By Coleman H.B. No. 1013
76R2665 KLA-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to child-care resource and referral networks.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 4, Labor Code, is amended by
1-5 adding Chapter 309 to read as follows:
1-6 CHAPTER 309. CHILD-CARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL NETWORK
1-7 Sec. 309.001. CHILD-CARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL NETWORK. The
1-8 commission, through funds allocated to the commission as the agency
1-9 designated to administer the Child Care and Development Block Grant
1-10 (42 U.S.C. Section 9858 et seq.), as amended, shall develop a
1-11 child-care resource and referral network and shall administer the
1-12 network in compliance with the requirements of the block grant
1-13 program through the employment services offices located throughout
1-14 this state.
1-15 Sec. 309.002. RESOURCE SERVICES. (a) The child-care
1-16 resource and referral network shall provide and periodically update
1-17 resource information regarding child-care services in each county
1-18 of this state, including:
1-19 (1) the name, address, and telephone number of each
1-20 day-care center, group day-care home, and family home located in
1-21 the county; and
1-22 (2) information relating to the services provided by
1-23 the day-care center, group day-care home, or family home,
1-24 including:
2-1 (A) the designation of the facility as a
2-2 day-care center, group day-care home, or family home under Chapter
2-3 42, Human Resources Code;
2-4 (B) the group size for each age group receiving
2-5 care;
2-6 (C) the ages of children accepted for child
2-7 care;
2-8 (D) the ability of the facility to accept
2-9 additional children for child care;
2-10 (E) the level of training of staff and
2-11 management of the facility;
2-12 (F) the hours during which services are
2-13 available at the facility; and
2-14 (G) the cost of child care at the facility.
2-15 (b) The Department of Protective and Regulatory Services
2-16 shall assist the commission in collecting and updating the
2-17 information required by Subsection (a).
2-18 Sec. 309.003. REFERRAL SERVICES. (a) The child-care
2-19 resource and referral network shall provide referral services to a
2-20 person who is seeking child care.
2-21 (b) Child-care referrals must be:
2-22 (1) available by telephone; and
2-23 (2) provided only for child-care facilities that are
2-24 licensed, listed, or registered under Chapter 42, Human Resources
2-25 Code.
2-26 Sec. 309.004. COLLECTION OF CHILD-CARE DATA. (a) The
2-27 child-care resource and referral network shall maintain records of
3-1 requests for resources and referrals and shall make the records
3-2 available to state and local agencies and private organizations.
3-3 (b) The records required by Subsection (a) must include:
3-4 (1) the number of requests made for resources and
3-5 referrals during a specified period;
3-6 (2) the age of each child for whom a request for
3-7 resources and referrals is made; and
3-8 (3) for each person requesting resources and
3-9 referrals:
3-10 (A) the hours during which the person is seeking
3-11 child care; and
3-12 (B) the reason the person is seeking child care.
3-13 Sec. 309.005. ASSISTANCE FOR CHILD-CARE PROVIDERS. (a) The
3-14 child-care resource and referral network shall provide to a
3-15 child-care provider or a person interested in becoming a
3-16 child-care provider information about:
3-17 (1) the general requirements for applying for and
3-18 maintaining a license, listing, or registration under Chapter 42,
3-19 Human Resources Code;
3-20 (2) the availability of financial and educational
3-21 resources for child-care providers; and
3-22 (3) current issues affecting the delivery of
3-23 child-care services.
3-24 (b) The Department of Protective and Regulatory Services
3-25 shall assist the commission in collecting and updating the
3-26 information required by Subsection (a).
3-27 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
4-1 SECTION 3. The Texas Workforce Commission shall establish
4-2 the child-care resource and referral network required by Chapter
4-3 309, Labor Code, as added by this Act, not later than January 1,
4-4 2000.
4-5 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
4-6 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
4-7 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
4-8 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
4-9 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.