MCCTF Agenda 10/6/99

MCCTF October 6, 1999
Meeting Minutes

I. Opening Business:

A. The meeting was called to order at 9:43 a.m. and opened with introductions.
B. The agenda was approved.

II. Ready to Succeed Dialogue with Michigan: Representatives Godchaux and LaForge

A. Representative Godchaux reviewed the state level organization of the Ready to Succeed Dialogue with Michigan, and explained the bipartisan, bicameral legislative Children's Caucus.
B. Representatives Godchaux and LaForge proposed that 1) the Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children be the fiduciary for the Ready to Succeed Dialogue with Michigan, and 2) a planning committee be appointed to oversee the merger of the "Ready to Learn Dialogue with Michigan" with the state-level organization called "Ready to Succeed Dialogue with Michigan."

1. The task force approved both proposals; see appendix A for the text of the resolutions.

III. Presentation by Kathy Wilbur, Director, Michigan Department of Consumer and Industry Services

A. Ms. Wilbur outlined the function of DCIS and the DCIS position on the Governor's proposed rules changes for child care centers.
B. An account of this presentation is attached as Appendix B.

V. Discussion with Kathy Wilbur

A. Ms. Wilbur responded to questions from the task force.
B. An account of this discussion is attached as Appendix C.
C. After Ms. Wilbur departed, further discussion led to the generation of topics which MCCTF members wish to be included in a letter to DCIS. The Letter will be drafted by the Child Care Planning Group, with Mark Sullivan leading the effort.

V. Business of the task force:

A. Task force leadership &emdash; Members of the task force agreed that Steve Manchester and Erin McGovern will co-chair the task force for the next twelve months.
B. School Readiness report &emdash; Lindy Buch reported that the senate took up a bill that would change the kindergarten entry age from five on or before December first to five on or before September first. This bill also has amendments that include pushing the entry date back one month per year for three years, and performing a "readiness assessment" for children born in September through December who wish to enter kindergarten before the entry date cutoff. Lindy also announced that the Department of Education hopes to go to the State Board of Education with full day school readiness applications in November.

VI. Closing Business:

A. Next month's meeting will feature Marjorie Kostelnik, Chair of the MSU department of Family and Child Ecology and a discussion about the task force's mission and vision.
B. Next month's meeting will take place at 9:30 a.m. on November 3 at the Michigan State Library, Lake HURON room.
C. The meeting was adjourned at 12:04 p.m.

MCCTF Minutes Appendix A: Text of Resolutions

Approval of the Fiduciary for the Ready to Learn Dialogue with Michigan Established under P.A. 135 of 1999, Section 641

Pursuant to P.A. 135 of 1999, section 641, passed by the Michigan Legislature and approved by Governor John Engler, the Michigan Child Care Task Force at its meeting on October 6, 1999, approves, as the fiduciary for the Ready to Learn Leadership Summit established under said statutory section, the Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children (MiAEYC). Furthermore, MiAEYC may receive, as a grant, funds appropriated under section 641 for purposes of implementing the section. Approval by the Michigan Child Care Task Force for MiAEYC to serve as fiduciary for the Ready to Learn Leadership Summit and to receive a grant of the funds appropriated under section 641 shall take effect only if the planning committee established under that section also approves the same.

This motion was passed by the Michigan Child Care Task Force on Wednesday, October 6, 1999.

________________________ Recording Secretary for the Meeting

________________________ State Representative Patricia Godchaux

________________________ State Representative Ed LaForge

Formation of the Ready to Learn Dialogue with Michigan Planning Committee Established under P.A. 135 of 1999, Section 641

Pursuant to P.A. 135 of 1999, section 641, passed by the Michigan Legislature and approved by Governor John Engler, the Michigan Child Care Task Force at its meeting on October 6, 1999, appoints the planning committee established under said statutory section as follows: It shall be comprised of a representative from the four organizations that compose the Child Care Task Force Planning Group, which are the Michigan 4C Association, the Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children, the Michigan Head Start Association and Michigan's Children. This planning committee shall merge its work and the money allocated for the Ready to Learn Dialogue with Michigan with the Ready to Succeed Dialogue with Michigan project proposed by Representatives Patricia Godchaux and Ed LaForge at the Michigan Child Care Task Force meeting of October 6, 1999. In carrying out this merger, the planning committee shall assure that obligations set out in subsections (3) and (5) of PA 135 of 1999, section 641, are met. The planning committee shall report on these matters to the Michigan Child Care Task Force at least once every three months beginning no later than December, 1999.

This motion was passed by the Michigan Child Care Task Force on Wednesday, October 6, 1999.

