Sec. 2-40. - Establishment of children's commission.

There is hereby established the "First 5 Kings County Children and Families Commission" (hereinafter referred to as the 'children's commission') in the County of Kings. The children's commission is a county agency with independent authority over the strategic plan described in Kings County Code of Ordinances section 2-45 and the First 5 Kings County Children and Families Trust Fund described in Kings County Code of Ordinances section 2-50.

(Ord. No. 578, § 1, 1-29-98; Ord. No. 578.1, § 1, 10-5-99; Ord. No. 578.2, § 1, 11-14-00; Ord. No. 609, § 1, 4-2-02; Ord. No. 609.2, § 1, 4-8-03)

Sec. 2-41. - Purposes of the children's commission.

The purposes of the children's commission are to work with the California Children and Families Commission (hereinafter referred to as the "state commission") in the implementation of the "California Children and Families First Act of 1998" (hereinafter referred to as the "Act"), which was enacted by the California electorate as Proposition 10 at the November 3, 1998 general election (See Health and Safety Code Sections 130100 et seq. and Revenue and Taxation Code Sections 30131 et seq.), and to develop and adopt an adequate and complete county strategic plan for the support and improvement of early childhood development within Kings County.

(Ord. No. 578, § 1, 1-29-98; Ord. No. 578.1, § 2, 10-5-99; Ord. No. 609, § 1, 4-2-02)

Sec. 2-42. - Children's commission composition.

The children's commission shall be comprised of the following seven members:

(1)

One member of the board of supervisors as appointed by the board.

(2)

The Director of the Kings County Human Services Agency, or his or her designee.

(3)

The Kings County Health Director, or his or her designee.

(4)

The Director of Kings County Mental Health Services, or his or her designee.

(5)

The Kings County Superintendent of Schools, or his or her designee.

(6)

The two remaining members shall be appointed by the board of supervisors from 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 resources 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. The original appointment of members under this subsection, and any appointment to fill a vacancy in the office of any such member, shall be subject to the provisions of the Maddy Local Appointive List Act of 1975, commencing at Government Code Section 54970.

Prior to assigning a designee to serve on the children's commission under subsections (b), (c), or (d) above, the county official responsible for making the designation shall notify the county administrative officer and the chairperson of the children's commission in writing of the proposed designation.

(Ord. No. 578, § 1, 1-29-98; Ord. No. 609, § 1, 4-2-02; Ord. No. 608.3, § 1, 9-16-03)

Sec. 2-43. - Children's commission members' terms of office.

The terms of office of the commission members designated in subsections (1) through (7) of section 2-42 above shall be indefinite. Designees appointed by an officer listed in subsections (2), (3), (4), (6), or (7) of section 2-42 shall serve at the will and the discretion of the respective designating officer. The two members appointed by the board of supervisors under the provisions of subsection (8) of section 2-42 shall serve four-year terms, with one of the two first appointed members serving only a two-year term as designated by the board of supervisors, so that those two members shall serve staggered terms. Any vacancy in the office of a member appointed under subsection (8) shall be filled by appointment by the board of supervisors and shall be for the remainder of the unexpired term of the vacating member.

(Ord. No. 578, § 1, 1-29-98; Ord. No. 609, § 1, 4-2-02)

Sec. 2-44. - Children's commission procedures and by-laws.

(a)

Procedures. The children's commission shall meet as and when necessary, but no less than annually. A quorum must be present for the transaction of the business of the children's commission, and a majority of the total membership of the children's commission shall constitute a quorum. Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, the children's commission may take action by the affirmative vote of a majority of a quorum. The children's commission meetings and procedures shall be subject to the requirements of the Ralph M. Brown Act (Government Code Section 54950 et seq.).

(b)

Bylaws. The children's commission shall adopt bylaws for its own governance and procedures.

(Ord. No. 578, § 1, 1-29-98; Ord. No. 578.1, § 3, 10-5-99; Ord. No. 609, § 1, 4-2-02)

Sec. 2-45. - Strategic plan for early childhood development.

(a)

Adoption. The children's commission has independent authority over the development and adoption of a "First 5 Kings County Strategic Plan for the Improvement of Early Childhood Development" (hereinafter referred to as the "plan"). The approval of the plan by the children's commission, and any subsequent approval of a modification or amendment to the plan, must be by a majority of all the membership of the children's commission. The children's commission shall hold a public hearing on the proposed plan. Notice of the public hearing shall be published one time in a newspaper of general circulation in the county at least ten days prior to the hearing. The children's commission may submit the proposed plan to the board of supervisors for its review and comment. The board of supervisors may make recommendations regarding the plan which the children's commission may consider and incorporate prior to final adoption of the plan.

(b)

Review of the plan. After adoption of the plan, the children's commission shall review the plan on an annual basis in order to revise the plan as may be necessary or appropriate. The children's commission shall hold a public hearing that meets the procedural requirements set forth in subsection (a) above and may submit any proposed revisions of the plan to the board for its review and comments prior to final adoption.

(Ord. No. 578, § 1, 1-29-98; Ord. No. 578.1, § 4, 10-5-99; Ord. No. 578.2, § 2, 11-14-00; Ord. No. 609, § 1, 4-2-02; Ord. No. 609.2, § 2, 4-8-03)

Sec. 2-46. - Annual audit.

Prior to October 15 of each year subsequent to the adoption of the plan, the children's commission shall prepare and adopt for the prior fiscal year an audit and report on the implementation of the plan and performance under the Act. The audit and report shall meet the requirements of Section 130150 of the Health and Safety Code. Prior to the adoption of the annual audit and report, the children's commission shall hold a public hearing that meets the procedural requirements of subsection (a) of section 2-44 above. The annual audit and report shall be submitted to the state commission.

(Ord. No. 578, § 1, 1-29-98; Ord. No. 609, § 1, 4-2-02)

Sec. 2-47. - State commission annual audit and report.

Subsequent to the receipt of the state commission annual audit and report prepared pursuant to Section 130150 of the Health and Safety Code, the children's commission shall conduct a public hearing on the state commission's annual audit and report.

(Ord. No. 578, § 1, 1-29-98; Ord. No. 609, § 1, 4-2-02)

Sec. 2-48. - Staff.

The children's commission and Kings County may enter into a memorandum of understanding to provide the commission with services and staffing.

(Ord. No. 578, § 1, 1-29-98; Ord. No. 578.1, § 5, 10-5-99; Ord. No. 609, § 1, 4-2-02)

Sec. 2-49. - Advisory committee.

The children's commission may establish advisory committees to provide technical and professional expertise and other support if the children's commission determines that an advisory committee will be beneficial in accomplishing the purposes of the Act. The children's commission may elect to utilize an existing Kings County committee or commission as an advisory committee.

(Ord. No. 578, § 1, 1-29-98; Ord. No. 578.1, § 6, 10-5-99; Ord. No. 609, § 1, 4-2-02; Ord. No. 609.1, § 1, 5-21-02)

Sec. 2-50. - Trust fund.

There is hereby established in the Kings County Treasury the "First 5 Kings County Children and Families Trust Fund" (hereinafter referred to as the 'trust fund'), into which shall be deposited monies received from the state under the Act. The children's commission has independent authority over the monies in the trust fund, which shall be administered and expended only for the purposes authorized by the Act and in accordance with the plan.

(Ord. No. 578, § 1, 1-29-98; Ord. No. 578.1, § 7, 10-5-99; Ord. No. 578.2, § 3, 11-14-00; Ord. No. 609, § 1, 4-2-02; Ord. No. 609.2, § 3, 4-8-03)

Secs. 2-51—2-70. - Reserved.