Department of Early Development and Education

A BILL TO AMEND TITLE 63 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA CHILDREN'S CODE, BY ADDING CHAPTER 10, TO CREATE THE DEPARTMENT OF EARLY DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION; TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS DIVIDED INTO TWO DIVISIONS, THE EARLY HEALTH AND WELLNESS DIVISION AND THE EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION DIVISION; TO PROVIDE THAT THE EARLY HEALTH AND WELLNESS DIVISION SHALL ADMINISTER THE BABYNET PROGRAM, THE NURSE-FAMILY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM, THE WOMEN, INFANTS, AND CHILDREN SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD PROGRAM, THE POSTPARTUM NEWBORN HOME VISIT PROGRAM FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM, AND THE QTIP FEDERAL DEMONSTRATION GRANT FUNDED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES; TO PROVIDE THAT THE EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION DIVISION SHALL ADMINISTER THE HEAD START COLLABORATION OFFICE FUNDED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, THE FIRST STEPS TO SCHOOL READINESS INITIATIVE, THE OFFICE OF EARLY LEARNING, THE ABC CHILDCARE PROGRAM FUNDED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, THE STATE CHILDCARE FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY OFFICE, THE STATE CHILDCARE LICENSING OFFICE, THE CHILD CARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL NETWORK FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL CHILDCARE DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT; AND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CHILD DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION PROGRAM, AS PROVIDED BY LAW; TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS; AND TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES TO THE 1976 CODE TO REFLECT THE CREATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EARLY DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION.