A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to provide for the consolidation of all regulatory functions regarding the monitoring of private early care and education providers for compliance with the more at four program and to require all early care and education providers  working in licensed child care centers or licensed family child care homes to obtain and maintain early educator certification.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  To consolidate all of the regulatory functions regarding the monitoring of early care and education providers in certain private settings, it is the intent of the General Assembly that the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Public Instruction approve Division of Child Development staff to assume the regulatory functions of the More at Four program in private classroom settings. The Department of Public Instruction shall provide Division of Child Development staff with the training necessary to monitor compliance with the More at Four program. The Division of Child Development shall continue its current licensing functions for those classrooms voluntarily licensed in public settings.
SECTION 2.  G.S. 110‑91 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"(8a)	Education Certification. – An individual shall remain current in all certification required by this subdivision as long as the individual is working in licensed child care.
a.	Teaching staff. – Teaching staff working in licensed child care centers as of October 1, 2010, shall have their education certified by the North Carolina Institute for Child Development Professionals by July 1, 2012. Teaching staff hired to work in licensed child care centers after October 1, 2010, shall have their education certified by the North Carolina Institute for Child Development Professionals within 60 days of their hiring.
b.	Licensed family child care home providers. – Licensed family child care home providers in operation as of October 1, 2010, shall have their education certified by the North Carolina Institute for Child Development Professionals by July 1, 2012. Licensed family child care home providers that begin operation after October 1, 2010, shall have their education certified by the North Carolina Institute for Child Development Professionals within 60 days of licensing.
c.	Child care administrators. – Child care administrators shall have their education certified with an Administrator Endorsement by July 1, 2012. Child care administrators hired after July 1, 2012, shall have their education certified with an Administrator Endorsement within 60 days of their hiring."
SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2010.