Substitute Bill No. 6 seeks to enhance resources and support for infants, toddlers, and disconnected youths in Connecticut, with an effective date of July 1, 2025. The bill designates the Office of Early Childhood as the lead agency for administering the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program, while also modifying the existing child nutrition outreach program to focus on increasing participation in the federal School Breakfast Program and the Summer Food Service Program, thereby references to the Child and Adult Care Food Program from this section. Additionally, it mandates the executive board of the Connecticut Preschool Through Twenty and Workforce Information Network to submit an annual report on disconnected youth, incorporating data from various state agencies. The bill also introduces provisions for the establishment of kindergarten preparatory academies and updates the Connecticut Smart Start competitive grant program to provide grants to local and regional boards of education, with the fiscal year for the program adjusted to begin in 2026. Moreover, the bill allows local and regional boards of education to apply for grants for capital and operating expenses related to preschool programs and kindergarten preparatory academies, with specific funding limits and renewal conditions. It modifies definitions and requirements related to youth camps, establishes the Early Childhood Cabinet, and updates the licensing process for youth camps, including fees based on the type of organization. The bill also enhances the Early Childhood Advisory Council's composition and mandates the Office of Early Childhood to create a document outlining developmental milestones for children ages birth to five. New initiatives include a quarterly review of children referred to the birth-to-three program, training for teenage parents, and a report on a mobile application for developmental screening. Overall, the bill aims to improve access to nutrition programs and educational resources for young children and disconnected youths in Connecticut.

Statutes affected:
Committee Bill: 10-215h, 10-506, 10-514
KID Joint Favorable Substitute: 10-215h, 10-506, 10-514
File No. 199: 10-215h, 10-506, 10-514
APP Joint Favorable: 10-215h, 10-506, 10-514