(a)

(1) There is hereby established the Arkansas Early Childhood Commission, to be composed of eleven (11) members.

(2) The Chair of the Arkansas Early Childhood Commission shall be selected annually by majority vote of the commission.

(b) The following members of the commission shall be appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate:

(1) One (1) member affiliated with childcare provider agencies, organizations, or programs;

(2) One (1) member affiliated with the Arkansas Head Start State Collaboration Office;

(3) One (1) member affiliated with a Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters program;

(4) One (1) member employed as an administrator by a public school district;

(5) One (1) member who is a parent of a child who attends a childcare program;

(6) One (1) member who is a clinical provider of childhood behavioral and mental health services specializing in prevention and early intervention; and

(7) One (1) member representing the Arkansas Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, Council of Deans.

(c) The members identified in subsection (b) of this section shall serve three-year terms.

(d) The remaining membership shall consist of:

(1) The Chair of the Subcommittee on Children and Youth of the House Committee on Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs or his or her designee;

(2) The Chair of the Senate Interim Committee on Children and Youth or his or her designee;

(3) The Chair of the House Committee on Education or his or her designee; and

(4) The Chair of the Senate Committee on Education or his or her designee.

(e)

(1) The commission shall meet at least quarterly and at such other times as may be deemed necessary for the performance of the duties of the commission.

(2) Special meetings of the commission may be called by the chair or by agreement of a majority of the members of the commission.

(f)

(1) The members of the commission shall serve without compensation or per diem but shall be entitled to reimbursement for actual expenses incurred in the performance of duties as members of the commission. Expense reimbursement shall be in accordance with state travel and official business expense reimbursement procedures and regulations.

(2) Expense reimbursement shall be paid from funds appropriated to the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education of the Department of Human Services for this purpose.

(g) The commission shall report annually to the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education as set out in § 20-78-502.