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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to strategies to increase the availability of child-care |
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and prekindergarten programs. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is |
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amended by adding Sections 302.0051 and 302.0063 to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 302.0051. PREKINDERGARTEN PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM. (a) |
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The commission shall establish and administer a prekindergarten |
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partnership program to assist Texas Rising Star program providers |
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who meet the definition of an eligible private provider under |
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Section 29.171, Education Code, in partnering with local school |
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districts and open-enrollment charter schools to provide the |
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prekindergarten classes required under Section 29.153, Education |
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Code. |
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(b) Using existing funds, the commission shall coordinate |
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with the Texas Education Agency to develop joint strategies to |
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expand the availability of prekindergarten partnership programs, |
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including by: |
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(1) establishing and maintaining a database of Texas |
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Rising Star program providers within the boundaries of each school |
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district and open-enrollment charter school; |
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(2) assisting in negotiating and administering |
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contracts between school districts or open-enrollment charter |
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schools, as applicable, and Texas Rising Star program providers to |
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provide prekindergarten classes; and |
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(3) annually establishing guidelines for funding |
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amounts per child to be provided by a school district or |
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open-enrollment charter school, as applicable, to a Texas Rising |
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Star program provider with which the district or charter school |
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partners to provide prekindergarten classes. |
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Sec. 302.0063. CHILD-CARE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT |
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SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. (a) In this section, "program" means the |
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professional development scholarship program established under |
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this section. |
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(b) From funds appropriated for the purpose, the commission |
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shall establish and administer a professional development |
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scholarship program for current and prospective child-care |
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workers. |
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(c) A scholarship under the program may be used to pay an |
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individual's costs related to: |
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(1) earning: |
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(A) a Child Development Associate (CDA) |
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credential; or |
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(B) an associate's degree or bachelor's degree in |
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early childhood education or another related field from a public or |
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private institution of higher education; and |
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(2) participation in a registered child-care |
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apprenticeship program. |
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(d) The program may be used to pay for other ancillary costs |
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for child-care workers who are enrolled in an educational program |
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or apprenticeship program described by Subsection (c), including: |
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(1) books and supplies; |
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(2) release time or stipends to attend classes; |
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(3) costs related to the examination for the Child |
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Development Associate (CDA) credential; |
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(4) travel to attend classes or attend a hands-on |
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practicum training; and |
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(5) stipends for mentors or master teachers who |
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provide hands-on training at a child-care program. |
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SECTION 2. Section 2308.256(a), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) A board is composed as follows: |
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(1) representatives of the private sector, who: |
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(A) constitute a majority of the membership of |
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the board; and |
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(B) are owners of business concerns, chief |
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executives or chief operating officers of nongovernmental |
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employers, or other private sector executives who have substantial |
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management or policy responsibilities; |
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(2) representatives of organized labor and |
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community-based organizations, who constitute not less than 15 |
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percent of the membership of the board; and |
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(3) representatives of each of the following: |
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(A) educational agencies, including community |
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colleges and secondary and postsecondary practitioners |
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representing vocational education, that are representative of all |
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educational agencies in the service delivery area; |
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(B) vocational rehabilitation agencies; |
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(C) public assistance agencies; |
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(D) economic development agencies; |
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(E) the public employment service; |
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(F) local literacy councils; [and] |
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(G) adult basic and continuing education |
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organizations; and |
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(H) the child-care workforce. |
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SECTION 3. Section 2308.256(g), Government Code, is |
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repealed. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |