2024 -- S 2142 AS AMENDED

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LC004213

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- RHODE ISLAND EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION

WORKFORCE DATA ACT

     Introduced By: Senators Cano, DiMario, Gallo, Lawson, Murray, Zurier, Euer, Lauria,

     Date Introduced: January 24, 2024

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Legislative findings.

     The general assembly hereby finds that:

     (1) Front-line educators working in licensed child care and early learning programs are the

backbone of the state's early education and afterschool system. Consistent data and information

about this workforce is needed to better support professional development, to inform of policy

decisions, and to evaluate the impact of strategic investments.

     (2) In 2022, one million dollars ($1,000,000) in funding from the American Rescue Plan

Act was allocated to the department of human services to establish a statewide early care and

education workforce registry data system.

     (3) As of 2023, according to the National Workforce Registry Alliance, Rhode Island was

one of only eight (8) states that did not have a functioning early care and education workforce

registry.

     SECTION 2. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended

     by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 114

RHODE ISLAND EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION WORKFORCE DATA ACT

     16-114-1. Short title.

     This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Rhode Island Early Care and

Education Workforce Data Act."

     16-114-2. Rhode Island early care and education workforce registry data system.

     (a) On or before December 1, 2024, the department of human services shall implement an

early care and education workforce registry that meets the recommended guidelines of the National

Workforce Registry Alliance and includes information about staff who work directly with children

in all licensed child care and early learning centers and family child care homes in the state.

     (b) The registry shall be designed to support communication of important information and

professional development opportunities directly to front-line child care and early educators. The

registry shall also be designed to help the state gather and maintain information about the

demographics and annual turnover of educators in licensed child care and early learning programs

by key factors including educational qualifications and age category of children they teach.

     (c) Annually, beginning on or before March 31, 2025, the department of human services

shall produce an annual report on the status of the early care and education registry and the

characteristics of the early care and education workforce, including demographic information,

qualifications, and turnover data. The report shall be shared with the general assembly, the

children's cabinet, all licensed child care centers and family child care homes, and individuals

participating in the registry. The report shall also be posted on the department's website for the

general public.

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- RHODE ISLAND EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION

WORKFORCE DATA ACT

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     This act would codify the previously funded Rhode Island early care and education

workforce registry data system in the general laws, require that the data system meets national

standards, and provide a deadline for implementation. It also directs the department of human

services to produce annual reports on the status of both the registry data system and the early care

and education workforce.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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