SECOND REGULAR SESSION
93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES DONNELLY (Sponsor), ROBB, STORCH, OXFORD, MOORE, FLOOK, EL-AMIN, ZWEIFEL, FARES, BEAN, WHORTON, BAKER (25), HARRIS (23), JOHNSON (61), JOLLY AND YAEGER (Co-sponsors).
Read 1st time January 30, 2006 and copies ordered printed.
STEPHEN S. DAVIS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To amend chapter 210, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to licensed child care facilities.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 210, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 210.205, to read as follows:
210.205. 1. By October 1, 2006, the department of social services, in collaboration with the department of health and senior services and the department of elementary and secondary education and other key stakeholders as determined by the departments, shall develop a quality rating system for child care facilities, early childhood and before and after school/school age programs operated in this state. Ratings shall be built upon Missouri's current system of licensing and regulation. The base level of the rating system shall be licensing, and the highest level of the rating system shall include accreditation by a state or nationally recognized accrediting agency. The department of social services, in collaboration with the department of health and senior services and the department of elementary and secondary education, shall use the outcomes of the existing Missouri quality rating system pilots to establish this system.
2. The quality rating system shall:
(1) Provide information for consumers and parents to evaluate and select high quality early childhood programs;
(2) Create an accountability system for policymakers and funders;
(3) Guide providers through a system of ever increasing levels of quality with specific outcomes.
3. By October 1, 2006, the department of social services shall submit a report to the general assembly detailing any changes in state statute required to fully implement the quality rating system.
4. The department of social services shall promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this section. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, RSMo, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536, RSMo, and, if applicable, section 536.028, RSMo. This section and chapter 536, RSMo, are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536, RSMo, to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2006, shall be invalid and void.
5. By January 1, 2007, the requirements of the quality rating system shall be posted on the Internet in a format usable by consumers.
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