Lassen County Municipal Code Ch. 7.02 Children and Families First Commission

This chapter shall be known as the "Children and Families First Commission."

(Ord. 538 § 1, 1999; Ord. 538-A § 1, 1999)

It is the scope of this chapter to provide for early childhood development services as set forth in the California Children and Families First Act of 1998, (Health and Safety Code Sections 130100 through 130155).

It is the intent of this chapter to establish a Lassen County Children and Families First Commission and to establish a local Children and Families First trust fund.

(Ord. 538 § 1, 1999; Ord. 538-A § 1, 1999)

The following definitions apply for purposes of this chapter:

"Act"

means the California Children and Families First Act of 1998. (Health and Safety Code Section 130100 through Health and Safety Code Section 130155).

"Commission"

means the Lassen County Children and Families First Commission established in accordance with Section 130140.

"County strategic plan"

means the plan adopted by Lassen County Children and Families First Commission and submitted to the California Children and Families First Commission pursuant to Section 130140 of the Health and Safety Code.

"State commission"

means the California Children and Families First Commission established in accordance with Section 130110 of the Health and Safety Code.

(Ord. 538 § 1, 1999; Ord. 538-A § 1, 1999)

There is established, pursuant to authority contained in Health and Safety Code Section 130140, a Children and Families First Commission.

(Ord. 538 § 1, 1999; Ord. 538-A § 1, 1999)

The commission is established to promote, support and improve the early development of children from the prenatal stage to five years of age. These purposes shall be accomplished through the establishment, institution, and coordination of appropriate standards, resources, and integrated and comprehensive programs emphasizing community awareness, education, nurturing, child care, social services, health care, and research. The commission shall fulfill Lassen County's obligation as set forth in California's Children and Families First Act of 1998.

(Ord. 538 § 1, 1999; Ord. 538-A § 1, 1999)

The commission shall consist of at least five, but no more than nine, members who are residents of Lassen County, and appointed by the board of supervisors.

(a) Two members of the commission shall be from among the county health officer and persons responsible for management of the following county functions: children's services, public health services, behavioral health services, social services, and tobacco and other substance abuse prevention and treatment services.

(b) One member of the commission shall be a member of the board of supervisors.

(c) The remaining members of the commission shall be from the following categories: recipients of project services included in the county strategic plan; educators specializing in early childhood development; representatives of a local child care resource or referral agency, or a local child care coordinating group; representatives of a local organization for prevention or early intervention for families at risk; representatives of community-based organizations that have the goal of promoting nurturing and early childhood development; representatives of local school districts; and representatives of local medical, pediatric, or obstetric associations or societies.

(Ord. 538 § 1, 1999; Ord. 538-A § 1, 1999)

The commission shall adopt and amend bylaws.

(a) Bylaws which set forth the manner of appointment, selection, or removal of members of the commission, the duration and number of terms commission members shall serve, and any other matters that the board of supervisors deems necessary or convenient for the conduct of the commission's activities shall be developed by the commission.

(b) Procedures for the conduct of business by the commission not specified in this chapter shall be contained in the bylaws adopted by the commission.

(c) A copy of the by-laws and any amendments thereto shall be submitted to the board of supervisors for comment.

(Ord. 538 § 1, 1999; Ord. 538-A § 1, 1999)

The powers and duties of the commission shall be as follows:

(1) The commission shall facilitate:

(A) The creation and implementation of an integrated, comprehensive, and collaborative system of information and services to enhance optimal early childhood development. This system should function as a network that promotes accessibility to all information and services from any entry point into the system. It is further the intent of this commission to emphasize local decision-making, to provide for greater local flexibility in designing delivery systems, and to eliminate duplicate administrative systems.

(B) Establishment of community-based programs to provide parental education and family support services relevant to effective childhood development. These services shall include education and skills training in nurturing and in avoidance of tobacco, drugs, and alcohol during pregnancy. Emphasis will be on the consolidation of existing programs and new services provided pursuant to this act into an integrated system from the consumer's perspective.

(C) Education of the public, using mass media, on the importance and the benefits of nurturing, health care, family support, and child care; and inform involved professionals and the general public about programs that focus on early childhood development.

(D) Educate the public, using mass media, on the dangers caused by smoking and other tobacco use by pregnant women to themselves and to infants and young children, and the dangers of secondhand smoke to all children.

(E) Encouraging pregnant women and parents of young children to quit smoking.

(2) The commission shall adopt an adequate and complete county strategic plan for the support and improvement of early childhood development within the county.

(3) The county strategic plan shall be consistent with, and in furtherance of the purposes of, this chapter and any guidelines adopted by the state commission that are in effect at the time the plan is adopted.

(4) The county strategic plan shall, at a minimum, include the following: a description of the programs, services, and projects proposed to be provided, sponsored, or facilitated; and a description of how measurable outcomes of such programs, services, and projects will be determined by the commission using appropriate reliable indicators. The strategic plan shall be deemed adequate or complete when the plan describes how programs, services, and projects relating to early childhood development within the county will be integrated into a consumer-oriented and easily accessible system.

