HBA-DMD S.B. 558 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 558
By: Lucio
Human Services
4/23/1999
Committee Report (Amended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services
(department) requires training for child care providers. There are infants
in approximately 7,700 licensed day care centers, 1,800 group day care
homes, and 10,000 registered family homes.  

S.B. 558 sets forth the minimum training standards for an employee of a
day-care center or group day-care home. This bill provides that the minimum
training standards must require an employee of a licensed day-care center
or group day-care home who provides care for children younger than 24
months of age to receive special training regarding the care of those
children. This bill also requires the department to require an operator of
a registered family home who provides care for a child younger than 24
months of age to complete one hour of annual training on recognizing and
preventing shaken baby syndrome, preventing sudden infant death syndrome,
and understanding early childhood brain development. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the Department of Protective and
Regulatory Services in SECTION 1 (Section 42.0421, Human Resources) of this
bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 42, Human Resources Code, by
adding Section 42.0421, as follows: 

Sec. 42.0421. MINIMUM TRAINING STANDARDS. (a) Sets forth the minimum
training standards prescribed by the Department of Protective and
Regulatory Services (department) under Section 42.042(p), (Rules and
Standards), Human Resources Code, for an employee of a day-care center or
group day-care home. 

(b) Provides that the minimum training standards prescribed by the
department under Section 42.042(p) must require an employee of a licensed
day-care center or group day-care home who provides care for children
younger than 24 months of age to receive special training regarding the
care of those children. Provides that the special training must include one
hour of initial training in addition to the training required by Subsection
(a) and one hour of annual training as a component of the training required
by Subsection (a), on recognizing and preventing shaken baby syndrome,
preventing sudden infant death syndrome, and understanding early childhood
brain development. 

(c) Requires the department, by rule, to require an operator of a
registered family home who provides care for a child younger than 24 months
of age to complete one hour of annual training on recognizing and
preventing shaken baby syndrome, preventing sudden infant death syndrome,
and understanding early childhood brain development. 

(d) Sets forth that Section 42.042(m) does not apply to the minimum
training standards required by this section. Section 42.042(m) concerns the
department's requirement to conduct a cost-benefit analysis and economic
impact study. 
 SECTION 2.Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3.Emergency clause.

EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS

Amendment #1

Makes the effective date January 1, 2000, rather than September 1, 1999.