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Senate advances SB19 with amendment to consolidate early childhood councils and coordinating organizations
Summary
Senate Bill 19, which consolidates early childhood councils and local coordinating organizations in most counties and adds accountability requirements, passed second reading as amended after adoption of amendment L7 that creates transition periods for three affected counties.
Senate Bill 19, sponsored by Senator Ball, passed second reading in the Committee of the Whole on Feb. 11 after the body adopted amendment L7 to provide transition periods for counties where local coordinating organizations differ from early childhood councils.
Senator Ball described the bill as an administrative consolidation intended to create efficiencies: "This bill is about combining our early childhood councils and our local coordinating organizations," he said, adding that stakeholders and the Department of Early Childhood support the change. Senator Bright, who has worked in early childhood policy for decades, said stakeholders recommended the consolidation for efficiency and effectiveness.
Amendment L7, explained by the sponsor as a measure to ease transition in the three counties where the functions currently differ, was adopted by voice vote. Senator Bazely voiced principled opposition to government involvement in early childhood programs and stated he would vote no, citing prior ballot measure EE and concerns about the department’s creation.
After adoption of the amendment, the Committee of the Whole reported SB19 (as amended) to the full Senate for third reading and final passage; the committee's report was adopted by the Senate and the bill was ordered engrossed.
