130125
. The powers and duties of the state commission shall
include, but are not limited to, the following:
(a) Providing for statewide dissemination of public information
and educational materials to members of the general public and to
professionals for the purpose of developing appropriate awareness and
knowledge regarding the promotion, support, and improvement of early
childhood development.
(b) Adopting guidelines for an integrated and comprehensive
statewide program of promoting, supporting, and improving early
childhood development that enhances the intellectual, social,
emotional, and physical development of children in California.
(1) The state commission's guidelines shall, at a minimum, address
the following matters:
(A) Parental education and support services in all areas required
for, and relevant to, informed and healthy parenting. Examples of
parental education shall include, but are not limited to, prenatal
and postnatal infant and maternal nutrition, education and training
in newborn and infant care and nurturing for optimal early childhood
development, parenting and other necessary skills, child abuse
prevention, and avoidance of tobacco, drugs, and alcohol during
pregnancy. Examples of parental support services shall include, but
are not limited to, family support centers offering an integrated
system of services required for the development and maintenance of
self-sufficiency, domestic violence prevention and treatment, tobacco
and other substance abuse control and treatment, voluntary
intervention for families at risk, and any other prevention and
family services and counseling critical to successful early childhood
development.
(B) The availability and provision of high quality, accessible,
and affordable child care, both in-home and at child care facilities,
that emphasizes education, training and qualifications of care
providers, increased availability and access to child care
facilities, resource and referral services, technical assistance for
caregivers, and financial and other assistance to ensure appropriate
child care for all households.
(C) The provision of child health care services that emphasize
prevention, diagnostic screenings, and treatment not covered by other
programs; and the provision of prenatal and postnatal maternal
health care services that emphasize prevention, immunizations,
nutrition, treatment of tobacco and other substance abuse, general
health screenings, and treatment services not covered by other
programs.
(2) The state commission shall conduct at least one public hearing
on its proposed guidelines before they are adopted.
(3) The state commission shall, on at least an annual basis,
periodically review its adopted guidelines and revise them as may be
necessary or appropriate.
(c) Defining the results to be achieved by the adopted guidelines,
and collecting and analyzing data to measure progress toward
attaining these results.
(d) Providing for independent research, including the evaluation
of any relevant programs, to identify the best standards and
practices for optimal early childhood development, and establishing
and monitoring demonstration projects.
(e) Soliciting input regarding program policy and direction from
individuals and entities with experience in early childhood
development, facilitating the exchange of information between these
individuals and entities, and assisting in the coordination of the
services of public and private agencies to deal more effectively with
early childhood development.
(f) Providing technical assistance to county commissions in
adopting and implementing county strategic plans for early childhood
development.
(g) Reviewing and considering the annual audits and reports
transmitted by the county commissions and, following a public
hearing, adopting a written report that consolidates, summarizes,
analyzes, and comments on those annual audits and reports.
(h) Applying for gifts, grants, donations, or contributions of
money, property, facilities, or services from any person,
corporation, foundation, or other entity, or from the state or any
agency or political subdivision thereof, or from the federal
government or any agency or instrumentality thereof, in furtherance
of a statewide program of early childhood development.
(i) Entering into any contracts and allocating funds to county
commissions as necessary or appropriate to carry out the provisions
and purposes of this act.
(j) Making recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature for
changes in state laws, regulations, and services necessary or
appropriate to carry out an integrated and comprehensive program of
early childhood development in an effective and cost-efficient
manner.