A. There is hereby re-created until July 1, 2021, in accordance with the Oklahoma Sunset Law, the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness Board. The Board shall promote school readiness supporting community-based efforts to increase the number of children who are ready to succeed by the time they enter school. The Board shall additionally serve as the state's Early Childhood Advisory Council and fulfill the responsibilities described in the Head Start Act of 2007 (PL 110-134, Section 642B). The Board shall consist of representatives from the private and public sectors as follows:

1. Fifteen private sector representatives appointed by the Governor from a list submitted by an existing private-sector school readiness initiative that includes in its focus community mobilization and public engagement activities to include:

a.two parents of children eight (8) years of age or younger, and

b.one representative of licensed child care providers;

2. One representative of the licensed child care industry appointed by the Governor from a list submitted by an association representing the licensed child care industry in this state;

3. One representative of a state association of federally funded early childhood programs appointed by the Governor; and

4. To ensure that existing resources are being utilized effectively, fifteen public sector representatives or their designees as follows:

a.State Superintendent of Public Instruction,

b.State Commissioner of Health,

c.Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services,

d.Director of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce,

e.Director of the Oklahoma Department of Libraries,

f.Director of the Department of Human Services,

g.Administrator of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority,

h.Director of the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth,

i.Director of the State Department of Rehabilitation Services,

j.Executive Director of the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority,

k.Director of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education,

l.Chancellor of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education,

m.Cabinet Secretary with responsibility for education agencies,

n.Dean of the College of Human Environmental Sciences, Oklahoma State University, and

o.State Director of Head Start Collaboration.

B. Members appointed by the Governor shall serve terms of four (4) years; provided, of those members initially appointed to the Board, eight members shall be appointed for two-year terms, beginning September 1, 2003, and seven members shall be appointed for four-year terms, beginning September 1, 2003, as designated by the Governor. The member appointed pursuant to paragraph 2 of subsection A of this section shall be appointed for an initial term to end on August 31, 2007. The member appointed pursuant to paragraph 3 of subsection A of this section shall be appointed for an initial term to end on August 31, 2009. Appointed members shall continue in office until a successor is appointed by the Governor. The Governor shall fill all vacancies in the same manner as the original appointment was made.

C. The Director of the Department of Human Services shall convene an organizational meeting of the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness Board prior to November 1, 2003, at which time members of the Board shall elect a chair, a vice-chair, and other officers as needed. A majority of the members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

D. Members of the Board shall receive no compensation for serving on the Board but shall receive travel reimbursement as follows:

1. State agency officers and employees who are members of the Board shall be reimbursed for travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties by their respective agencies in accordance with the State Travel Reimbursement Act; and

2. Remaining members shall be reimbursed by the Board from any funds received by the Board for travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with the State Travel Reimbursement Act.

E. Members of the Board shall be exempt from the dual-office-holding provisions of Section 6 of Title 51 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

Added by Laws 2003, c. 121, § 3, emerg. eff. April 22, 2003. Amended by Laws 2004, c. 66, § 1, emerg. eff. April 7, 2004; Laws 2007, c. 111, § 1, emerg. eff. May 8, 2007; Laws 2009, c. 15, § 1; Laws 2010, c. 284, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2010; Laws 2013, c. 44, § 1; Laws 2017, c. 296, § 1.