By Sims                                                S.B. No. 946
       74R6200 MLR-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to minimum standards for certain child-care facilities.
    1-3        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-4        SECTION 1.  Section 42.042, Human Resources Code, is amended
    1-5  by amending Subsection (e) and adding Subsections (m) and (n) to
    1-6  read as follows:
    1-7        (e)  The department shall promulgate minimum standards that
    1-8  apply primarily to licensed <for> child-care facilities covered by
    1-9  this chapter and that will:
   1-10              (1)  promote the health, safety, and welfare of
   1-11  children attending a facility;
   1-12              (2)  promote safe, comfortable, and healthy physical
   1-13  facilities for children;
   1-14              (3)  ensure adequate supervision of children by
   1-15  capable, qualified, and healthy personnel;
   1-16              (4)  ensure adequate and healthy food service where
   1-17  food service is offered;
   1-18              (5)  prohibit racial discrimination by child-care
   1-19  facilities; and
   1-20              (6)  require procedures for parental and guardian
   1-21  consultation in the formulation of children's educational and
   1-22  therapeutic programs.
   1-23        (m)  In determining minimum standards for child-care
   1-24  facilities, the department shall conduct a comprehensive
    2-1  cost-benefit analysis and economic impact study that includes
    2-2  families and licensed child-care providers.
    2-3        (n)  Not later than the 60th day before the date the board
    2-4  adopts a revision to the minimum standards for child-care
    2-5  facilities, the department shall present the revision to the
    2-6  appropriate legislative oversight committees that have jurisdiction
    2-7  over child-care facilities for review and comment.
    2-8        SECTION 2.  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,
   2-13  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
   2-14  passage, and it is so enacted.