Note: Prior ordinance history: Ords. 1614, 1620, 1629
and 1674.
The board of supervisors of the county does find that:
A.
The
voters of the state of California passed the California Children and
Families Act of 1998. The Act recognizes that there is a compelling
need in California to create and implement a comprehensive, collaborative,
and integrated system of information and services to promote, support,
and optimize early childhood development from 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.
The
Act requires that certain actions of the county are to be taken prior
to the distribution of any funds from the Act (Health and Safety Code
Section 130140). The ordinance codified in this chapter is being enacted
to implement such provisions. It is the intent of the board of supervisors
of the county to fully implement in Merced County by this chapter
the California Children and Families Act of 1998 and to do so in a
timely manner.
D.
It is
the intent of 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, and to
eliminate duplicate administrative systems.
E.
It is
further the intent of this chapter to create First 5 Merced County
and Merced County's First 5 children and families special revenue
fund in order to receive funding through the Act and to implement
the goals and objectives outlined in the California Children and Families
Act of 1998.
(Ord. 1747, 2005)
As used in this chapter:
means the California Children and Families Act of 1998.
means the Merced County board of supervisors.
means the state commission established in accordance with
Health and Safety Code Section 130110.
means First 5 Merced County established pursuant to Health
and Safety Code Section 130140.
means the plan adopted by the commission and submitted to
the California Children and Families Commission pursuant to Health
and Safety Code Section 130140.
means the First 5 children and families special revenue fund
established pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 130105.
(Ord. 1747, 2005)
There is established a commission to be known as First 5 Merced
County.
A.
The
commission has sole discretion and authority for the distribution
of Proposition 10 funds and the development of the required strategic
plan to receive funds.
B.
Pursuant
to Section 23005 of California Government Code, the board delegates
to the commission chair (who will always be a member of the board
of supervisors) to authorize the release of the commission's requests
for proposals and to execute contracts for projects supported by commission
funds, following review of written agreements by county counsel.
C.
The
board designates the director of the Merced County department of public
health to provide oversight and compliance by the commission with
Merced County policies and procedures.
(Ord. 1747, 2005)
There is established a special revenue fund to be known as the
First 5 children and families special revenue fund. Moneys allocated
to the fund shall be expended only for the purposes authorized by
the California Children and Families Act and in accordance with the
direction of the commission consistent with the Merced County strategic
plan approved by the commission. The commission shall follow the auditor-controller's
processes and procedures.
(Ord. 1747, 2005)
The commission shall consist of nine members, as follows:
A.
One
member shall be a member of the board of supervisors, and will serve
as the commission chair.
B.
One
member shall be the county health officer, one member shall be the
director of the mental health department and one member shall be the
director of the human services agency (HSA).
C.
Each
member of the board of supervisors shall appoint one member of the
commission from among the following categories: recipients of project
services included in the county strategic plan; educators specializing
in early childhood development; representatives of a local child care
resource or referral agency, or a local child care coordinating group;
representatives of a local organization for prevention or early intervention
for families at risk; representatives of community-based organizations
that have the goal of promoting, nurturing and early childhood development;
representatives of local school districts; and representatives of
local medical, pediatric, or obstetric associations or societies.
(Ord. 1747, 2005)
Commission members shall serve at the pleasure of the board
of supervisors, subject to removal by the board of supervisors at
any time without cause. The term of office of each member, except
for the board member, the county health officer, the mental health
director and the HSA director shall be for three years and until the
appointment of his/her successor.
(Ord. 1747, 2005)
A.
A vacancy
on the commission shall occur automatically on the happening of any
of the following events before the expiration of term:
B.
The
board shall make interim appointments to fill unexpired terms in the
event of vacancies occurring during the term of members of the commission.
(Ord. 1747, 2005)
The commission's meetings are subject to the open meeting law
contained in the Ralph M. Brown Act.
(Ord. 1747, 2005)
The commission shall adopt by-laws including provisions relating
to the frequency, time and place of holding meetings, conflict of
interest provisions, fiscal and personnel procedures, election of
officers and such other rules and procedures as it deems necessary
or convenient for the conduct of the commission's activities and operation.
A majority of commission members who have been appointed shall constitute
a quorum of the commission.
(Ord. 1747, 2005)
The members of the commission shall serve without compensation,
but may receive actual and necessary expenses as are authorized and
incurred in carrying out their duties.
(Ord. 1747, 2005)
The commission is charged with the following duties:
A.
To implement
the goals and objectives of the Act.
B.
To administer
the moneys in the First 5 children and families special revenue fund.
C.
The
adoption of an adequate and complete county strategic plan for the
support and improvement of early childhood development within the
county as outlined in the Act.
D.
To review
the county strategic plan on at least an annual basis, and to revise
the plan as may be necessary or appropriate.
E.
To conduct
at least one public hearing on its periodic review of the county strategic
plan before any revisions to the plan are adopted.
F.
To submit
its adopted county strategic plan, and any subsequent revisions thereto,
to the California Children and Families Commission.
G.
To prepare
and adopt an annual audit and report pursuant to Health and Safety
Code Section 130150, and conduct at least one public hearing prior
to adopting any annual audit and report.
H.
To conduct at least one public hearing on each annual report distributed by the California Children and Families Commission prepared pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 130150, subsection (b).
I.
Make
copies of all annual audits and reports available to members of the
general public on request and at no cost.
J.
To exercise
all powers, duties, and functions as are prescribed by statute and
the Merced County board of supervisors.
(Ord. 1747, 2005)
The commission shall establish an advisory committee to provide technical and professional expertise and support for any of the duties specified in Section 2.46.110 and such advisory committee shall make recommendation or reports as deemed necessary and appropriate upon the direction of the commission. The commission may create other advisory committees, as it deems necessary or appropriate.
(Ord. 1747, 2005)
