An Act To Create a Unified Early Childhood Education System in Maine
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 0568
Committee Amendment CA_A_S259 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to S.P. 160, L.D. 568, Bill, "An Act To Create 
a Unified Early Childhood Education System in Maine" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, To Establish an Early Childhood Stakeholder Group' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inserting the following: 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, recent reductions in federal Medicaid funding and recent changes made to 
the Maine Department of Health and Human Services rules for MaineCare 
reimbursement may result in adverse implications for eligible children who are served by 
various early childhood programs delivered by human service agency programs and early 
childhood education programs in the public and private sector; and 
Whereas, a unified early childhood system can result in a more efficient and 
effective use of limited public and private resources to provide critical early care and 
education services to children in the State; and 
Whereas, the early childhood stakeholder group established by this resolve must 
convene at the earliest possible date in order to have sufficient time to complete its duties 
in time for reporting to the 125th Legislature; 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 
Sec. 1. 
Early childhood stakeholder group; convening; staffing and 
technical assistance. Resolved: That the Maine Children's Growth Council shall 
establish an early childhood stakeholder group, referred to in this resolve as "the 
stakeholder group," within existing budgeted resources. The Maine Children's Growth 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITIEE AMENDMENT "A "to S.P. 160, L.D. 568 
Council shall appoint one of its members to serve as the chair of the stakeholder group 
and shall convene the stakeholder group; and be it further 
Sec. 2. 
Stakeholder group membership. Resolved: 
That the stakeholder 
group consists of at least 15 members, including the chair and the following persons, 
appointed by the Maine Children's Growth Council as set out in this section: 
L A parent who is a member of the Child Care Advisory Council; 
2. A parent who has a child who participates in a Head Start program in the State; 
3. A parent who is a member of the Maine Parent Federation; 
4. A parent who is a member of Maine Families; 
5. 
A parent who has a child who participates in a Child Development Services 
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System program in the State; 
6. A parent who has a child who participates in a prekindergarten program operated 
by a public school in the State; 
7. A member of the Maine Developmental Disabilities Council; 
8. A member of the Maine Roads to Quality; 
9. A regional site director from the Child Development Services System; 
10. A Head Start director from the Maine Head Start Directors Association; 
11. A family child care provider in the State; 
12. A home visiting nurse provider in the State; 
13. A public prekindergarten teacher in the State; 
14. An early intervention therapeutic service provider in the State; and 
15. 
Representatives of other interested parties in the State as determined by the 
Maine Children's Growth Council; and be it further 
Sec. 3. Technical assistance. Resolved: That, upon the request of the chair of 
the stakeholder group, the Department of Education and the Department of Health and 
Human Services, referred to in this resolve as "the departments," shall, within existing 
budgeted resources, provide technical assistance to the stakeholder group; and be it 
further 
Sec. 4. 
Duties. Resolved: 
That the stakeholder group shall determine the 
strengths and weaknesses of the State's current programs for children from birth to 5 
years of age, including but not limited to the following programs: 
1. The Child Development Services System; 
2. The public prekindergarten programs operated by public schools in the State; and 
3. Programs within the Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Child 
and Family Services, including: 
A. The maternal and child health program; 
B. The early childhood program; 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A "to S.P. 160, L.D. 568 
C. The child welfare program; 
D. The child behavioral health services program; 
E. The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program; and 
F. The child care licensing program. 
The stakeholder group's goal is to make recommendations to improve the early 
childhood system's efficacy and efficiency; and be it further 
Sec. 5. 
Report. 
Resolved: 
That, no later than December 15, 2011, the 
stakeholder group shall submit a report to the Joint Standing Committee on Education 
and Cultural Affairs and the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services 
that includes the findings of the stakeholder group, the options and alternatives developed 
by the stakeholder group and any analysis by the departments of those options and 
alternatives. 
The report may include suggested legislation. 
The Joint Standing 
Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs and the Joint Standing Committee on 
Health and Human Services may each submit a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 
125th Legislature related to the report of the stakeholder group. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited 111 the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill with a resolve requiring the Maine Children's 
Growth Council to establish and convene a stakeholder group to identify options and 
alternatives to improve the efficacy and efficiency of Maine's early childhood system. 
The Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services are 
required to provide technical assistance to the stakeholder group. The stakeholder group 
is required to submit a report to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural 
Affairs and the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services that includes 
the findings of the stakeholder group, including options and alternatives developed by the 
stakeholder group and any analysis by the departments of those options and alternatives. 
The report may include suggested legislation. 
FlSCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See Attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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Approved: 06/04111 
ft'czc 
LD568 
LR 1630(02) 
An Act To Create a Unified Early Childhood Education System in Maine 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment" A" s· 259 
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Additional costs to the Department of Education and to the Department of Health and Human Services to establish the 
required stakeholder group and provide staffing and technical assistance upon request can be absorbed within existiI 
budgeted resources. 
LR1630(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1