Bill > SB607

This bill establishes a new "Early Learning Department" in New Mexico, consolidating various early childhood programs and services to provide a focused approach to supporting children from birth to age five. The department will be led by a Secretary of Early Learning, appointed by the governor, and will oversee divisions for administrative services, child care, and pre-kindergarten education. This new department will absorb responsibilities for child care, home visitation, and pre-kindergarten programs from the Children, Youth and Families Department, as well as the Even Start Family Literacy program from the Public Education Department, though it will not be responsible for licensing child care facilities. The bill emphasizes the importance of early childhood learning for improved student achievement and long-term success, and outlines duties for the new department, including developing service priorities, strengthening collaboration, maintaining a statewide database, and conducting assessments of service gaps. It also includes provisions for criminal history record investigations for employees and volunteers who have direct contact with children, and prohibits employment for individuals with substantiated allegations of child abuse or neglect or certain felony convictions. The act also makes several amendments to existing laws to reflect the creation of the Early Learning Department and the transfer of these responsibilities, including changes to the Children's Cabinet Act, the Pre-Kindergarten Act, the Early Childhood Care and Education Act, the Home Visiting Accountability Act, and the Even Start Family Literacy Program. The new department will officially begin its operations on July 1, 2015.