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 -