(a) Definition. In this Section, Officer means the Child Care and Early Education Officer.
(b) The County Executive must designate an employee in the Department of Health and Human Services to serve as a Child Care and Early Education Officer. Among other duties, the Officer must:
(1) promote coordination and collaboration among county agencies and departments to expand child care opportunities throughout the County;
(2) monitor and support the coordination between the Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of Community Use of Public Facilities to administer the selection of providers in public space, including in Montgomery County Public School facilities, to the extent authorized by State law;
(3) monitor and support the implementation of the Child Care Expansion and Quality Enhancement Initiative described in Section
10A-2;
(4) provide staff support for the Early Childhood Coordinating Council established in Section
10A-3;
(5) monitor and support the implementation of the Early Childhood Initiative as developed by the Coordinating Council;
(6) serve as a liaison between County government and the public on child care-related issues; and
(7) prepare a Strategic Plan for Child Care by [1 year from date of enactment] that includes:
(A) specific goals and implementation strategies for improving early childhood services and child care provider assistance and counseling;
(B) planning for new child care services in public space, including in public school projects;
(C) planning for expansion of child care space through public-private partnerships;
(D) research on the supply, demand, and affordability of child care throughout the County;
(E) a plan for a countywide universal child care and preschool program that provides every child an opportunity to participate in a high-quality preschool, early care, and education program; and
(F) a plan to improve readiness for children entering kindergarten through enhanced early care and education services.
(c) Annual report. By February 1 each year, the Officer must submit to the County Council and County Executive an annual report on:
(1) its activities, accomplishments, plans, and objectives;
(2) the implementation of the Child Care Expansion and Quality Enhancement Initiative, including the number of family child care providers serviced and types of services provided;
(3) steps taken to implement the Strategic Plan for Child Care, Early Care, and Education in the preceding year; and
(4) the activities, accomplishments, plans, and objectives of the Early Childhood Coordinating Council, including implementation of the Early Childhood Initiative. (, § 2.)