________________________ Recording Secretary for the Meeting

________________________ State Representative Patricia Godchaux

________________________ State Representative Ed LaForge

MCCTF Minutes Appendix B: Review of presentation by Kathy Wilbur, Michigan Department of Consumer and Industry Services Director

• DCIS regulates all licensure except fishing and drivers' licenses

• DCIS views rules as one part of the entire process that is a regulatory system

• Of the human services DCIS regulates, child care is the largest sector

• Child care is the sector with the fewest "major problems," i.e. revocation or suspension of license: .5 of 1% of these problems are from child care

• DCIS regulates 21,000 licensed providers and 4,760 licensed centers, which provide 350,000 spaces for children. 229,389 of those spaces are in child care centers.

• Rules governing the licensure of child care centers are a result of Public Act 116 of 1973, and were designed to carry out "legislative intent"

• DCIS feels that "rules provide consistency and lessen subjectivity"

• DCIS is required to review the rules every five years

• DCIS feels that the proposed rules:

• Increase fire safety standards,
• Increase play equipment standards,
• Update nutrition standards,
• Build flexibility and consistency into the rules themselves.

• The proposed rules are draft, and DCIS will incorporate changes generated through public testimony

• The DCIS process for implementing new rules:

• Open process
• Circulate draft of proposed rules to child care centers
• Post notice of public hearings in twelve newspapers state wide
• Accept comments in writing and via email
• Incorporate comments into the draft rules

• To contact DCIS:

Director's Office: 517.373.7230
Policy Office: 517.373.9280
Website: www.cis.state.mi.us
Kathy.Wilbur@cis.state.mi.us
Norene.Lind@cis.state.mi.us

Michigan Child Care Task Force, October 6 1999 Appendix C: Review of Discussion with Kathy Wilbur Michigan Department of Consumer and Industry Services Director

MCCTF members voiced the following concerns about the proposed rules:

• Special education programs are excluded and should be included.

• Prescriptive language is missing from proposed rules.

• Health and safety of children is at risk--ask any health care professional.

• What qualifications will the licensing consultant who reviews each individual center's plan have? How will DCIS assure that the consultants have ample time and resources to review the plans?

• Rules should be clear and enforceable, otherwise there is a high cost to the state and business owners.

• Will there be liability insurance or protection for providers?

• Must consider short vs. long term outcomes; this plan may look good on paper but it is logistically flawed. This system will be costly and harmful to providers.

• If noncompliance is low and provider complaints are not related to licensing paperwork, why overhaul the rules?

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MCCTF October 6, 1999 Meeting Minutes
I. Opening Business:
	A. The meeting was called to order at 9:43 a.m. and opened with introductions. B. The agenda was approved.
II. Ready to Succeed Dialogue with Michigan: Representatives Godchaux and LaForge
	A. Representative Godchaux reviewed the state level organization of the Ready to Succeed Dialogue with Michigan, and explained the bipartisan, bicameral legislative Children's Caucus. B. Representatives Godchaux and LaForge proposed that 1) the Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children be the fiduciary for the Ready to Succeed Dialogue with Michigan, and 2) a planning committee be appointed to oversee the merger of the "Ready to Learn Dialogue with Michigan" with the state-level organization called "Ready to Succeed Dialogue with Michigan."
		1. The task force approved both proposals; see appendix A for the text of the resolutions.
III. Presentation by Kathy Wilbur, Director, Michigan Department of Consumer and Industry Services
	A. Ms. Wilbur outlined the function of DCIS and the DCIS position on the Governor's proposed rules changes for child care centers. B. An account of this presentation is attached as Appendix B.
V. Discussion with Kathy Wilbur
	A. Ms. Wilbur responded to questions from the task force. B. An account of this discussion is attached as Appendix C. C. After Ms. Wilbur departed, further discussion led to the generation of topics which MCCTF members wish to be included in a letter to DCIS. The Letter will be drafted by the Child Care Planning Group, with Mark Sullivan leading the effort.
V. Business of the task force:
	A. Task force leadership &emdash; Members of the task force agreed that Steve Manchester and Erin McGovern will co-chair the task force for the next twelve months. B. School Readiness report &emdash; Lindy Buch reported that the senate took up a bill that would change the kindergarten entry age from five on or before December first to five on or before September first. This bill also has amendments that include pushing the entry date back one month per year for three years, and performing a "readiness assessment" for children born in September through December who wish to enter kindergarten before the entry date cutoff. Lindy also announced that the Department of Education hopes to go to the State Board of Education with full day school readiness applications in November.
VI. Closing Business:
	A. Next month's meeting will feature Marjorie Kostelnik, Chair of the MSU department of Family and Child Ecology and a discussion about the task force's mission and vision. B. Next month's meeting will take place at 9:30 a.m. on November 3 at the Michigan State Library, Lake HURON room. C. The meeting was adjourned at 12:04 p.m.





