Amend CSSB 211 by adding the following appropriately numbered
sections and renumbering the existing sections of the bill
accordingly:
      SECTION ____.  Subchapter B, Chapter 403, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 403.026 to read as follows:
      Sec. 403.026.  CHILD-CARE GUIDE;  INTERAGENCY WORK GROUP.
      (a)  The comptroller shall develop and periodically update a
statewide guide for child care designed to assist child-care
consumers in making informed choices regarding available child-care
services and to provide useful information regarding the child-care
industry to child-care service providers.  The guide must:
            (1)  contain comprehensive and current information on:
                  (A) child care services, including consumer
information on staff-child ratios, group sizes, level of training
of staff and management, hours of availability, price information,
and other relevant consumer information;
                  (B)  early childhood development and factors to
consider in making informed child-care choices;
                  (C)  child care for children with disabilities;
                  (D)  training opportunities in the child-care
profession;
                  (E)  child-care financing options;
                  (F)  technical assistance for child-care service
providers; and
                  (G)  other relevant topics that will assist a
child-care consumer in making informed child-care choices as
determined by the comptroller and the interagency work group
created under Subsection (b); and
            (2)  enable a child-care consumer to identify and
assess each option available for meeting a child-care consumer's
individual needs.
      (b)  An interagency work group is created to assist the
comptroller in developing and updating the guide. The work group is
composed of representatives of;
            (1)  the comptroller's office, appointed by the
comptroller;
            (2)  the Texas Workforce Commission, appointed by the
executive director of that agency;
            (3)  the Texas Department of Human Services, appointed
by the commissioner of human services;
            (4)  the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services, appointed by the executive director of that agency;
            (5)  businesses and business organizations, appointed
by the comptroller;
            (6)  resource and referral agencies, appointed by the
comptroller;
            (7)  nonprofit organizations, appointed by the
comptroller;
            (8)  child-care consumers, appointed by the
comptroller;
            (9)  child-care providers, appointed by the
comptroller; and
            (10)  agencies or organizations that contract with the
Texas Workforce Commission or a local workforce development board
for the management of child care services, appointed by the Texas
Workforce Commission.
      (c)  A member of the work group serves at the will of the
appointing agency.
      (d)  The comptroller shall appoint a member of the work group
to serve as presiding officer, and members of the work group shall
elect any other necessary officers.
      (e)  The work group shall meet at the call of the presiding
officer.
      (f)  The appointing entity is responsible for the expenses of
a member's service on the work group. A member of the work group
receives no additional compensation for serving on the work group.
      (g)  The work group is not subject to Article 6252-33,
Revised Statutes.
      (h)  The entities listed in Subsection (b) shall take all
action necessary to assist the comptroller in developing and
updating the guide, including providing staff with expertise in
information and referral services and other necessary resources,
but may not diminish services required to be provided by other law.
      (i)  The comptroller shall make the guide available to the
public in electronic format and through the Internet.
      SECTION ____.  Not later than January 1, 1998, the
comptroller of public accounts shall complete development of the
child-care guide required by Section 403.026, Government Code, as
added by this Act, and make the guide available in the manner
required by that section.