BILL NUMBER: SB 244	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JULY 8, 2009
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 1, 2009
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 20, 2009
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 4, 2009
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MARCH 31, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Wright
   (Coauthors: Senators Alquist, Hancock, and Liu)

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2009

   An act relating to children's services.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 244, as amended, Wright. Children's services: high-risk
children.
   Existing law establishes the Early Learning Quality Improvement
System Advisory Committee, and requires the committee to submit a
report containing recommendations for the creation of an Early
Learning Quality Improvement System, as specified, to the Legislature
and the Governor by December 31, 2010.
   This bill would require the State Department of Education to
conduct a study regarding the feasibility of providing priority
enrollment in high-quality child care and development programs for
children from birth to 5 years of age who are in the foster care
system, in relative care or reunification, or were formerly in the
foster care system, who are at risk of abuse, neglect, or
exploitation, are homeless, or have a custodial parent who meets
specified criteria. The department would be required to report its
findings to the Governor and to appropriate fiscal and policy
committees of the Legislature by December 31, 2010.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  (a) The State Department of Education shall conduct a
study regarding the feasibility of providing priority enrollment in
high-quality child care and development programs for children from
birth to five years of age who are in the foster care system, in
relative care or reunification, or were formerly in the foster care
system, who are at risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation, are
homeless, or have a custodial parent in the foster care system,
 or are  on probation or parole, or in a
correctional or residential treatment facility.
   (b) The department shall report the findings of the study required
in subdivision (a) to the Governor and to appropriate fiscal and
policy committees of the Legislature by December 31, 2010.