SRC-MWN H.B. 3578 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 3578
By: Villarreal, Mike (Shapleigh)
Business & Commerce
5/11/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

With continuing evidence that quality child care programs lead to academic
success, reduced delinquency and crime, better job opportunities, and
increased productivity, the importance of providing these services
increases. Under current law, the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is
responsible for allocating funds for child-care subsidies. According to
federal law, at least four percent of the funds that the state receives
through the child care and development block grant must be used to enhance
child-care quality. H.B. 3578 requires TWC to ensure that, to the extent
federal child care development funds dedicated to quality improvement
activities are used to improve quality and availability of child care,
those funds are used only for quality child care programs.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends the Government Code to require the Texas Workforce
Commission to ensure that, to the extent federal child care development
funds dedicated to quality improvement activities are used to improve
quality and availability of child care, those funds are used only for
quality child care programs. The bill sets forth provisions relating to the
components of a quality child care program.  

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