PRINTER'S NO. 1052
No. 937 Session of 1999
INTRODUCED BY SCHWARTZ, KUKOVICH, STOUT, TARTAGLIONE, STAPLETON, WAUGH, BELAN, BOSCOLA, BODACK, MELLOW AND HUGHES, MAY 5, 1999
REFERRED TO AGING AND YOUTH, MAY 5, 1999
AN ACT 1 Amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), entitled "An 2 act to consolidate, editorially revise, and codify the public 3 welfare laws of the Commonwealth," providing for quality 4 improvement of child day-care centers; and making 5 appropriations. 6 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 7 hereby enacts as follows: 8 Section 1. The act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known 9 as the Public Welfare Code, is amended by adding a section to 10 read: 11 Section 912. Quality Improvement of Child Day Care 12 Centers.--(a) The department shall utilize a team of 13 professionals trained in early childhood development and 14 education to assist child day care centers in developing quality 15 child care programs that actively promote child development and 16 readiness to learn. The activities of these early childhood 17 development professionals may include, but not be limited to: 18 (1) Providing technical assistance on health and safety 19 regulations compliance and national accreditation standards
1 achievement. 2 (2) Providing on-site consultation on the development of 3 staff development plans, parent involvement systems, 4 accreditation standards, health and safety enhancements and 5 curriculum development. 6 (3) Providing on-site training in child development, 7 developmentally appropriate practices, discipline and safety. 8 (b) Persons employed by the department to carry out 9 subsection (a) must possess the following minimum 10 qualifications: 11 (1) A bachelor's degree in either early childhood education 12 or child development. 13 (2) Two years of teaching experience with children under six 14 years of age in a classroom setting. 15 (3) Two years of administrative experience in a child day 16 care center. 17 (c) As used in this section, the term "child day care 18 center" means the premises in which care is provided at any one 19 time for seven or more children unrelated to the operator. 20 Section 2. The following amounts are appropriated to the 21 Department of Public Welfare: 22 (1) The sum of $1,000,000, or as much thereof as may be 23 necessary, is hereby appropriated for the fiscal year July 1, 24 1999, to June 30, 2000, to carry out the provisions of this 25 act. 26 (2) The sum of $1,000,000, or as much thereof as may be 27 necessary, is hereby appropriated for the fiscal year July 1, 28 2000, to June 30, 2001, to carry out the provisions of this 29 act. 30 (3) The sum of $1,000,000, or as much thereof as may be 19990S0937B1052 - 2 -
1 necessary, is hereby appropriated for the fiscal year July 1, 2 2001, to June 30, 2002, to carry out the provisions of this 3 act. 4 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 1999, or 5 immediately, whichever occurs later. A7L67DMS/19990S0937B1052 - 3 -