Missouri HB 2365: Makes the early learning quality assurance report program permanent

Bill Text

SECOND REGULAR SESSION
[TRULYAGREED TO AND FINALLY PASSED]
HOUSE BILL NO. 2365
101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
4668H.02T 2022
AN ACT
To repeal section 161.217, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to the
early learning quality assurance report program.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Section 161.217, RSMo, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu
2 thereof, to be known as section 161.217, to read as follows:
161.217. 1. The department of elementary and secondary education shall, in
2 collaboration with the Missouri Head Start State Collaboration Office and the [departments]
3 departmentof[healthandseniorservices,]mentalhealth[,andsocialservices,shalldevelop,
4 as a three-year pilot program, a voluntary] and as part of a program, provide a continuous
5 quality improvement process for early learning programs and present families with
6 updated consumereducation about thequalityofearlylearning programsby producing
7 an early learning quality assurance report. The early learning quality assurance report shall
8 be developed based on evidence-based practices.
9 2. Participation in the early learning quality assurance report [pilot program] shall be
10 voluntary for any licensed or license-exempt early learning providers that are center-based or
11 home-based and are providing services for children from any ages from birth up to
12 kindergarten.
13 3. The early learning quality assurance report may include, but is not limited to,
14 information regarding staff qualifications, instructional quality, professional development,
15 health and safety standards, parent engagement, and community engagement.
16 4. The early learning quality assurance report shall not be used for enforcement of
17 compliance with any law or for any punitive purposes.
EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is
intended to be omitted from the law. Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language.

18 5. The department of elementary and secondary education shall promulgate all
19 necessaryrulesandregulationsfor theadministration ofthissection. Anyruleorportionofa
20 rule,asthatterm isdefinedin section536.010,thatiscreated under theauthoritydelegatedin
21 this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the
22 provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028. This section and chapter 536
23 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to
24 chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are
25 subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule
26 proposed or adopted after August 28, 2016, shall be invalid and void.
27 6. Under section 23.253 of the Missouri sunset act:
28 (1) The provisions of the [new] program authorized under this section shall
29 automaticallysunset [three] six years after August 28, [2019] 2022, unless reauthorized by an
30 act of the general assembly; and
31 (2) If such program is reauthorized, the program authorized under this section shall
32 automatically sunset three years after the effective date of the reauthorization of this section;
33 and
34 (3) This section shall terminate on September first of the calendar year immediately
35 following the calendar year in which the program authorized under this section is sunset.
✔
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