Senate Amendment 5A
H 4023 - Session 125 (2023-2024)
First Steps

Senator Hembree proposes the following amendment (SEDU-4023.DB0015S):

Amend the bill, as and if amended, SECTION 1.A., by striking Section 59-152-60(C) and inserting:

(C)   In accordance with the bylaws established by the board of trustees, each local partnership board shall maintain a total minimum membership of twelve and a maximum membership of thirty elected, appointed, and designated individuals. Elected and Appointed members shall comprise a voting majority of the board.

  (1) No more than four from any of the following categories may be elected to sit on a First Steps Partnership Board:

   (a) prekindergarten through primary educator;

   (b) family education, training, and support provider;

   (c) childcare or early childhood development/education provider;

   (d) healthcare provider;

   (e) local government;

   (f) nonprofit organization that provides services to families and children;

   (g) faith community;

   (h) business community;

   (i) philanthropic community; and

   (j) parents of preschool children.

  (2) To assure that all areas of the county or multicounty region are adequately represented and reflect the diversity of the coverage area, each county legislative delegation may appoint up to four members to a local partnership board. Of these members, two are appointed by the Senate members and two by the House of Representative members of the delegation from persons with resources, skills, or knowledge that have specific interests in improving the readiness of young children for school.

  (3)Each of the following entities located within a particular First Steps Partnership coverage area shall designate one member to serve as a member of the local First Steps Partnership Board:

   (a) county Department of Social Services;

   (b) county Department of Health and Environmental Control;

   (c)Head Start or early Head Start;

   (d) county library; and

   (e) each of the school districts in the county.

Each legislative delegation shall determine the number of members to serve on the local First Steps Partnership Board. Appointments shall be made by the legislative delegation from persons with resources, skills, or knowledge that have specific interests in improving the readiness of young children for school. The legislative delegation may by resolution delegate some or all of its appointments to county council.