By Chavez                                             H.B. No. 3200
         76R7470 KLA-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the local matching funds requirement for the child care
 1-3     and development fund.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is amended
 1-6     by adding Section 302.064 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 302.064.  RELIEF FROM LOCAL MATCHING FUNDS REQUIREMENT.
 1-8     (a)  In this section, "economically disadvantaged county" means a
 1-9     county that has, in comparison to other counties in the state:
1-10                 (1)  below average per capita taxable property value;
1-11                 (2)  below average per capita income; and
1-12                 (3)  above average unemployment.
1-13           (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), the commission may
1-14     require, request, or accept from a political subdivision matching
1-15     or other local funds or any other local incentives to make the most
1-16     efficient use of the child care and development fund administered
1-17     by the commission.
1-18           (c)  In evaluating a proposal for the use of funds from the
1-19     child care and development fund in a political subdivision that
1-20     consists of all or a portion of an economically disadvantaged
1-21     county, the commission:
1-22                 (1)  may not consider the absence or value of local
1-23     incentives provided under Subsection (b) beyond the minimum
1-24     required local matching funds; and
 2-1                 (2)  shall adjust the minimum local matching funds
 2-2     requirement after evaluating the political subdivision's effort and
 2-3     ability to meet the requirement.
 2-4           (d)  In making an adjustment under Subsection (c)(2), the
 2-5     commission may use any other available resources to help satisfy a
 2-6     federal requirement.
 2-7           (e)  The commission shall report annually to the governor,
 2-8     the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of
 2-9     representatives on the use of matching funds and local incentives
2-10     and the ability of the commission to ensure that political
2-11     subdivisions located in economically disadvantaged counties have
2-12     equal ability to compete for funding through the child care and
2-13     development fund with political subdivisions in counties that are
2-14     not economically disadvantaged.
2-15           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
2-16           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
2-17     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-18     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-19     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-20     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.