By Wise H.C.R. No. 271 76R14489 LHO-D HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, Powerful new research tools, including sophisticated 1-2 brain scans, are yielding stunning revelations about human 1-3 development from birth to age three and the pace at which a child 1-4 grows and learns; in no other period of human development do such 1-5 profound changes occur so rapidly; and 1-6 WHEREAS, These striking research results confirm that parents 1-7 and other adult caregivers play a critical role in influencing a 1-8 child's development; and 1-9 WHEREAS, Scientific confirmation of the links between good 1-10 care and a healthy start underscore the importance of high-quality 1-11 preschool and daycare environments and have led several states to 1-12 launch early childhood initiatives; and 1-13 WHEREAS, Texas state government agencies strive to help 1-14 families and their young children and have launched several early 1-15 childhood initiatives that show promise; however, the state has not 1-16 coordinated its assistance to parents and families; and 1-17 WHEREAS, By drawing from models in other states or 1-18 strengthening community programs, Texas parents, community leaders, 1-19 and state agencies could reorganize and refocus efforts to serve 1-20 the state's 700,000 youngest residents aged zero to three; now, 1-21 therefore, be it 1-22 RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas 1-23 hereby request the lieutenant governor and speaker of the house of 1-24 representatives to create an interagency advisory task force to 2-1 develop and implement a state plan for serving children up to age 2-2 three, with a special emphasis on applying research on infant and 2-3 toddler brain development based upon education recommendation 8 (ED 2-4 8) of the Texas Performance Review, challenging the status quo; 2-5 and, be it further 2-6 RESOLVED, That the interagency advisory task force be chaired 2-7 by the governor and include the lieutenant governor and the speaker 2-8 of the house of representatives, or their designees, and nine 2-9 citizen appointees, three appointed by the governor, three 2-10 appointed by the lieutenant governor, and three appointed by the 2-11 speaker of the house of representatives; and, be it further 2-12 RESOLVED, That the following representatives serve as 2-13 nonvoting advisory members: 2-14 (1) the commissioner of health and human services; 2-15 (2) the commissioner of education; 2-16 (3) the executive director of the Interagency Council 2-17 on Early Childhood Intervention; 2-18 (4) the executive director of the Texas Department of 2-19 Health; 2-20 (5) the executive director of the Texas Department of 2-21 Human Services; 2-22 (6) the executive director of the Texas Juvenile 2-23 Probation Commission; 2-24 (7) the executive director of the Texas Department of 2-25 Mental Health and Mental Retardation; 2-26 (8) the executive director of the Department of 2-27 Protective and Regulatory Services; 3-1 (9) the executive director of the Texas Youth 3-2 Commission; 3-3 (10) the executive director of the Texas Workforce 3-4 Commission; and 3-5 (11) the executive director of the Children's Trust 3-6 Fund of Texas Council; and, be it further 3-7 RESOLVED, That the governor's appointees include at least one 3-8 appointee representing Texas child-care providers, one appointee 3-9 representing Parents as Teachers, and one appointee representing 3-10 Head Start; and, be it further 3-11 RESOLVED, That the commissioner of health and human services 3-12 should implement the plan by drawing upon funds appropriated from 3-13 the operating account of the children's trust fund and, if 3-14 necessary, state law should be amended to permit programs funded by 3-15 the children's trust fund to encourage the healthy development of 3-16 Texas children aged zero to three; and, be it further 3-17 RESOLVED, That the interagency advisory task force develop a 3-18 plan and budget document no later than September 1, 2000; and, be 3-19 it further 3-20 RESOLVED, That the task force make a complete report, 3-21 including findings and recommendations for statutory changes, to 3-22 the 77th Legislature when it convenes in January 2001.