Chapter 272

2007 -- S 0451 SUBSTITUTE A

Enacted 07/06/07

A N A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

Introduced By: Senators Paiva-Weed, Gibbs, Gallo, Goodwin, and Perry

Date Introduced: February 13, 2007

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Legislative findings and intent. –

     WHEREAS, Quality early care and education and school-age child care programs are

vital to our state's economic development because they enable families to work while also

supporting healthy child development and success in school; and

     WHEREAS, The state has an interest in ensuring that the state's investment in child care

and early education for low-income children promotes healthy development, including

educational, physical, social, emotional and cognitive development; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That it is the intent of the general assembly to establish a voluntary quality

rating system of licensed child care programs and approved preschools serving children from

birth to sixteen (16) years of age.

     SECTION 2. Chapter 42-12 of the General Laws entitled "Department of Human

Services" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

42-12-23.1. Quality of early care and education and school-age child care through

voluntary quality rating system. -- (a) There is hereby established a voluntary quality rating

system which will assess quality in early care and education programs and school-age child care.

For purposes of this section, early care and education programs and school-age child care shall

mean programs licensed under chapter 72.1, title 42 and approved under chapter 48, title 16,

including without limitation child care centers, family child care homes, group family child care

homes, school-age child care programs and preschools, but excluding child placement agencies.

The voluntary quality rating system is established to promote continuous quality improvement of

programs and to further the goals of Rhode Island's "starting right" initiative.

(b) The department of human services, the department of children, youth and families, the

department of health, the department of elementary and secondary education and other partners

and agencies shall share information and work cooperatively with the Rhode Island quality rating

system, a public-private partnership, to ensure that Rhode Island children have access to quality

early care and education programs and school-age child care.

(c) The voluntary quality rating system shall also provide a mechanism to gather data

about program quality, and shall report this information to parents, providers and other persons

interested in the quality of early care and education programs and school-age child care services

in Rhode Island.

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC01639/SUB A

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