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.