An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Maine Children's Growth Council
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0969
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: BERRY, PERRY, COHEN, MARTIN, MILLER, RANKIN, STRANG BURGESS, WEBSTER, MILLS
Amends: 5 MRSA §24001, 5 MRSA §24004

Legislative Document 
No. 969 
H.P.671 
House of Representatives, March 10, 2009 
An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Maine Children's 
Growth Council 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative BERRY of Bowdoinham. 
Cosponsored by Senator PERRY of Penobscot and 
'If/~ 1J1. 7llfl£~{ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: COHEN of Portland, CONNOR ofKennebllnk, MARTIN of Orono, 
MARTIN of Eagle Lake, McCABE of Skowhegan, MILLER of Somerville, RANKIN of 
Hiram, STRANG BURGESS of Cumberland, WEBSTER of Freeport, Senator: MILLS of 
Somerset. 
PrimcJ on recycled paper 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, Congress enacted legislation reauthorizing the Head Start program in 
2007; and 
Whereas, the membership of the Maine Children's Growth Council must be 
amended in order to meet federal requirements; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §24001, suh-§3, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 683, Pt. A, §2, is 
amended to read: 
3. Membership. The council consists of ~ the members listed in this subsection 
who must have a strong interest in early childhood and early care and education and must 
be influential in their communities: 
A. Two members of the Senate, one from each of the 2 political parties having the 
greatest number of members in the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate; 
B. Two members of the House of Representatives, one from each of the 2 political 
parties having the greatest number of members in the House, appointed by the 
Speaker of the House; 
C. 
The Governor or the Governor's designee and the Attorney General or the 
Attorney General's designee; 
D. Three parents, at least one of whom has a young child, one each appointed by the 
Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House; 
E. Two persons with experience in public funding and philanthropy, appointed by 
the President of the Senate; 
F. One person representing child abuse and neglect prevention, appointed by the 
Speaker of the House; 
G. One person representing postsecondary education, appointed by the Governor; 
H. Eight persons representing statewide, membership or constituent organizations 
that advance the well-being of young children and their families, nominated by their 
organizations and appointed by the Governor, of whom: 
(1) Three must represent statewide organizations or associations involved in 
early care and education programs, child care centers, Head Start programs, 
family child care providers, resource development centers, programs for school-
age children, child development services, physicians and child advocacy; 
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(2) One must represent a law enforcement organization involved with children; 
(3) One must represent an organization that works on community organization 
and mobilization; 
(4) One must represent public health; 
(5) One must represent the Maine Economic Growth Council; and 
(6) One must represent a labor organization.,.~ 
1. One person representing a statewide association of business and industry and one 
person repres~entinga~~busmess roundtable on early childhood investment, appointed 
by the Governor; 
J. One member Up to 8 members of the public, appointed by the Governor; arul 
K. Three ex-officio nonvoting members: the Commissioner of Education or the 
commissioner's designee, a Department of Health and Human Services employee 
who works with early childhood programs including Head Start and a person 
representing the office within the Department of Health and Human Services that is 
the fiscal agent for the federal grant program for comprehensive early childhood 
initiatives.,.; and 
L. The director of the Head Start collaboration project within the Department of 
Health and Human Services, Office of Child Care and Head Start. 
Sec. 2. 5 MRSA §24004, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 683, Pt. A, §2, is repealed. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation tal(es effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill strikes the provision in the laws that repeals the chapter governing the Maine 
Children's Growth Council on October 1, 2009. This bill also amends the membership of 
the council to add as a member the director of the Head Start collaboration project and up 
to 7 additional public members appointed by the Governor.