SUMMARY--Establishes family-to-family connection program and creates early childhood development council to support early childhood development. (BDR 18-1531)
FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.
Effect on the State or on Industrial Insurance: Yes.
EXPLANATION - Matter in italics is new; matter in brackets [ ] is material to be omitted.
AN ACT relating to family development; establishing the family-to-family connection program and creating the early childhood development council to support early childhood development; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1 The legislature hereby finds and declares that:
1. The time from when a child is born until he is 3 years old is critical in the life of the child. Scientific evidence maintains that during those years children learn at a greater speed than during any other time in their lives.
2. Scientific evidence also maintains that a child's nutrition, health and development, including his perceptions of the world, begin during these early years and that this important formative process may be impeded if a child is not properly attended and nurtured.
Sec. 2. Chapter 232 of NRS is hereby amended by adding thereto the provisions set forth as sections 3 to 8, inclusive, of this act.
Sec. 3. "Ancillary service" means a service that the department determines is necessary to promote optimal child development.
Sec. 4. "Council" means the early childhood development council.
Sec. 5. "Department" means the department of human resources.
Sec. 6. "Director" means the director of the department.
Sec. 7. 1. The department shall establish a family-to-family connection program to:
(a) Build upon the strengths of children, families and communities;
(b) Support the children within a family and families within a neighborhood; and
(c) Create a comprehensive network that encourages optimal child growth and development,
through public and private partnerships.
2. The department shall ensure that the program:
(a) Is voluntary for the participants;
(b) Provides support for each new family that chooses to participate in the program;
(c) Does not duplicate existing services provided in this state; and
(d) Provides new families with referrals to ancillary services if those services would be beneficial to the family.
Sec. 8. 1. The early childhood development council, consisting of 11 members appointed by the governor, is hereby created to:
(a) Advise and assist the family-to-family connection program established pursuant to section 7 of this act;
(b) Assist in the development of policies and procedures to assess the impact of the services of the family-to-family connection program; and
(c) Produce an annual report on the family-to-family connection program.
2. After the initial terms, each member of the council must be appointed by the governor to serve a term of 2 years.
3. A private business entity may not have more than one of its officers or employees serving on the council.
4. The members of the council shall adopt rules for the organization and operation of the council.
5. Members of the council are entitled to receive the per diem allowance and travel expenses provided to state officers and employees generally.
Sec. 9. NRS 232.290 is hereby amended to read as follows:
232.290 As used in NRS 232.290 to 232.465, inclusive, and sections 3 to 8, inclusive, of this act, unless the context [requires otherwise:
1. "Department" means the department of human resources.
2. "Director" means the director of the department.] otherwise requires, the words and terms defined in sections 3 to 6, inclusive, of this act, have the meanings ascribed to them in those sections.
Sec. 10. On or before July 1, 1997, the governor shall appoint 11 members to serve on the early childhood development council for a term which begins on July 1, 1997, and ends on:
1. June 30, 1998, for five members; and
2. June 30, 1999, for six members.
Sec. 11. This act becomes effective:
1. Upon passage and approval for the purpose of making the appointments required by section 10 of this act; and
2. On July 1, 1997, for all other purposes.