Modoc County Municipal Code Ch. 8.40 Children and Families First Commission

The board of supervisors of the county of Modoc do find that:

The voters of the state of California passed the California Children and Families First Act of 1998. The Act recognizes that there is a compelling need in California to create and implement a comprehensive, collaborative and integrated system of information and services to promote, support, and optimize early childhood development from the prenatal stage to five years of age.

The Act further recognizes that there is a compelling need in California to ensure that early childhood development programs and services are universally and continuously available for children until the beginning of kindergarten. Proper parenting, nurturing, and health care during these early years will provide the means for California's children to enter school in good health, ready and able to learn, and emotionally well developed.

It is the intent of this chapter to facilitate 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 chapter to emphasize local decision making, to provide for greater local flexibility in designing delivery systems and to eliminate duplicate administrative systems.

The California Children and Families First Act of 1998 provides for funding through an excise tax on tobacco products in order to implement the goals and objectives which are outlined in the act itself. It is the further intent of this chapter to create Modoc County's children and families first commission and Modoc County's children and families first trust fund in order to receive funding through the act and to implement the goals and objectives outlined in the California Children and Families First Act of 1998.

(Ord. 321 § 1(part), 1999)

A. "Act" means the California Children and Families First Act of 1998.

B. "California Children and Families Commission" means the state commission established in accordance with Health and Safety Code Section 130110.

C. "Commission" means the children and families first commission established pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 130140.

D. "County strategic plan" means the plan adopted by the commission and submitted to the California Children and Families First Commission pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 130140.

E. "Trust fund" means the children and families first trust fund established pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 130105.

(Ord. 321 §1(part), 1999)

There is established a commission to be known as the children and families first commission. This commission shall also be known as "First 5 Modoc."

(Ord. 321-B §1(part), 2003; Ord. 321 §1(part), 1999)

There is established a trust fund to be known as the children and families first trust fund.

(Ord. 321 §1(part), 1999)

The commission shall consist of five to seven members. Two members 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. One member of the county commission shall be a member of the board of supervisors. The remaining two to four members shall be appointed by the board of supervisors from candidates recommended by the entire commission members above. Recommendations will represent any of the following categories:

(a) Recipients of project services included in the county strategic plan,

(b) Educators specializing in early childhood development,

(c) Representatives of a local child care resource or referral agency or a local child care coordinating group,

(d) Representatives of a local organization for prevention or early intervention for families at risk,

(e) Representatives of community-based organizations that have the goal of promoting nurturing and early childhood development,

(f) Representatives of local school districts,

(g) Representatives of the local medical community,

(h) Representatives of the community at large within Modoc County.

(Ord. No. 321-D, 2-8-2022; Ord. No. 321-C, 2-23-2016; Ord. 321-B §1(part), 2003: Ord. 321 §1(part), 1999)

Commission members shall be appointed by the board of supervisors. Commission members shall serve at the pleasure of the board of supervisors. The term of office of each member shall be for three years and until the appointment of his or her successor.

(Ord. 321 §1(part), 1999)

Terms of office of the commission members shall be staggered. At the first meeting of the commission, those four members representing the various categories provided for in Section 8.40.050 of this chapter shall classify themselves by lot so that one member shall have a term of office for one year, one member shall have a term of office for two years, and two members shall have a term of office for three years.

(Ord. 321 §1(part), 1999)

A. A vacancy on the commission shall occur automatically on the happening of any of the following events before the expiration of the term:

1. Removal of the incumbent for any reason;

2. Death or resignation of the incumbent;

3. Ceasing to be a representative from the various categories provided for in Section 8.40.050; or

4. If the commission holds only one regular meeting during each calendar month, absence from three consecutive regular or special meetings or his or her absence from four regular or special meetings in any twelve month period or if the commission holds two or more regular meetings during each calendar month, absence from four consecutive regular or special meetings or absence from six regular or special meetings within a twelve month period.

B. The secretary of the commission shall certify the happening of any vacating event to the board of supervisors. The board of supervisors may waive any vacating event for any member of the commission by majority vote of the board of supervisors.

C. The board of supervisors shall make interim appointments to fill unexpired terms in the event of vacancies occurring during the term of members of the commission. The board of supervisors shall act within sixty days to fill a vacancy.

(Ord. 321 §1(part), 1999)

The members of the commission shall annually elect a chairperson who shall serve for a term of one year. The commission shall make such rules and regulations as are necessary to conduct its business.

(Ord. 321 §1(part), 1999)

The commission's meetings are subject to the open meeting laws contained in the Ralph M. Brown Act.

(Ord. 321 §1(part), 1999)

The members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but may receive actual and necessary expenses as are incurred in carrying out their duties.

(Ord. 321 §1(part), 1999)

The children and families first commission is charged with the following duties:

A. To implement the goals and objectives of the Act;

B. To administer the monies in the Modoc County children and families first trust fund;

C. The adoption of an adequate and complete county strategic plan for the support and improvement of early childhood development within the county as outlined in the Act;

D. To conduct at least one public hearing on its proposed county strategic plan before the plan is adopted;

E. To conduct at least one public hearing on its periodic review of the county strategic plan before any revisions to the plan are adopted;

F. To submit its adopted county strategic plan, and any subsequent revisions thereto, to the state commission and the board of supervisors;

G. To prepare and adopt an annual audit and report pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 130150. The commission shall conduct at least one public hearing prior to adopting any annual audit and report;

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

I. Makes copies of its annual audits and reports available to members of the general public on request and at no cost;

J. To exercise all powers, duties, and functions as are prescribed by statute, the board of supervisors and the commission.

(Ord. 321 §1(part), 1999)