MCCTF Minutes Appendix A: Text of Resolutions
		Approval of the Fiduciary for the Ready to Learn Dialogue with Michigan Established under P.A. 135 of 1999, Section 641 Pursuant to P.A. 135 of 1999, section 641, passed by the Michigan Legislature and approved by Governor John Engler, the Michigan Child Care Task Force at its meeting on October 6, 1999, approves, as the fiduciary for the Ready to Learn Leadership Summit established under said statutory section, the Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children (MiAEYC). Furthermore, MiAEYC may receive, as a grant, funds appropriated under section 641 for purposes of implementing the section. Approval by the Michigan Child Care Task Force for MiAEYC to serve as fiduciary for the Ready to Learn Leadership Summit and to receive a grant of the funds appropriated under section 641 shall take effect only if the planning committee established under that section also approves the same. This motion was passed by the Michigan Child Care Task Force on Wednesday, October 6, 1999. ________________________ Recording Secretary for the Meeting ________________________ State Representative Patricia Godchaux ________________________ State Representative Ed LaForge Formation of the Ready to Learn Dialogue with Michigan Planning Committee Established under P.A. 135 of 1999, Section 641 Pursuant to P.A. 135 of 1999, section 641, passed by the Michigan Legislature and approved by Governor John Engler, the Michigan Child Care Task Force at its meeting on October 6, 1999, appoints the planning committee established under said statutory section as follows: It shall be comprised of a representative from the four organizations that compose the Child Care Task Force Planning Group, which are the Michigan 4C Association, the Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children, the Michigan Head Start Association and Michigan's Children. This planning committee shall merge its work and the money allocated for the Ready to Learn Dialogue with Michigan with the Ready to Succeed Dialogue with Michigan project proposed by Representatives Patricia Godchaux and Ed LaForge at the Michigan Child Care Task Force meeting of October 6, 1999. In carrying out this merger, the planning committee shall assure that obligations set out in subsections (3) and (5) of PA 135 of 1999, section 641, are met. The planning committee shall report on these matters to the Michigan Child Care Task Force at least once every three months beginning no later than December, 1999. This motion was passed by the Michigan Child Care Task Force on Wednesday, October 6, 1999. ________________________ Recording Secretary for the Meeting ________________________ State Representative Patricia Godchaux ________________________ State Representative Ed LaForge


MCCTF Minutes Appendix B: Review of presentation by Kathy Wilbur, Michigan Department of Consumer and Industry Services Director
	• DCIS regulates all licensure except fishing and drivers' licenses • DCIS views rules as one part of the entire process that is a regulatory system • Of the human services DCIS regulates, child care is the largest sector • Child care is the sector with the fewest "major problems," i.e. revocation or suspension of license: .5 of 1% of these problems are from child care • DCIS regulates 21,000 licensed providers and 4,760 licensed centers, which provide 350,000 spaces for children. 229,389 of those spaces are in child care centers. • Rules governing the licensure of child care centers are a result of Public Act 116 of 1973, and were designed to carry out "legislative intent" • DCIS feels that "rules provide consistency and lessen subjectivity" • DCIS is required to review the rules every five years • DCIS feels that the proposed rules:
		• Increase fire safety standards, • Increase play equipment standards, • Update nutrition standards, • Build flexibility and consistency into the rules themselves.
	• The proposed rules are draft, and DCIS will incorporate changes generated through public testimony • The DCIS process for implementing new rules:
		• Open process • Circulate draft of proposed rules to child care centers • Post notice of public hearings in twelve newspapers state wide • Accept comments in writing and via email • Incorporate comments into the draft rules
	• To contact DCIS:
		Director's Office: 517.373.7230 Policy Office: 517.373.9280 Website: www.cis.state.mi.us Kathy.Wilbur@cis.state.mi.us Norene.Lind@cis.state.mi.us


Michigan Child Care Task Force, October 6 1999 Appendix C: Review of Discussion with Kathy Wilbur Michigan Department of Consumer and Industry Services Director
	MCCTF members voiced the following concerns about the proposed rules:
		• Special education programs are excluded and should be included. • Prescriptive language is missing from proposed rules. • Health and safety of children is at risk--ask any health care professional. • What qualifications will the licensing consultant who reviews each individual center's plan have? How will DCIS assure that the consultants have ample time and resources to review the plans? • Rules should be clear and enforceable, otherwise there is a high cost to the state and business owners. • Will there be liability insurance or protection for providers? • Must consider short vs. long term outcomes; this plan may look good on paper but it is logistically flawed. This system will be costly and harmful to providers. • If noncompliance is low and provider complaints are not related to licensing paperwork, why overhaul the rules?


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