BILL NUMBER: SB 244	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Wright

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2009

   An act relating to children.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 244, as introduced, Wright. Children's services: high-risk
children.
   Existing law establishes various social services and other
programs for children, administered by the State Department of Social
Services..
   This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation that would establish a more cohesive, effective, and
equitable system for addressing the needs of high-risk children that
would reduce the long-term educational, social, and economic impacts
that occur when early childhood needs are not met, as specified.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  It is the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation that would establish a more cohesive, effective, and
equitable system for addressing the needs of high-risk children that
would reduce the long-term educational, social, and economic impacts
that occur when early childhood needs are not met. To accomplish this
goal, the Legislature intends to enact legislation that would do all
of the following:
   (a) Improve accountability and interagency cooperation by
establishing, in each county or consortium of counties, a committee
or similar entity with authority to coordinate systems of care,
review data, and ensure timely delivery of services to high-risk
children.
   (b) Implement changes to eligibility and priority enrollment
criteria for existing early care and education programs to ensure
inclusion of high-risk children.
   (c) Establish a state-level committee or similar entity to make
recommendations to the Legislature before January 1, 2011, that will
improve and integrate services to children with special needs, with
particular attention to transition issues for children at age three.