Florida Senate - 2022                                    SB 1148
       
       
        
       By Senator Bean
       
       
       
       
       
       4-01020A-22                                           20221148__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to early learning; requiring the
    3         Division of Early Learning of the Department of
    4         Education to conduct an analysis of solutions to help
    5         close early learning opportunity gaps for children in
    6         the child welfare system; providing requirements for
    7         the analysis; requiring the division to submit a
    8         report of its findings and recommendations to the
    9         Governor and Legislature by a specified date;
   10         providing an effective date.
   11          
   12  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   13  
   14         Section 1. (1) The Division of Early Learning of the
   15  Department of Education shall conduct an analysis of solutions
   16  to help close early learning opportunity gaps through increasing
   17  access to high-quality early childhood programs provided by
   18  private prekindergarten providers as defined in s. 1002.51(7),
   19  Florida Statutes, or school readiness program providers approved
   20  under s. 1002.88, Florida Statutes, for children in the child
   21  welfare system. Any such solutions shall address the feasibility
   22  of a scholarship program to help fund such a child’s enrollment
   23  in an early childhood program.
   24         (2) The division shall submit a report of its findings and
   25  recommendations to the Governor, the President of the Senate,
   26  and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by January 1,
   27  2023.
   28         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022.