(a) The Commissioner of Early Childhood shall establish a competitive grant program to assist nonprofit agencies and local and regional boards of education, which are federal Head Start grantees, in (1) establishing extended-day and full-day, year-round, Head Start programs or expanding existing Head Start programs to extended-day or full-day, year-round programs, (2) enhancing program quality, (3) increasing the number of children served in programs that are both a Head Start program and Early Head Start grantee or delegate, (4) increasing the number of Early Head Start children served above those who are federally funded, and (5) increasing the hours for children currently receiving Early Head Start services. The commissioner, after consultation with the committee established pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, shall establish criteria for the grants, provided at least twenty-five per cent of the funding for such grants shall be for the purpose of enhancing program quality. Nonprofit agencies or boards of education seeking grants pursuant to this section shall make application to the commissioner on such forms and at such times as the commissioner shall prescribe. All grants pursuant to this section shall be funded within the limits of available appropriations or otherwise from federal funds and private donations. All full-day, year-round Head Start programs funded pursuant to this section shall be in compliance with federal Head Start performance standards.

(b) The Office of Early Childhood shall annually allocate to each town in which the number of children under the temporary family assistance program, as defined in subdivision (17) of § 10-262f, equals or exceeds nine hundred children, determined for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1996, an amount equal to one hundred fifty thousand dollars plus eight and one-half dollars for each child under the temporary family assistance program, provided such amount may be reduced proportionately so that the total amount awarded pursuant to this subsection does not exceed two million seven hundred thousand dollars. The office shall award grants to the local and regional boards of education for such towns and nonprofit agencies located in such towns which meet the criteria established pursuant to subsection (a) of this section to maintain the programs established or expanded with funds provided pursuant to this subsection in the fiscal years ending June 30, 1996, and June 30, 1997. Any funds remaining in the allocation to such a town after grants are so awarded shall be used to increase allocations to other such towns. Any funds remaining after grants are so awarded to boards of education and nonprofit agencies in all such towns shall be available to local and regional boards of education and nonprofit agencies in other towns in the state for grants for such purposes.

(c) There is established a committee to advise the commissioner concerning the coordination, priorities for allocation and distribution, and utilization of funds for Head Start and Early Head Start and concerning the competitive grant program established under this section, and to evaluate programs funded pursuant to this section. The committee shall consist of the following members: (1) One member designated by the commissioner; (2) six members who are directors of Head Start programs, two from community action agency program sites or school readiness liaisons, one of whom shall be appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate and one by the speaker of the House of Representatives, two from public school program sites, one of whom shall be appointed by the majority leader of the Senate and one by the majority leader of the House of Representatives, and two from other nonprofit agency program sites, one of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the Senate and one by the minority leader of the House of Representatives; (3) one member designated by the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity; (4) one member designated by the Early Childhood Cabinet, established pursuant to § 10-16z; (5) two members designated by the Head Start Association, one of whom shall be the parent of a present or former Head Start student; (6) one member designated by the Connecticut Association for Community Action who shall have expertise and experience concerning Head Start; (7) one member designated by the Region I Office of Head Start within the federal Administration of Children and Families of the Department of Health and Human Services; and (8) the director of the Head Start Collaboration Office.

(d) The commissioner may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, for purposes of this section.