WHEREAS: the United States Congress passed the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (hereinafter "the Act") to provide funds to the states in order to increase the availability, the affordability, and the quality of child care, through the use of grants, contracts, and certificates for child care services;
WHEREAS: the State of Louisiana is a participant in the Child Care and Development Block Grant Program and is a recipient of block grant funds under the Act; and
WHEREAS: the State of Louisiana may achieve optimum use of the block grant funds it receives by utilizing an advisory council to advise the Department of Social Services regarding the recent developments in the field of child care, the concerns of parents who have children in day care, and the needs of child day care facilities within the state;
NOW THEREFORE I, M. J. "MIKE" FOSTER, JR., Governor of the State of Louisiana, by virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution and laws of the State of Louisiana, do hereby order and direct as follows:
SECTION 1: The Advisory Council on the Child Care and Development Block Grant Program (hereafter "Advisory Council"), is re-established and recreated within the Department of Social Services.
SECTION 2: The Advisory Council shall be composed of 11 voting members and three ex-officio, nonvoting members who shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The voting membership of the Advisory Council shall represent the following agencies, organizations, and special interest groups:
The ex-officio, non-voting membership of the Advisory Council shall be as follows:
SECTION 3: The voting members of the Advisory Council shall elect a Chair from among their voting membership.
SECTION 4: The Advisory Council shall operate only in an advisory capacity. Its duties and functions include, but are not limited to, the following:
SECTION 5: The members of the Advisory Council shall not receive compensation or a per diem for their services or their attendance at meetings. However, contingent on the availability of funds, the actual travel expenses of the members may be reimbursed in accordance with state guidelines and procedures, and upon approval of the Commissioner of Administration.
SECTION 6: Support staff for the Advisory Council and facilities for their meetings shall be provided by the Department of Social Services.
SECTION 7: All departments, commissions, boards, agencies, and officers of the State, or any political subdivision thereof, are authorized and directed to cooperate with the Advisory Council in implementing the provisions of this Order.
SECTION 8: The provisions of this Order are effective upon signature and shall remain in effect until amended, modified, terminated, or rescinded by the Governor, or terminated by operation of law.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my hand officially and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Louisiana, at the Capitol, in the City of Baton Rouge, on this 17th day of October, 1996.
M.J. "Mike" Foster, Jr.
Governor
ATTEST BY
THE GOVERNOR
Fox McKeithen
Secretary of State