By: Button, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Birdwell) H.B. No. 1615

(In the Senate - Received from the House April 13, 2023; April 18, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on Natural Resources & Economic Development; May 12, 2023, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 12, 2023, sent to printer.)

COMMITTEE VOTE

YeaNayAbsentPNV

BirdwellX

ZaffiriniX

AlvaradoX

BlancoX

HancockX

HughesX

KolkhorstX

MilesX

SparksX

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to strategies to increase the availability of child-care and prekindergarten programs.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is amended by adding Sections 302.0051 and 302.0063 to read as follows:

Sec. 302.0051. PREKINDERGARTEN PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM. (a) The commission shall establish and administer a prekindergarten partnership program to assist child-care providers who meet the definition of an eligible private provider under Section 29.171, Education Code, in partnering with local school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to provide the prekindergarten classes required under Section 29.153, Education Code.

(b) Using existing funds, the commission shall coordinate with the Texas Education Agency to develop joint strategies to expand the availability of prekindergarten partnership programs.

Sec. 302.0063. CHILD-CARE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. (a) In this section, "program" means the professional development scholarship program established under this section.

(b) From funds appropriated for the purpose, the commission shall establish and administer a professional development scholarship program for current and prospective child-care workers.

(c) A scholarship under the program may be used to pay an individual's costs related to:

(1) earning:

(A) a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential; or

(B) an associate's degree or bachelor's degree in early childhood education or another related field from a public or private institution of higher education; and

(2) participation in a registered child-care apprenticeship program.

(d) The program may be used to pay for other ancillary costs for child-care workers who are enrolled in an educational program or apprenticeship program described by Subsection (c), including:

(1) books and supplies;

(2) release time or stipends to attend classes;

(3) costs related to the examination for the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential;

(4) travel to attend classes or attend a hands-on practicum training; and

(5) stipends for mentors or master teachers who provide hands-on training at a child-care program.

SECTION 2. Section 2308.256(a), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) A board is composed as follows:

(1) representatives of the private sector, who:

(A) constitute a majority of the membership of the board; and

(B) are owners of business concerns, chief executives or chief operating officers of nongovernmental employers, or other private sector executives who have substantial management or policy responsibilities;

(2) representatives of organized labor and community-based organizations, who constitute not less than 15 percent of the membership of the board; and

(3) representatives of each of the following:

(A) educational agencies, including community colleges and secondary and postsecondary practitioners representing vocational education, that are representative of all educational agencies in the service delivery area;

(B) vocational rehabilitation agencies;

(C) public assistance agencies;

(D) economic development agencies;

(E) the public employment service;

(F) local literacy councils; [and]

(G) adult basic and continuing education organizations; and

(H) the child-care workforce.

SECTION 3. Section 2308.256(g), Government Code, is repealed.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.

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