HOUSE FILE 378

BY  PETTENGILL

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the requirements for early childhood Iowa areas.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

   Section 1.  Section 256I.6, subsection 4, Code 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   4.  If the state board determines exceptional circumstances exist, the composition of a multicounty area is not in the best interests of the counties involved, or there is other good cause for making an exception, the state board may waive any of the criteria otherwise specified in subsection 3.
   Sec. 2.  Section 256I.7, subsection 1, Code 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   1.
  a.  The early childhood Iowa functions for an area shall be performed under the authority of an early childhood Iowa area board. The A majority of the members of an area board shall be elected officials or members of the public who are not employed by a provider of services to or for the area board. In addition, the membership of an area board shall include representation from early care, education, health, human services, business, and faith interests, and at least one parent, grandparent, or guardian of a child from zero through age five.
   b.  Terms of office of area board members shall be not more than three years, the terms shall be renewable, and the terms shall be staggered.
EXPLANATION
   This bill relates to the requirements for early childhood Iowa areas under Code chapter 256I.
   Under current law in Code section 256I.6, the state early childhood Iowa board is required to apply the following criteria for designation of an early childhood Iowa area’s boundaries: an area cannot encompass more than four counties, the counties encompassing a multicounty area must have contiguous borders, and a single county area must have a minimum population of children zero through age five in excess of 5,000. Current law allows the state board to waive any of the criteria if exceptional circumstances exist. The bill also allows a waiver if the composition of a multicounty area is not in the best interests of the counties involved or there is other good cause for making an exception.
   The bill modifies a restriction on the membership of an early childhood Iowa area board in Code section 256I.7 that the membership must all be elected officials or members of the public who are not employed by a provider of services to or for the area board. The bill provides that a majority of the membership of an area board must comply with the restriction. In addition, the bill specifies that the membership terms of board members are renewable.