The powers and duties of the state commission shall include, but are not limited to, the following:
(a) Providing for statewide dissemination of public information and educational materials to members of the general public and to professionals for the purpose of developing appropriate awareness and knowledge regarding the promotion, support, and improvement of early childhood development.
(b) Adopting guidelines for an integrated and comprehensive statewide program of promoting, supporting, and improving early childhood development that enhances the intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development of children in California.
(1) The state commission’s guidelines shall, at a minimum, address the following matters:
(A) Parental education and support services in all areas required for, and relevant to, informed and healthy parenting. Examples of parental education shall include, but are not limited to, prenatal and postnatal infant and maternal nutrition, education and training in newborn and infant care and nurturing for optimal early childhood development, parenting and other necessary skills, child abuse prevention, and avoidance of tobacco, drugs, and alcohol during pregnancy. Examples of parental support services shall include, but are not limited to, family support centers offering an integrated system of services required for the development and maintenance of self-sufficiency, domestic violence prevention and treatment, tobacco and other substance abuse control and treatment, voluntary intervention for families at risk, and any other prevention and family services and counseling critical to successful early childhood development.
(B) The availability and provision of high quality, accessible, and affordable child care, both in-home and at child care facilities, that emphasizes education, training and qualifications of care providers, increased availability and access to child care facilities, resource and referral services, technical assistance for caregivers, and financial and other assistance to ensure appropriate child care for all households.
(C) The provision of child health care services that emphasize prevention, diagnostic screenings, and treatment not covered by other programs; and the provision of prenatal and postnatal maternal health care services that emphasize prevention, immunizations, nutrition, treatment of tobacco and other substance abuse, general health screenings, and treatment services not covered by other programs.
(2) The state commission shall conduct at least one public hearing on its proposed guidelines before they are adopted.
(3) The state commission shall, on at least an annual basis, periodically review its adopted guidelines and revise them as may be necessary or appropriate.
(c) Defining the results to be achieved by the adopted guidelines, and collecting and analyzing data to measure progress toward attaining these results.
(d) Providing for independent research, including the evaluation of any relevant programs, to identify the best standards and practices for optimal early childhood development, and establishing and monitoring demonstration projects.
(e) Soliciting input regarding program policy and direction from individuals and entities with experience in early childhood development, facilitating the exchange of information between these individuals and entities, and assisting in the coordination of the services of public and private agencies to deal more effectively with early childhood development.
(f) Providing technical assistance to county commissions in adopting and implementing county strategic plans for early childhood development.
(g) Reviewing and considering the annual audits and reports transmitted by the county commissions and, following a public hearing, adopting a written report that consolidates, summarizes, analyzes, and comments on those annual audits and reports.
(h) Applying for gifts, grants, donations, or contributions of money, property, facilities, or services from any person, corporation, foundation, or other entity, or from the state or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or from the federal government or any agency or instrumentality thereof, in furtherance of a statewide program of early childhood development.
(i) Entering into any contracts and allocating funds to county commissions as necessary or appropriate to carry out the provisions and purposes of this act.
(j) Making recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature for changes in state laws, regulations, and services necessary or appropriate to carry out an integrated and comprehensive program of early childhood development in an effective and cost-efficient manner.
(Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 245, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2003. Note: This section was added on Nov. 3, 1998, by initiative Prop. 10.)