Task Force to Study the Comprehensive Needs of Children in the State

Pursuant to PA 21-46 (Sec. 30) and PA 22-81, There is established a task force to continue to study the comprehensive needs of children in the state and the extent to which such needs are being met by educators, community members and local and state agencies. The task force shall (1) address subdivisions (1) to (6), inclusive, of subsection (a) of section 30 of public act 21-46, (2) provide recommendations to meet the demand for infant and toddler care in the state by increasing access to and enrollment in child care centers, group child care homes and family child care homes, and identify resources to assist such centers and homes in meeting such demand, and (3) study the feasibility of adjusting school start times to improve students' mental and physical well-being. Pursuant to Sec. 15. Section 24 of PA 22-81 is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): (a) There is established a task force to continue to study the comprehensive needs of children in the state and the extent to which such needs are being met by educators, community members and local and state agencies. The task force shall (1) address subdivisions (1) to (6), inclusive, of subsection (a) of section 30 of public act 21-46, (2) provide recommendations to meet the demand for infant and toddler care in the state by increasing access to and enrollment in child care centers, group child care homes and family child care homes, and identify resources to assist such centers and homes in meeting such demand, [and] (3) study the feasibility of adjusting school start times to improve students' mental and physical well-being, (4) review and analyze the efficacy of those programs designed to assist and support the needs of children and their families that have received and expended federal funds received pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, P.L. 116-136, as amended from time to time, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, P.L. 116-260, as amended from time to time, and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, P.L. 117-2, as amended from time to time, and, based on such analysis, make recommendations about which of those programs should receive a more permanent funding structure from the state, and (5) conduct a needs assessment for children that identifies gaps between existing conditions and desired outcomes, and the extent to which such gaps are attributable to the result of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on children and individuals who were enrolled in high school in the state and were members of the classes graduating from 2020 to 2023, inclusive. As used in this section, "COVID-19" means the respiratory disease designated by the World Health Organization on February 11, 2020, as coronavirus 2019, and any related mutation thereof recognized by the World Health Organization as a communicable respiratory disease.