sr21_As_introduced_LC_19_6398_2.html
05 LC 19 6398
Senate Resolution 21
By: Senators Kemp of the 46th, Grant of the 25th, Tate of the 38th and Hamrick of the 30th

A RESOLUTION

Creating the Joint Early Learning Initiative Commission; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, early learning, especially for at_risk children, is essential to improving school performance for Georgia students; and

WHEREAS, the state has invested lottery proceeds, state funds, and federal funds in the Office of School Readiness and Georgia´s Pre_K Program, for a total of $360,959,969.00 in the 2004 budget adopted in the 2004 session; and

WHEREAS, there are proposals for delegation of authority and funding over certain federal early learning programs to the states; and

WHEREAS, a comprehensive review of early learning opportunities currently available and recommendations for improvement of early learning opportunities would be helpful to the General Assembly in adopting education policies and appropriating funds for the most effective uses.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that there is created the Joint Early Learning Initiative Commission to be composed of 18 members, including four members of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and four members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Assignments. The Governor shall appoint six members, including one member with expertise relating to early learning programs, one parent with a child enrolled in a pre_kindergarten program, one parent with a child currently enrolled in Head Start or Early Head Start, one pre_kindergarten instructor, and one Head Start instructor. The director of the Georgia Lottery Corporation, the director of the Georgia Student Finance Commission, the Georgia State School Superintendent or her designee, and the director of the Office of School Readiness shall be ex_officio members of the commission. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate a member of the House and the Senate Committee on Assignments shall designate a member of the Senate who shall serve as cochairpersons of the commission. The commission shall meet at the call of the cochairpersons.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall undertake a study of the following: issues relating to the anticipated action of the federal government in delegating authority relating to Head Start to the state; an examination of federal and state early learning programs to define efficiencies in each; options for combining federal and state programs if authority over federal funds and programs are delegated to the state; an investigation of early learning efforts statewide, including federal, state, and private programs to assess innovative approaches and to recommend effective practices; an investigation of ways to improve pre_kindergarten standards, with a focus on a state training program for noncertified pre_kindergarten instructors; the possible creation of an early learning program specially designed for at_risk four_year_olds; possible expansion of early learning programs for at_risk three_year_olds; the impact of an early education income tax credit for families with incomes under 200 percent of the federally designated poverty level that would allow low_income families to afford early education options that wealthier families can afford at institutions of their choice. The commission may recommend any actions or legislation which the commission deems necessary or appropriate. The commission may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution. The members of the commission shall receive the allowances authorized for legislative members of interim legislative committees but shall receive the same for not more than three days unless additional days are authorized. The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from the funds appropriated to the House of Representatives and Senate. The Carl Vinson Institute at the University of Georgia is authorized and directed to provide staff services to the commission. In the event the commission makes a report of its findings and recommendations, with suggestions for proposed legislation, if any, such report shall be made on or before December 31, 2006. The commission shall stand abolished on December 31, 2006.