S-3132

   Amend Senate File 445 as follows:
   1.  Page 1, after line 2 by inserting: 
   <Section 1.  Section 256.163, subsection 1, paragraph c, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   c.  Preschool programs at school districts approved to participate in the preschool program, or at community-based providers approved to directly participate in the preschool program, under chapter 256C.>
   2.  By striking page 14, line 35, through page 15, line 15, and inserting: 
   <Sec. ___.  Section 279.51, subsection 1, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  There is appropriated from the general fund of the state to the department of education for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007 2025, and each succeeding fiscal year, the sum of twelve million six hundred six thousand one hundred ninety-six ten million five hundred twenty-four thousand three hundred eighty-nine dollars. The moneys shall be allocated as follows:
   a.  Two hundred seventy-five thousand eight hundred sixty-four Two hundred twenty-nine thousand two hundred sixty-two dollars of the funds appropriated shall be allocated to the area education agencies to assist school districts in developing program plans and budgets under this section and to assist school districts and child development programs under section 256A.3 in meeting other responsibilities in early childhood education.
   b.  For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007 2025, and for each succeeding fiscal year, eight million five hundred thirty-six thousand seven hundred forty ten million twelve thousand five hundred twenty-seven dollars of the funds appropriated shall be allocated to the child development coordinating council established in chapter 256A department of education for the purposes set out in subsection 2, of this section and section 256A.3, and to be used as grants to early childhood programs that demonstrate the greatest need for programs for at-risk children and the families of at-risk children.
   c.  For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007, and for each fiscal year thereafter, three million five hundred ten thousand nine hundred ninety-two dollars of the funds appropriated shall be allocated as grants to school districts that have elementary schools that demonstrate the greatest need for programs for at-risk students with preference given to innovative programs for the early elementary school years. School districts receiving grants under this paragraph shall at a minimum provide activities and materials designed to encourage children’s self-esteem, provide role modeling and mentoring techniques in social competence and social skills, and discourage inappropriate drug use. The grant allocations made in this paragraph may be renewed for additional periods of time. Of the amount allocated under this paragraph for each fiscal year, seventy-five thousand dollars shall be allocated to school districts which have an actual student population of ten thousand or less and have an actual non-English speaking student population which represents greater than five percent of the total actual student population for grants to elementary schools in those districts.
   d.  c.  Notwithstanding section 256A.3, subsection 5 3, of the amount appropriated in this subsection for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007 2025, and for each succeeding fiscal year, up to two hundred eighty-two thousand six hundred dollars may be used for administrative costs.>
   3.  Page 18, line 15, by striking <By January 1, 2026, the> and inserting <The>
   4.  Page 18, after line 21 by inserting: 
   <Sec. ___.  Section 256I.8, subsection 1, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  h.  Implement evidence-based services that are eligible for funding under the federal Social Security Act, Tit. IV-E.>
   5.  Page 19, after line 26 by inserting: 
   <Sec. ___.  NEW SECTION.  256I.11A  Early childhood Iowa initiative —— use of funding.
   The department shall not do any of the following:
   1.  Use state moneys that are appropriated for the early childhood Iowa initiative to supplant existing programs, services, or activities funded by other funding sources.
   2.  Use state moneys appropriated for the early childhood Iowa initiative for child care assistance for an individual who is otherwise eligible for the state child care assistance program established pursuant to section 237A.13, unless the individual provides documentation to the department demonstrating denial of eligibility for the state child care assistance program.
   Sec. ___.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This division of this Act takes effect July 1, 2026.>
   6.  Page 21, by striking lines 5 through 19 and inserting: 
   <Sec. ___.  Section 256I.11, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  6.  a.  A child care continuum partnership grants pilot program account is created in the fund under the authority of the director of the department. Beginning July 1, 2026, the department shall credit not more than eleven million dollars to the account annually. Moneys credited to the account are appropriated to and shall be used by the department to create and administer, in collaboration with early childhood Iowa area boards created pursuant to section 256I.7 and the department of education, a child care continuum partnership grants pilot program.
   b.  (1)  On or before November 1, 2025, the department shall publish information on the department’s internet site related to the opportunities available under the child care continuum partnership grants pilot program.
   (2)  Beginning July 1, 2026, the child care continuum partnership grants pilot program shall award competitive grants to partnerships between providers of statewide voluntary preschool programming and child care centers licensed pursuant to chapter 237A to provide full-day early childhood education and care programming for participants in the statewide voluntary preschool program created in accordance with chapter 256C.
   c.  The department shall maintain discretionary funding for local decision making relating to the early childhood initiative.
   d.  In addition to the appropriation in paragraph “a”, beginning July 1, 2025, the department shall credit not more than five million dollars to the child care continuum partnership grants pilot program account from the amounts appropriated to the department pursuant to the portion of 2025 Iowa Acts, Senate File 626, that appropriates moneys in the amounts anticipated to be received from the federal government under 42 U.S.C. ch. 105, subch. II-B, or any successor legislation, if enacted. Moneys credited to the account pursuant to this paragraph are appropriated to and shall be used by the department to create and administer, in collaboration with early childhood Iowa area boards created pursuant to section 256I.7 and the department of education, the child care continuum partnership grants pilot program.
   e.  The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A as necessary to administer the child care continuum partnership grants pilot program.
   f.  This subsection is repealed July 1, 2029.
DIVISION ___
EARLY CHILDHOOD IOWA AREA BOARDS —— REPORTING

   Sec. ___.  EARLY CHILDHOOD IOWA AREA BOARDS —— MONTHLY REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.  On a monthly basis beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026, each early childhood Iowa area board shall submit a report to the department of health and human services that includes a detailed monetary accounting of the early childhood Iowa area board’s expenditures during the preceding month.>
   7.  Title page, line 6, by striking <program, and> and inserting <program,>
   8.  Title page, line 9, after <services> by inserting <, making appropriations and reducing appropriations, and including effective date provisions>
   9.  By renumbering as necessary.

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LYNN EVANS