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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to establishing a program to allow certain child-care |
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providers to provide free or reduced-cost breakfast and lunch |
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meals. |
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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 Section 302.00437 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 302.00437. EARLY CHILDHOOD BREAKFAST AND LUNCH GRANT |
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PROGRAM. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Child-care provider" means a day-care center or a |
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group day-care home licensed under Chapter 42, Human Resources |
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Code, or a family home registered under Chapter 42, Human Resources |
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Code. |
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(2) "Eligible child" means a child who: |
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(A) is eligible for services from a federal Head |
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Start or Early Head Start program; |
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(B) receives subsidized child-care services; or |
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(C) except for the child's age, meets a |
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requirement of Section 29.153(b), Education Code. |
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(3) "Eligible meal" means a breakfast or lunch that |
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meets the nutritional requirements for: |
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(A) the national school breakfast program as |
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provided by the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. Section |
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1773); or |
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(B) the national school lunch program of free or |
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reduced-price lunches under 7 C.F.R. Section 210.10 or a successor |
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regulation. |
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(4) "Program" means the early childhood breakfast and |
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lunch grant program established under this section. |
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(b) The commission shall establish the early childhood |
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breakfast and lunch grant program to award grants to child-care |
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providers to provide eligible meals to eligible children for free |
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or at a reduced cost. |
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(c) A child-care provider may elect to participate in the |
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program. A child-care provider participating in the program shall |
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offer eligible meals without charge or at a reduced cost to each |
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eligible enrolled child. |
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(d) From funds appropriated for the purpose, the commission |
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shall provide grants to reimburse child-care providers that |
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participate in the program for costs related to providing meals |
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under Subsection (c) in an amount established by the commission |
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that ensures each participating child-care provider is able to |
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receive a grant. |
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(e) The commission shall adopt rules to implement this |
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section, including rules regarding the eligibility criteria for |
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receiving a grant and the process for awarding a grant under this |
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section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |