Tehama Municipal Code Ch. 2.54 Children and Families Program

The board of supervisors of the county hereby finds that:

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

B. 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.

C. It is the intent of the ordinance codified in 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, to leverage financial resources with state and federal funding and to eliminate duplicate administrative systems.

D. The Act provides for funding through an excise tax on tobacco products to implement the goals and objectives which are outlined in the Act itself. It is the further intent of this chapter to create the Tehama County Children and Families Commission and the Tehama County Children and Families Trust Fund in order to receive funding through the Act to implement the goals and objectives outlined in the Act.

(Ord. 1719 § 2(part), 2000)

As used in this chapter:

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

B. "State Commission" shall mean the California Children and Families Commission established in accordance with Health and Safety Code Section 130110.

C. "County commission" shall mean the Tehama County Children and Families Commission established pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 130140.

D. "County strategic plan" shall mean the plan adopted by the county commission and submitted to the State Commission pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 130140.

E. "Trust fund" shall mean the Tehama County Children and Families Trust Fund established pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 130105.

(Ord. 1719 § 2(part), 2000)

There is established a commission to be known as the Tehama County Children and Families Commission, pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 130140.

(Ord. 1719 § 2(part), 2000)

There is established within the county treasury a trust fund to be designated as the Tehama County Children and Families Trust Fund, pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 130105(d)(2)(A).

(Ord. 1719 § 2(part), 2000)

The county commission shall consist of nine members. One member shall be that person chosen by the board of supervisors from among its membership from time to time; one member shall be the then current director of the Tehama County department of social services; one member shall be the then current director of the health agency; and one member shall be the then current superintendent of the Tehama County department of education. The remaining five members of the county commission, which shall be known as "at large" members, shall be appointed by the board of supervisors from any of the following:

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 of 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; and

G. Representatives of local medical, pediatric or obstetric associations or societies.

(Ord. 1719 § 2(part), 2000)

A. The term of office for the "at large" members shall be three years and until the appointment of his/her successor, and such terms shall be staggered with the initial term of one "at large" member to end on January 31, 2000; the initial term of two "at large" members to end on January 31, 2001; and the initial term of the remaining "at large" members to end on January 31, 2002.

B. After the board of supervisors appoints the "at large" members of the county commission, the board shall determine by lot: first, which of the appointees will fill the term expiring January 31, 2000; and, second, which appointees shall fill the term expiring on January 31, 2001. The appointees which were not selected by lot, as above, shall fill the term expiring January 31, 2002.

C. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the "at large" members shall serve at the continued pleasure of the board of supervisors.

(Ord. 1719 § 2(part), 2000)

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

(Ord. 1719 § 2(part), 2000)

The members of the county commission shall serve without compensation for their services, except they shall be paid a reasonable per diem and reimbursement of reasonable expenses for attending meetings and discharging other official responsibilities as authorized by the county commission.

(Ord. 1719 § 2(part), 2000)

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

A. The county commission shall 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 county commission to emphasize local decision-making, to provide for greater local flexibility in designing delivery systems, and to eliminate duplicate administrative systems.

B. The county commission shall facilitate the 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. The county commission shall recommend to the board of supervisors necessary programs or legislation to promote, ensure and protect services which enhance early childhood development.

D. The county commission shall render to the board of supervisors a report or reports of county commission activities.

E. With the consent of the board of supervisors, the county commission may solicit and accept funds from federal and state governmental agencies for carrying out the purposes outlined in this chapter. The county commission may also, with the consent of the board of supervisors, accept gifts, donations and grant awards from any source for carrying out its functions.

F. The county commission shall adopt an adequate and complete county strategic plan for the support and improvement of early childhood development within the county. 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. The county strategic plan shall, at a minimum, include the following:

1. A description of the programs, services, and projects proposed to be provided, sponsored, or facilitated;

2. A description of how measurable outcomes of such programs, services, and projects will be determined by the county commission using appropriate reliable indicators;

3. The county 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.

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

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

I. The county 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.

J. The county commission shall provide a copy of its adopted county strategic plan, and any subsequent revisions thereto, to the Tehama County board of supervisors simultaneously with its submittal to the State Commission.

K. The county commission shall prepare and adopt an annual audit and report on or before October fifteenth of each year, pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 130150. Prior to adopting its annual audit and report, the county commission shall conduct at least one public hearing respecting the proposed contents thereof. The county commission shall make copies of its annual audits and reports available to members of the general public on request and at no cost.

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

(Ord. 1719 § 2(part), 2000)