A. 
Title. This chapter shall be known as the "Children and Families First Commission Ordinance.
B. 
Scope. It is the scope of this chapter to provide for early childhood development services as set forth in the California Children and Families First Act of 1998 (the "Act").
C. 
It is the intent of this chapter to establish an independent Amador County Children and Families First Commission and to establish a local Children and Families First Trust Fund for its use.
(Ord. 1544 § 2(part), 2002)
The following definitions apply for purposes of this chapter:
A. 
"Act"
means the California Children and Families First Act of 1998.
B. 
"County commission" or "commission"
means Amador County Children and Families First Commission established by this chapter in accordance with Health and Safety Code section 130140.
C. 
"Commission's Amador County Strategic Plan"
means the plan adopted by the Amador County Children and Families First Commission and submitted to the California Children and Families First Commission pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 130140.
D. 
"Fund"
means the fund of monies established by the board of supervisors pursuant to the act entitled "The Children and Families First Fund".
E. 
"State Commission"
means the California Children and Families First Commission established in accordance with Health and Safety Code Section 130110.
(Ord. 1544 § 2(part), 2002)
There is established an Amador County Children and Families First Commission. The commission shall be a separate agency independent from the county government and shall succeed to the duties and operations of the Amador County Children and Families First Commission which, until the effective date of this chapter, was a county agency.
(Ord. 1544 § 2(part), 2002)
The commission is established to promote, support and improve the early development of children from the prenatal stage to five years of age. These purposes shall be accomplished through the establishment, institution, and coordination of appropriate standards, resources, and integrated and comprehensive programs emphasizing community awareness, education, nurturing, child care, social services, health care, and research. The commission shall fulfill Amador County's obligations set forth in the act.
(Ord. 1544 § 2(part), 2002)
The powers and duties of the commission shall be as follows. The commission shall facilitate:
A. 
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 the commission to emphasize local decision making, to provide for greater local flexibility in designing delivery systems, and to eliminate duplicate administrative systems.
B. 
The establishment of community-based programs to provide parental education and family support services relevant to effective childhood development. These services shall include education and skills training in nurturing and in avoidance of tobacco, drugs, and alcohol during pregnancy. Emphasis will be on the consolidation of existing programs and new services provided pursuant to this chapter and the act into an integrated system from the consumer's perspective.
C. 
The education of the public, using mass media, on the importance and the benefits of nurturing, health care, family support, and child care; and the providing of in formation to involved professionals and the general public about programs that focus on early childhood development.
D. 
The education of the public, using mass media, on the dangers caused by smoking and other tobacco use by pregnant women to themselves and to infants and young children, and the dangers of secondhand smoke to all children.
E. 
The encouragement of pregnant women and parents of young children to quit smoking.
(Ord. 1544 § 2(part), 2002)
The commission shall adopt an adequate and complete the Commission's Amador County Strategic Plan for the support and improvement of early childhood development within the county. The Commission's Amador County Strategic Plan shall be consistent with, and in furtherance of the purposes of, this chapter and any guidelines adopted by the State Commission that are in effect at the time the Commission's Amador County Strategic Plan is adopted.
(Ord. 1544 § 2(part), 2002)
The Commission's Amador County Strategic Plan shall, at a minimum, include the following: a description of the programs, services, and projects proposed to be provided, sponsored, or facilitated; and a description of how measurable outcomes of such programs, services, and projects will be determined by the commission using appropriate reliable indicators. The commission's Amador County Strategic Plan shall be deemed adequate or complete when the plan describes how programs, services, and projects relating to early childhood development within the county will be integrated into a consumer-oriented and easily accessible system.
(Ord. 1544 § 2(part), 2002)
The commission's duties shall be to carry out the local mandates of the act which include the mandate:
A. 
To study and investigate by means of meetings, conferences, public hearing or other appropriate means, conditions impacting services for early childhood development;
B. 
To recommend to the board of supervisors necessary programs or legislation within its jurisdiction to promote, ensure, and protect services which enhance early childhood development;
C. 
As deemed appropriate by the commission, to prepare and submit to the board of supervisors a report or reports of commission activities;
D. 
To solicit and accept funds from federal and state governmental agencies for the carrying out of the purposes outlined in this chapter. The commission may also, with the consent of its governing board, accept gifts, donations and grant awards from any source for the carrying out of its functions.
(Ord. 1544 § 2(part), 2002)
Upon the effective date of this chapter, the county shall turn over to the commission all monies in the fund. The fund shall thereafter be under the sole control of the commission. The board of supervisors shall have no jurisdiction over the fund. All monies deposited in the fund shall be appropriated and expended by the commission only for the purposes expressed in the act and used only to supplement existing levels of service and not to fund existing levels of service. No monies in the fund shall be used to supplant state or county general fund money for any purpose. In addition, county general funds shall not be used to support commission activities without the express consent of the board of supervisors.
(Ord. 1544 § 2(part), 2002)
The commission shall have all the powers of an independent agency as set forth in the act. The commission may contract with the county for services or facilities as the parties deem appropriate. The commission's employees shall not be county employees and shall receive no compensation or benefits therefrom unless a contract therefor is formed between the commission and the county.
(Ord. 1544 § 2(part), 2002)