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8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This bill modifies provisions related to the Office of Child Care within the Department
11 of Workforce Services.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This bill:
14 ▸ requires the Department of Workforce Services and the Office of Child Care to
15 conduct a study concerning services and resources for children five years old and
16 younger and their families;
17 ▸ describes the information that should be included in the study;
18 ▸ describes the deadline for providing the study to certain legislative committees; and
19 ▸ provides a sunset date.
20 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
21 This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2017:
22 ▸ to the Department of Workforce Services -- Operations and Policy, as a one-time
23 appropriation:
24 • from the General Fund, $50,000.
25 Other Special Clauses:
26 None
27 Utah Code Sections Affected:
28 AMENDS:
29 63I-2-235, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2016, Chapter 278
30 ENACTS:
31 35A-3-208, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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33 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
34 Section 1. Section 35A-3-208 is enacted to read:
35 35A-3-208. Early childhood services study.
36 (1) The department and the office shall complete a one-time study and analysis of:
37 (a) the services and resources currently available in the state for children five years old
38 and younger and their families; and
39 (b) the beneficial services and resources not readily available or affordable for children
40 five years old and younger and their families.
41 (2) The study and analysis of the services and resources currently available for children
42 five years old and younger and their families shall include:
43 (a) an inventory of current services and resources available from the department, other
44 government agencies and entities, and, subject to the discretion of the department and the
45 office, private entities;
46 (b) an analysis of the sources and uses of money that fund the current services and
47 resources;
48 (c) an analysis of the coordination and communication between providers of the
49 services and resources, including identifying potential opportunities to increase coordination
50 between providers, better align services, and more efficiently use resources; and
51 (d) a description of where information regarding services and resources currently
52 available for children five years old and younger and their families is located, including
53 recommendations for potentially improving access to and awareness of the availability of such
54 services and resources.
55 (3) The study and analysis described in this section shall include a needs assessment
56 for children five years old and younger and their families with an emphasis on:
57 (a) what services and resources at-risk children need to successfully overcome
58 problems associated with poverty, hunger, trauma, and lack of educational opportunities,
59 including recommendations for potential improvements in providing access to such services
60 and resources; and
61 (b) describing the different needs, challenges, and any suggested improvements related
62 to the availability of services to at-risk children living in areas with various demographic
63 characteristics, including at-risk children in both urban and rural counties.
64 (4) The department shall obtain information from and cooperate with other state
65 agencies to complete the study and analysis, including the:
66 (a) Department of Health;
67 (b) Department of Human Services;
68 (c) State Board of Education; and
69 (d) state system of higher education.
70 (5) Subject to other provisions of state or federal law, if contacted by the department,
71 other state agencies, including those listed in Subsection (4), shall share information and
72 cooperate with the department to assist the department in completing the study and analysis.
73 (6) The department may obtain information from and cooperate with federal and
74 nonprofit entities to complete the study and analysis, including the:
75 (a) 2-1-1 program; and
76 (b) Head Start program.
77 (7) On or before October 31, 2017, the department shall complete the data gathering
78 and research for the study and analysis described in this section and provide a preliminary
79 report to the:
80 (a) Economic Development and Workforce Services Interim Committee; and
81 (b) Education Interim Committee.
82 (8) On or before January 1, 2018, the department shall provide a final version of the
83 study and analysis described in this section to the:
84 (a) Economic Development and Workforce Services Interim Committee; and
85 (b) Education Interim Committee.
86 Section 2. Section 63I-2-235 is amended to read:
87 63I-2-235. Repeal dates -- Title 35A.
88 (1) Section 35A-3-208 is repealed July 1, 2019.
89 [
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93 Section 3. Appropriation.
94 The following sums of money are appropriated for the fiscal year beginning July 1,
95 2016, and ending June 30, 2017. These are additions to amounts previously appropriated for
96 fiscal year 2017. Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures
97 Act, the Legislature appropriates the following sums of money from the funds or accounts
98 indicated for the use and support of the government of the state of Utah.
99 To the Department of Workforce Services -- Operations and Policy
100 From General Fund, One-time
$50,000
101 Schedule of Programs:
102 Workforce Development $50,000
103 The Legislature intends that:
104 (1) the Department of Workforce Services use the appropriation under this section to
105 carry out the study and analysis described in Section 35A-3-208; and
106 (2) under Section 63I-1-603, appropriations provided under this section not lapse at the
107 close of fiscal year 2017 and be available for use by the Department of Workforce Services
108 during fiscal year 2018.