HOUSE BILL 198

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2012

INTRODUCED BY

Eleanor Chavez

AN ACT

RELATING TO CHILD CARE; EXPANDING THE CHILD CARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL SERVICE IN THE CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES DEPARTMENT; REQUIRING CHILD CARE CENTERS TO REPORT EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION; REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT TO TRACK CHILD CARE EDUCATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. A new section of the Children, Youth and Families Department Act is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] CHILD CARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL SERVICE--EXPANSION--WEB SITE.--

          A. The department shall expand its child care resource and referral database to track early childhood educators and administrators who are employed by child care centers that participate in state or federal child care assistance programs or participate in state or federal child care assistance programs as licensed family child care providers.

          B. Each child care center specified in Subsection A of this section shall report to the department at least the following information for each early childhood educator or administrator employed by the center:

                (1) the educator's or administrator's name;

                (2) demographic information about the educator or administrator, including race, ethnicity, age and gender;

                (3) highest educational attainment;

                (4) whether the educator or administrator has had the required background checks;

                (5) whether the educator or administrator has fulfilled the minimum coursework and training required by the department;

                (6) the educator's or administrator's hourly wage and whether the employer provides health insurance and retirement benefits, separately reported; and

                (7) the date of employment and, if applicable, the date of termination of employment.

          C. The department shall assign a single, unique state identification number to each early childhood educator or administrator. The department shall use the information provided to look at career trends in early childhood education, including turn-over rates, training and education needs of early childhood educators and administrators and other issues that can be used to improve the delivery of high-quality early childhood education.

          B. The department shall provide information collected pursuant to Paragraphs (1), (3), (4) and (5) of Subsection B of this section on the child care resource and referral web site."

     SECTION 2. APPROPRIATION.--One hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the children, youth and families department for expenditure in fiscal year 2013 to expand the child care resource and referral service database. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2013 shall revert to the general fund.

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