HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 368

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend § 3003, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 3003. Organization and composition.

(a) The Governor shall appoint the members of the Delaware Early Childhood Council (ECC) based upon recommendation from the Interagency Resource Management Committee. The members of the ECC must meet the following criteria:

(3) Consist of the following members:

a. Two Three center-based early care and education providers.

SYNOPSIS

This Act is a result of the Joint Legislative Oversight and Sunset Committee's ("JLOSC") review of the Provider Advisory Board ("Board"). Based on its findings, JLOSC recommended sunsetting the Board, which is addressed in separate legislation. This Act fulfills JLOSC's related recommendation, to add a third center-based early care and education provider to the Delaware Early Childhood Council ("DECC").

In 2023, JLOSC sponsored Senate Bill No. 135 of the 152nd General Assembly, which consolidated the functions of Board into the functions of DECC. The Board's review was held over to 2024, when JLOSC evaluated the implementation of SB 135. JLOSC concluded that consolidating the Board's duties into DECC was successful. JLOSC also concluded that, given the findings of its 2023 review of the Board and evaluation of the Board's activities since the enactment of SB 135, the Board is not meeting a state need. JLOSC therefore recommended sunsetting the Board and adding a third center-based early care and education provider to DECC. This Act fulfills the addition to DECC.