KRS 200.700: Early Childhood Advisory Council -- Membership -- Meetings.

(1) The Early Childhood Advisory Council is established as a public agency and

political subdivision of the Commonwealth with all powers, duties, and

responsibilities conferred upon it by statute and essential to perform its

functions including but not limited to employing other persons, consultants,

attorneys, and agents. The council shall be attached to the Education and

Labor Cabinet for administrative purposes and shall establish necessary

advisory councils. The secretary of the Education and Labor Cabinet or the

secretary's designee shall be the appointing authority for the council pursuant

to KRS Chapter 18A. The council shall have the ability to make expenditures

from the early childhood development fund and shall ensure that expenditures

made from the early childhood development fund are in conformance with its

duties as established by the General Assembly.

(2) The council shall be headed by an executive director appointed by the

Governor pursuant to KRS 12.040. The executive director shall report to the

secretary of the Education and Labor Cabinet or the secretary's designee.

(3) The council shall consist of the following twenty-six (26) members:

(a) The state director of Head Start Collaboration;

(b) The secretary of the Education and Labor Cabinet or designee;

(c) The secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services or designee;

(d) One (1) nonvoting ex officio member from the House of Representatives

who shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Speaker of the

House;

(e) One (1) nonvoting ex officio member from the Senate who shall be

appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the President of the Senate;

(f) Six (6) private sector members knowledgeable about the health, mental

health, education, and development of prenatal to school entry children

who shall be appointed by the Governor. One (1) private sector member

shall be appointed from each congressional district;

(g) Seven (7) citizens at large of the Commonwealth who shall be appointed

by the Governor;

(h) One (1) early childhood development advocate who shall be appointed by

the Governor;

(i) One (1) member representing higher education with expertise in early

childhood who shall be appointed by the Governor; and

(j) Six (6) members appointed by the Governor, including one (1) member

from a Head Start program located in the state, one (1) member from a

local education agency, one (1) member from the state agency

responsible for education, one (1) member from the state agency

responsible for child care, one (1) member from the state agency

responsible for Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

(IDEA), and one (1) member from the state agency for health and mental

health.

(4) (a) The initial terms of the private sector and citizen-at-large members of the

council shall be for:

1. One (1) year for five (5) of the initial terms;

2. Two (2) years for five (5) of the initial terms;

3. Three (3) years for six (6) of the initial terms; and

4. Four (4) years for five (5) of the initial appointments.

(b) All succeeding appointments shall be for four (4) years from the

expiration date of the preceding appointment. The private and

citizen-at-large members shall serve no more than two (2) full successive

terms. A term shall expire on June 30 in the appropriate year.

(c) Members shall serve until a successor has been appointed. If a vacancy

on the council occurs, the Governor shall appoint a replacement for the

remainder of the unexpired term except for the members appointed by the

Speaker of the House and President of the Senate.

(d) The members and nonmember appointees of the council shall comply

with the gift and conflict of interest statutes in KRS Chapter 11A. Any

conflict of interest issue shall be submitted to the Executive Branch Ethics

Commission for resolution.

(e) The Governor shall appoint the chair of the council from the private sector

or citizen-at-large membership.

(f) The chair may appoint nonmembers of the council to committees or

workgroups.

(5) Private sector and citizen-at-large members and nonmembers appointed to a

committee or workgroup shall serve without compensation but shall be

reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses in accordance with state

travel expenses and reimbursement administrative regulations.

(6) In making appointments to the council, the Governor shall assure broad

geographical, ethnic, and gender diversity representation from the major

sectors of Kentucky's early childhood development community. In filling

vacancies, the Governor shall attempt to assure the continuing representation

on the council of broad constituencies of Kentucky's early childhood

development community.

(7) The council shall meet at least quarterly and at other times upon call of the

chair or a majority of the council.

(8) Members of the council shall serve on a voluntary basis and be reimbursed for

their expenses in accordance with state travel expense and reimbursement

administrative regulations.