summary
Introduced
02/05/2026
02/05/2026
In Committee
02/05/2026
02/05/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
104th General Assembly
Bill Summary
Amends the Department of Early Childhood Act. Requires the Department of Early Childhood to establish and administer, subject to appropriation, a competitive grant program to support the development or enhancement of nonprofit organizations or community-based organizations providing early childhood resources or services. Provides that grant funds shall be made available to each eligible entity upon completion of an application process that is consistent with Department rules. Sets forth application requirements. Requires the Department to adopt rules as may be necessary to implement the amendatory Act, including, but not limited to, rules on the identification of additional prioritization areas for each competitive grant application cycle that are within the scope of the authorized uses. Provides that priority consideration for all applications shall be given for proposals that intend to serve a majority of families with racial or ethnic identities that are underrepresented in the early childhood system.
AI Summary
This bill, titled the DEC-COMMUNITY ORG GRANT PGRAM, amends the Department of Early Childhood Act to create a new grant program, subject to available funding, that will support nonprofit or community-based organizations offering early childhood resources or services. These organizations, referred to as eligible entities, will receive funds after successfully completing an application process that requires them to detail how they plan to use the money, demonstrate a documented need for the funds using local and state data, and present plans for long-term sustainability and continuous improvement. The Department of Early Childhood will establish rules for this program, including identifying specific areas that will receive extra consideration in each grant cycle, and will prioritize applications that aim to serve a significant number of families from racial or ethnic groups currently underrepresented in the early childhood system.
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Referred to Assignments (on 02/05/2026)
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