SRC-AAA C.S.S.B. 211 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 211
By: Ellis
Finance
2-10-97
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST 

Currently, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation
Act of 1996 makes $499.3 million in federal child care matching funds
available to Texas for fiscal years 1997 through 2002.  In order to draw
its share of federal matching funds, Texas must provide maintenance of
effort (MOE) funding at the amount of state funds appropriated in fiscal
year 1995, and all block grant funds must be spent or obligated.  Texas
must either spend more from general revenue or seek other sources of
money.  This bill creates the Texas Child Care Fund to maximize federal
matching funds for child care, and will direct the Texas Workforce
Commission to administer the fund, solicit donations, and aggressively
promote public awareness of the fund. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, C.S.S.B. 211 provides for the operation of the Texas Child
Care Fund for the promotion of child care services. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is granted to the Texas Workforce Commission  in
SECTION 1 (Section 308.003(d), Labor Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Title 4B, Labor Code, by adding Chapter 308, as follows:

CHAPTER 308.  TEXAS CHILD CARE FUND

Sec. 308.001.  DEFINITION.  Defines "fund."

Sec. 308.002.  TEXAS CHILD CARE FUND.  Provides that the Texas Child Care
Fund (fund) consists of state appropriations and money donated to the
state by local governments, businesses, nonprofit organizations, or other
persons for child care services.  Requires the fund to be used to maximize
federal matching funds. 

Sec. 308.003.  ADMINISTRATION AND PROMOTION OF FUND.  Sets forth the
duties of the Texas Workforce Commission (commission).  Requires the
commission to encourage local child care planning and local participation
in meeting matching requirements for state entitlement to federal child
care funding.  Requires the  commission to use donated purchase agreements
when appropriate. Requires the commission to ensure that a local
government that donates money receives child care services in the area
served by the local government of at least the amount donated.  Authorizes
the commission to adopt rules necessary for the administration and
promotion of the fund. 

Sec. 308.004.  ADVISORY BOARD.  Requires the commission to appoint a
permanent advisory board (board) to assist in administering and promoting
the fund. Sets forth the constituency  and duties of the board.  Provides
that the board is subject to Article 6252-33, V.T.C.S., other than Section
8 of that article. Makes nonsubstantive changes. 

SECTION 2. Requires the Texas Workforce Commission to appoint the board no
later than October  1, 1997. 

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

Amends SECTION 1, Section 308.001, Labor Code, to provide that the Texas
child care fund consists of state appropriations and money donated to the
state by local governments, businesses, nonprofit organizations, or other
persons for child care services. 

Amends SECTION 1, Section 308.003, Labor Code, to require the commission
to solicit money from local governments; to use donated purchase
agreements to encourage local child care planning  and local participation
in meeting matching requirements; and to ensure local governments receive
child care services equal to the amount of money donated. 

Amends SECTION 1, Section 308.004, Labor Code, to include a representative
from the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services in the advisory
board.