough 332-1340 Senator Betsy Dunklin 332-1356 STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/ FISCAL NOTE S 1195