(5) The commission shall, on at least an annual basis, be required to periodically review its county strategic plan and to review the plan as may be necessary or appropriate.

(6) The commission shall conduct at least one public hearing on its proposed county strategic plan before the plan is adopted.

(7) The commission shall conduct at least one public hearing on its periodic review of the county strategic plan before any revisions to the plan are adopted.

(8) The commission shall submit its adopted county strategic plan, and any subsequent revisions thereto, to the state commission and to the Lassen County board of supervisors, for comment.

(9) The commission shall prepare and adopt an annual audit and report pursuant to Section 130150. The commission shall conduct at least one public hearing prior to adopting any annual audit report.

(10) The commission shall conduct at least one public hearing on each annual report by the state commission prepared pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 130150 of the Health and Safety Code.

(11) In addition to the plan, the commission duties shall be:

(A) On behalf of the board of supervisors, to study and investigate by means of meetings, conferences, public hearing or other appropriate means, conditions impacting services for early childhood development;

(B) To recommend to the board of supervisors necessary programs, or legislation to promote, ensure and protect services which enhance early childhood development;

(C) To render to the board of supervisors a report or reports of commission activities;

(D) Subject to the approval of the county administrator, to request any county department information, services, facilities and any other assistance for the purposes of furthering the objectives of this chapter;

(E) The commission may solicit and accept funds from federal and state governmental agencies for carrying out the purposes outlined in this chapter. The commission may also accept gifts, donations and grant awards from any source for carrying out its functions.

(Ord. 538 § 1, 1999; Ord. 538-A § 1, 1999)

Pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 130105 of the Children and Families First Act of 1998, the Lassen County board of supervisors establishes a local Children and Families First trust fund.

All moneys deposited in this fund shall be appropriated and expended only for the purposes expressed in the California Children and Families First Act, shall be appropriated and expended only for the purposes expressed in the California Children and Families First Act, and shall be used only to supplement existing levels of service and not to fund existing levels of service. No moneys in the California Children and Families First Trust Fund shall be used to supplant state or local General Fund money for any purpose.

(a) The moneys located and appropriated to county shall be deposited in the local Children and Families First trust fund administered by the commission, and shall be expended only for the purposes authorized by the act and in accordance with the county strategic plan approved by the commission.

(b) Any moneys allocated and appropriated to the commission that are not encumbered or expended in any applicable period prescribed by law shall (together the accrued interest on the amount) revert to and remain in the local Children and Families First trust fund for the fiscal period under the same conditions as set forth in subsection (a) of this section.

(c) All grants, gifts or bequests of money made to or for the benefit of the commission from public or private sources used for early childhood development programs shall be cited in the local Children and Families First trust fund expended for the specific purpose for which the grant, gift, bequest was made.

(d) No moneys shall be expended to provide, sponsor or facilitate any programs, services, or projects for early childhood development until and unless the commission has first adopted an adequate and complete county strategic plan that contains the provisions required by clause (ii) of subparagraph (c) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of the Act.

(e) For each fiscal year the commission shall receive the portion of the total moneys available to all county commissions equal to the percentage of the number of births recorded in Lassen County (for the most recent reporting period) in proportion to the number of births recorded in all of the counties participating in the California Children and Families First Program (for the same period), provided that each of the following requirements has first been satisfied.

(1) The commission has, after the required public hearings, adopted an adequate and complete county strategic plan conforming to the requirements of the state commission;

(2) The commission has conducted the required public hearings and has prepared and submitted all audits and reports required pursuant to Section 130150.

(3) The commission has conducted the required public hearings on the state commission annual reports prepared pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 130150.

On or before October 15th of each year, the commission shall conduct an audit of, and issue a written report on the implementation and performance of, their respective functions during the preceding fiscal year, including, at a minimum, the manner in which funds were expected, the progress toward, and the achievement of, program goals and objectives, and the measurement of specific outcomes through appropriate reliable indicators.

(A) The audits and reports of the commission shall be transmitted to the state commission and the Lassen County board of supervisors.

(B) The commission shall make copies of its annual audits and reports available to members of the general public on request and at no cost.

(Ord. 538 § 1, 1999; Ord. 538-A § 1, 1999)

The commission shall convene no fewer than four meetings/public hearings annually at such time and place as shall be agreed upon by the commission and such other special meetings as shall be required from time to time.

(Ord. 538 § 1, 1999; Ord. 538-A § 1, 1999)

The commission shall establish one or more advisory committees to provide technical and professional expertise and support for any purposes that will be beneficial in accomplishing the purposes of this Act. Each advisory committee shall meet and shall make recommendations and reports as deemed necessary or appropriate.

(Ord. 538 § 1, 1999; Ord. 538-A § 1, 1999)

Commissioners shall serve without compensation, except they shall be paid reasonable per diem and reimbursement of reasonable expenses for attending meetings and discharge other official responsibilities as authorized by the commission.

The commission may engage the services of volunteer workers and consultants as it finds necessary. Service of an individual as a volunteer worker or as a consultant shall not be considered as employment by the county for any purpose.

(Ord. 538 § 1, 1999; Ord. 538-A § 1, 1999)