Bill > SB00137

This bill, titled "An Act Implementing The Recommendations Of The Office Of Early Childhood," makes several changes to laws concerning early childhood care and education, primarily effective July 1, 2026. It increases the number of members appointed to the Early Childhood Cabinet by the Governor from ten to eleven, adding a pediatrician to the cabinet. The bill also enhances the Connecticut Smart Start competitive grant program, increasing the per-child operating expense grant amount to $6,500 and the per-classroom amount to $97,500, which local and regional school boards can use to establish or expand preschool programs. Furthermore, it requires licensees of youth camps to provide their contact information to the Office of Early Childhood, which will then share this information with the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection for emergency notifications. The bill also strengthens background check requirements for individuals working in family child care homes and child care centers by raising the age for household members and employees to be subject to certain checks from sixteen to eighteen, and it mandates checks against state and national sex offender registries and child abuse and neglect registries for all states where a provider has resided in the past five years, with provisions for medical waivers for fingerprinting. Finally, it requires licensees and operators of child care facilities to report any criminal convictions or placement on child abuse and neglect registries for themselves, employees, or household members to the Commissioner of Early Childhood, with penalties for failure to comply.