(a) There is created the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education within the Department of Human Services. In creating the division, the General Assembly intends for the following to be maintained and enhanced:
(1) Coordination of existing early childhood education and childcare programs;
(2) Placement of children in quality early childhood programs which support their development and readiness for school;
(3) Development of new childcare services under welfare reform which promote the developmental needs of children receiving transitional employment assistance benefits or other forms of public assistance;
(4) Quality program standards for all early childhood and childcare programs;
(5) State support for early childhood and childcare programs to attain quality program standards;
(6) Economic and cultural integration of children in early childhood programs;
(7) Access to additional support services for early childhood and childcare programs, such as healthcare and nutrition services;
(8) Career development opportunities for early childhood program staff;
(9) On-going interagency planning and collaboration in regard to early childhood and child care;
(10) Parent support and education in choosing appropriate early childhood programs for their children; and
(11) State support for local leadership, program innovation, and excellence in early childhood and care programs.
(b) The Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education shall have the following duties:
(1) Administration of the Child Care and Development Block Grant and other childcare funds, state and federal, that are available to the department;
(2) Administration of the Arkansas Better Chance Program, under interagency agreement with the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education;
(3) Administration of the Arkansas Special Nutrition Program;
(4) Establishment and promulgation of rules setting standards governing the granting, revocation, refusal, and suspension of licenses for a childcare facility and the operation of childcare facilities in this state, as defined by § 20-78-202;
(5) Staff support for the operation of the Arkansas Early Childhood Commission;
(6) Provide consultative resources for the private sector in developing childcare programs;
(7) Provide consultative resources for the private sector in developing childcare facilities;
(8) Solicit grant funds for exemplary early childhood and childcare programs; and
(9) Administration of the birth through prekindergarten teaching credential and the promulgation of rules to implement the teaching credential program under § 20-78-801 et seq.
(c)
(1) In addition to any other rights, powers, functions, and duties granted by law to the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education, the department is hereby authorized to promote and cooperate in the establishment of a foundation under the Arkansas nonprofit corporation law and to accept support and assistance in the form of money, property, or otherwise from the foundation to be used to enhance quality, affordability, and availability of child care and early education for all children in the state.
(2) If a foundation is established for the early care and education of children and if the department shares resources or facilities with the foundation or accepts support and assistance from the foundation, the foundation shall file annually a report with the Governor, the Legislative Council, and the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee showing the amount and source of all gifts, grants, and donations of money or property received by the foundation and all expenditures or other dispositions of money or property by the foundation during the preceding year.
(3) After consultation with the commission, the Director of the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education shall prepare rules for the use of foundation funds. The director shall submit the proposed rules to the Legislative Council for its review.
(4) No person over whom the department has day-to-day managerial control shall receive compensation or remuneration from funds not in the State Treasury.
(d)
(1) The Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education shall create and make available on the website of the department a form and graphical chart that concisely explains the:
(A) Minimum licensing requirements for a licensed home;
(B) Minimum licensing requirements for a licensed childcare center;
(C) Procedure for obtaining licensure as a licensed home or licensed childcare center;
(D) Registration requirements for a registered childcare family home;
(E) Procedure for registering as a registered childcare family home;
(F) Voluntary registry of daycare family homes;
(G) Procedure for registering a daycare family home with the voluntary registry;
(H) Availability of federal or state funds, grants, programs, or other financial assistance, including without limitation the:
(i) Community Facilities Guaranteed Loan Program;
(ii) Community Development Block Grant;
(iii) Child and Adult Care Food Program;
(iv) Child Care and Development Block Grant;
(v) Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership Grant;
(vi) Arkansas Better Chance Program; and
(vii) Arkansas Special Nutrition Program; and
(I) Availability of a federal or state tax credit or other federal or state tax benefit, including without limitation the employer-provided child care credit that is available to taxpayers under §§ 26-51-507 and 26-51-508.
(2) The Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education shall place a form and graphical chart created in accordance with subdivision (d)(1) of this section in a conspicuous location on the website of the department.