GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1993

S	1 

SENATE BILL 1621*

Short Title:  Early Childhood Facilities Funds.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Senator Walker.
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Referred to:  Appropriations.
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May 27, 1994

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO CREATE THE NORTH CAROLINA EARLY CHILDHOOD FACILITIES DEVELOPMENT FUND.
Whereas, there is a shortage of high quality early childhood programs in North Carolina; and
Whereas, there is a lack of appropriate space in community facilities for the development of high quality early childhood programs; and
Whereas, low-income parents do not have the resources to pay for the upgrading of facilities to meet the standards of high quality early childhood programs; and
Whereas, early childhood providers often need assistance in the design and development of high quality early childhood environments; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  (a)	There is established the North Carolina Early Childhood Facilities Development Fund to assist in the development of early childhood programs for preschool children.  This fund will be administered by the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center, Inc., in consultation with the Division of Child Development, Department of Human Resources.  Agencies can apply for a grant of up to fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) to develop, expand, or upgrade a facility to be used for an "AA" licensed child care center.  In order to be eligible to receive a grant, applicants must be serving or formally agree to serve at least twenty-five percent (25%) low-income children.  Low-income eligibility status is defined as families receiving State or federal funds for the payment of early childhood care and education in part or in total.  In addition, technical assistance grants may be awarded to public and private nonprofit agencies through the North Carolina Early Childhood Facilities Development Consortium established pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.
(b)	The North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center, Inc., will establish a Consortium of agencies to serve as the North Carolina Early Childhood Facilities Development Consortium.  In addition to the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center, Inc., this Consortium will consist of representatives from the North Carolina Head Start Association, the North Carolina Day Care Association, the North Carolina Association for the Education of Young Children, the North Carolina Child Care Resource and Referral Network, the Association of Community Colleges Early Childhood Educators, the North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc., the North Carolina Center for Community Self-Help, and The University of North Carolina.  The Consortium will make recommendations on the facilities grant awards and develop a plan for the provision of technical assistance to potential and funded grantees.  The North Carolina Division of Child Development will provide an ex officio member of the committee to serve as a technical advisor.
All grants shall be awarded by June 30, 1995, and shall be expended by June 30, 1996.
Sec. 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Human Resources, Division of Child Development, the sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) for the 1994-95 fiscal year to implement this act.
No more than five percent (5%) of these funds shall be used for administrative purposes and no more than ten percent (10%) of these funds shall be used for technical assistance awards.
Sec. 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1994.