By Raymond                                            H.B. No. 2855
       74R6385 MLR-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to certain purchase-donation agreements to maximize
    1-3  federal funding for certain local programs for children.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Chapter 22, Human Resources Code, is amended by
    1-6  adding Section 22.0032 to read as follows:
    1-7        Sec. 22.0032.  AGREEMENTS FOR PURCHASE OF SERVICES FOR
    1-8  CHILDREN.  (a)  To ensure the maximum use of available federal
    1-9  matching funds for services for children, the department shall:
   1-10              (1)  enter into agreements with appropriate local
   1-11  community organizations to receive donations to be used for the
   1-12  purchase of services for which matching federal funds are
   1-13  available; and
   1-14              (2)  cooperate with each local community organization
   1-15  to develop guidelines for the use of that community's donation to
   1-16  meet the needs of that community relating to services for children.
   1-17        (b)  Guidelines relating to child-care services developed
   1-18  under Subsection (a) must require providers to comply with the:
   1-19              (1)  Central Education Agency essential elements;
   1-20              (2)  Head Start performance standards; and
   1-21              (3)  National Association for the Education of Young
   1-22  Children accreditation standards.
   1-23        (c)  The department shall ensure that 20 percent of the
   1-24  federal money that is gained through purchase-donation agreements
    2-1  is set aside for use in accordance with this section in areas
    2-2  across the state that do not have local funds available to be used
    2-3  to match federal funds.  Funds set aside under this subsection
    2-4  shall be awarded to an organization that agrees to meet the
    2-5  standards required by Subsection (b) not later than the fifth
    2-6  anniversary of the date the organization first receives the award.
    2-7        SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
    2-8        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
    2-9  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   2-10  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   2-11  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   2-12  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.