SRC-TBR H.B. 2673 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 2673
By: Villarreal, Mike (Shapleigh)
Health & Human Services
5/28/2001(REVISED)
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Federal law requires a state that receives child care and development block
grant funds for a fiscal year to set aside not less than four percent of
the funds for activities that are designed to provide comprehensive
consumer education to parents and the general public, activities that
increase parental choice, and activities designed to improve the quality
and availability of child care such as resource and referral services.
However, there is little accounting for the majority of allocated funds
because it is spent by local workforce development boards rather than at
the state level.  H.B. 2673 requires the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC)
to collect and assess state and local information relating to the
effectiveness of the use of four percent quality dollars by local workforce
development boards. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 302A, Labor Code, by adding Section 302.0045, as
follows: 

Sec. 302.0045.  QUALITY INITIATIVES BY COMMISSION. (a)  Requires the Texas
Workforce Commission (commission) to collect state and local information
relating to the effectiveness of the use of four percent quality dollars by
local workforce development boards. Requires the commission to produce a
report that highlights promising practices in expanding quality early
education. 

(b)  Requires the commission, in performing its duties under this section,
to  report to the legislature and other interested persons on local
programs and services that show promise in expanding access to quality
early education. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.