(1) The responsibilities of the commission include: (a) supporting Utah parents and families, who have family members that are in early childhood, by providing comprehensive and accurate information regarding the availability of voluntary services that are available to children in early childhood from state agencies and other private and public entities; (b) facilitating improved coordination between state agencies and community partners that provide services to children in early childhood; (c) sharing and analyzing information regarding early childhood issues in the state; (d) developing and coordinating a comprehensive delivery system of services for children in early childhood that addresses the following four areas: (i) family support and safety; (ii) health and development; (iii) early learning; and (iv) economic development; and (e) identifying opportunities for and barriers to the alignment of standards, rules, policies, and procedures across programs and agencies that support children in early childhood.

(a) supporting Utah parents and families, who have family members that are in early childhood, by providing comprehensive and accurate information regarding the availability of voluntary services that are available to children in early childhood from state agencies and other private and public entities;

(b) facilitating improved coordination between state agencies and community partners that provide services to children in early childhood;

(c) sharing and analyzing information regarding early childhood issues in the state;

(d) developing and coordinating a comprehensive delivery system of services for children in early childhood that addresses the following four areas: (i) family support and safety; (ii) health and development; (iii) early learning; and (iv) economic development; and

(i) family support and safety;

(ii) health and development;

(iii) early learning; and

(iv) economic development; and

(e) identifying opportunities for and barriers to the alignment of standards, rules, policies, and procedures across programs and agencies that support children in early childhood.

(2) To fulfill the responsibilities described in Subsection (1), the commission shall: (a) directly engage with parents, families, community members, and public and private service providers to identify and address: (i) the quality, effectiveness, and availability of existing services for children in early childhood and the coordination of those services; (ii) gaps and barriers to entry in the provision of services for children in early childhood; and (iii) community-based solutions in improving the quality, effectiveness, and availability of services for children in early childhood; (b) seek regular and ongoing feedback from a wide range of entities and individuals that use or provide services for children in early childhood, including entities and individuals that use, represent, or provide services for any of the following: (i) children in early childhood who live in urban, suburban, or rural areas of the state; (ii) children in early childhood with varying socioeconomic backgrounds; (iii) children in early childhood with varying ethnic or racial heritage; (iv) children in early childhood from various geographic areas of the state; and (v) children in early childhood with special needs; (c) study, evaluate, and report on the status and effectiveness of policies, procedures, and programs that provide services to children in early childhood; (d) study and evaluate the effectiveness of policies, procedures, and programs implemented by other states and nongovernmental entities that address the needs of children in early childhood; (e) identify policies, procedures, and programs that are impeding efforts to help children in early childhood in the state and recommend and implement changes to those policies, procedures, and programs; (f) identify policies, procedures, and programs related to children in early childhood in the state that are inefficient or duplicative and recommend and implement changes to those policies, procedures, and programs; (g) recommend policy, procedure, and program changes to address the needs of children in early childhood; (h) develop methods for using interagency information to inform comprehensive policy and budget decisions relating to early childhood services; (i) develop, recommend, and coordinate a comprehensive delivery system of services for children in early childhood; and (j) develop strategies and monitor efforts concerning: (i) increasing school readiness; (ii) improving access to child care and early education programs; and (iii) improving family and community engagement in early childhood education and development.

(a) directly engage with parents, families, community members, and public and private service providers to identify and address: (i) the quality, effectiveness, and availability of existing services for children in early childhood and the coordination of those services; (ii) gaps and barriers to entry in the provision of services for children in early childhood; and (iii) community-based solutions in improving the quality, effectiveness, and availability of services for children in early childhood;

(i) the quality, effectiveness, and availability of existing services for children in early childhood and the coordination of those services;

(ii) gaps and barriers to entry in the provision of services for children in early childhood; and

(iii) community-based solutions in improving the quality, effectiveness, and availability of services for children in early childhood;

(b) seek regular and ongoing feedback from a wide range of entities and individuals that use or provide services for children in early childhood, including entities and individuals that use, represent, or provide services for any of the following: (i) children in early childhood who live in urban, suburban, or rural areas of the state; (ii) children in early childhood with varying socioeconomic backgrounds; (iii) children in early childhood with varying ethnic or racial heritage; (iv) children in early childhood from various geographic areas of the state; and (v) children in early childhood with special needs;

(i) children in early childhood who live in urban, suburban, or rural areas of the state;

(ii) children in early childhood with varying socioeconomic backgrounds;

(iii) children in early childhood with varying ethnic or racial heritage;

(iv) children in early childhood from various geographic areas of the state; and

(v) children in early childhood with special needs;

(c) study, evaluate, and report on the status and effectiveness of policies, procedures, and programs that provide services to children in early childhood;

(d) study and evaluate the effectiveness of policies, procedures, and programs implemented by other states and nongovernmental entities that address the needs of children in early childhood;

(e) identify policies, procedures, and programs that are impeding efforts to help children in early childhood in the state and recommend and implement changes to those policies, procedures, and programs;

(f) identify policies, procedures, and programs related to children in early childhood in the state that are inefficient or duplicative and recommend and implement changes to those policies, procedures, and programs;

(g) recommend policy, procedure, and program changes to address the needs of children in early childhood;

(h) develop methods for using interagency information to inform comprehensive policy and budget decisions relating to early childhood services;

(i) develop, recommend, and coordinate a comprehensive delivery system of services for children in early childhood; and

(j) develop strategies and monitor efforts concerning: (i) increasing school readiness; (ii) improving access to child care and early education programs; and (iii) improving family and community engagement in early childhood education and development.

(i) increasing school readiness;

(ii) improving access to child care and early education programs; and

(iii) improving family and community engagement in early childhood education and development.

(3) In fulfilling the duties of the commission, the commission shall collaborate with the Early Childhood Utah Advisory Council created in Section 22-66-201.

(4) In fulfilling the commission's duties, the commission may: (a) request and receive, from any state or local governmental agency or institution, information relating to early childhood, including reports, audits, projections, and statistics; and (b) appoint special advisory groups to advise and assist the commission.

(a) request and receive, from any state or local governmental agency or institution, information relating to early childhood, including reports, audits, projections, and statistics; and

(b) appoint special advisory groups to advise and assist the commission.

(5) Members of a special advisory group described in Subsection (4)(b): (a) shall be appointed by the commission; (b) may include: (i) members of the commission; and (ii) individuals from the private or public sector; and (c) may not receive reimbursement or pay for work done in relation to the special advisory group.

(a) shall be appointed by the commission;

(b) may include: (i) members of the commission; and (ii) individuals from the private or public sector; and

(i) members of the commission; and

(ii) individuals from the private or public sector; and

(c) may not receive reimbursement or pay for work done in relation to the special advisory group.

(6) A special advisory group created in accordance with Subsection (4)(b) shall report to the commission on the progress of the special advisory group.