Resolve, To Establish the Study Commission on the Social Emotional Learning and Development of Maine's Young Children
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1118
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: BREEN, MALABY, ALFOND, GRATWICK, HASKELL, MILLETT, GATTINE, HUBBELL, PIERCE, SANBORN

Legislative Document 
No. 1118 
S.P. 390 
In Senate, March 26, 2015 
Resolve, To Establish the Study Commission on the Social 
Emotional Learning and Development of Maine's Young Children 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator BREEN of Cumberland. 
Cosponsored by Representative MALABY of Hancock and 
Senators: ALFOND of Cumberland, GRATWICK of Penobscot, HASKELL of Cumberland, 
MILLETT of Cumberland, Representatives: GATTINE of Westbrook, HUBBELL of Bar 
Harbor, PIERCE of Falmouth, SANBORN of Gorham. 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, the Study Commission on the Social Emotional Learning and 
Development of Maine's Young Children aims to promote the social development of 
young children and reduce expulsions in early child care and education settings in the 
State; and 
Whereas, the study must be initiated before the 90-day period expires in order that 
the study may be completed and a report submitted in time for submission to the next 
legislative session; 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.  Commission established.  Resolved:  That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 
353, the Study Commission on the Social Emotional Learning and Development of 
Maine's Young Children, referred to in this resolve as "the commission," is established; 
and be it further 
Sec. 2.  Commission membership.  Resolved:  That the commission consists of 
members appointed as follows: 
1.  One member of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate; 
2.  One member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives; 
3.  Thirteen members appointed by the Commissioner of Education as follows: 
A.  One representative of the Department of Education, Child Development Services 
System; 
B.  One representative of the Department of Education, Office of Special Services; 
C.  One elementary school principal; 
D.  One representative of an organization promoting child welfare; 
E.  One representative of an organization promoting children's mental health; 
F.  One representative of an organization promoting early childhood advocacy; 
G.  One person with experience in the early and periodic screening, diagnostic and 
treatment benefit under Medicaid; 
H.  One pediatrician representing the Maine chapter of the American Academy of 
Pediatrics; 
I.  One representative of the child care industry; and 
J.  Four members of the Maine Children's Growth Council; and 
4.  Two members appointed by the Commissioner of Health and Human Service as 
follows: 
A.  One representative of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of 
Child and Family Services, Child Care Services; and 
B.  One representative of the Department of Health and Human Services, Head Start 
and Early Head Start; and be it further 
Sec. 3.  Chairs.  Resolved:  That the Senate member is the Senate chair and the 
House of Representatives member is the House chair of the commission; and be it further 
Sec. 4.  Appointments; convening of commission.  Resolved:  That all 
appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this 
resolve.  The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative 
Council once all appointments have been completed.  After appointments of all members, 
the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the commission.  If 30 days or more 
after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have been 
made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority 
for the commission to meet and conduct its business; and be it further 
Sec. 5.  Duties.  Resolved:  That the commission shall: 
1.  Develop a comprehensive inventory of the policies, rules, funding and services for 
early child care and education programs that promote young children's social emotional 
learning and development and that address children's behavioral needs and make 
recommendations based on the inventory.  The inventory and recommendations must 
address assets and gaps relating to availability, funding and delivery of services that 
support the healthy social emotional learning and development of young children across 
the State; 
2.  Examine the State's current capacity to provide education, training and 
professional development to early childhood program staff and educators to strengthen 
skills in promoting young children's social emotional learning and development and 
effectively addressing children's behavioral needs; 
3.  Gather existing data relating to the expulsion, suspension and exclusionary 
discipline practices with regard to young children up to 8 years of age and teachers' 
reporting requirements for professional development and classroom supports in 
addressing children's behavioral needs; and 
4.  Make recommendations regarding: 
A.  Appropriate and necessary training for early childhood educators and support 
staff to support and teach young children the skills the children need for healthy 
social emotional learning and development; 
B.  Staff competencies and evidence-based intervention techniques and approaches 
that prevent expulsion, suspension and other exclusionary discipline practices, 
including standards for effective early childhood mental health consultation and 
positive behavior intervention and support strategies; 
C.  Changes in the preparation of early childhood educators that facilitate an 
understanding of how to teach children social emotional skills and the management 
of behaviors; 
D.  Methods and guidelines for the ongoing collection of data to monitor the 
expulsion, suspension and exclusionary discipline practices with regard to young 
children; 
E.  Model policies relating to the social emotional learning and development of 
children that include practices that are developmentally appropriate, contain 
nondiscriminatory discipline procedures and guidelines and promote an integrated 
classroom.  The recommendations must include a plan to appropriately transition 
children in early child care settings to preschool and kindergarten and support 
working parents and may include a pilot program; 
F.   Changes to law and policies that will support a continuum of integrated social 
emotional learning and development opportunities for young children based on the 
inventory of resources and capacity of early childhood programs under subsection 1; 
G.  How early childhood programs and public schools can collaborate and ensure that 
a system is developed that efficiently utilizes limited resources and provides 
continuity of care for young children moving between programs and schools; and 
H.  Parent education that promotes young children's social emotional growth and 
effective responses to behavioral challenges; and be it further 
Sec. 6.  Staff assistance.  Resolved:  That the Department of Education shall 
provide necessary staffing services to the commission; and be it further 
Sec. 7.  Report.  Resolved:  That, no later than December 2, 2015, the commission 
shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested 
legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs.  The Joint 
Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs may report out legislation based 
upon the report to the Second Regular Session of the 127th Legislature. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve creates the Study Commission on the Social Emotional Learning and 
Development of Maine's Young Children to promote the social emotional learning and 
development of young children and reduce expulsions in early child care and education 
settings in the State by making an inventory of policies, rules, funding and services 
regarding early child care and education in the State and making recommendations, 
including suggested legislation, to strengthen the support for young children's social 
emotional learning and development and to address young children's behavioral needs.