By Naishtat, Turner of Harris, et al.                 H.B. No. 2543
         77R10894 KLA-F                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the establishment of a pilot program to provide
 1-3     child-care intervention services for certain children with severe
 1-4     behavioral problems.
 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code, is
 1-7     amended by adding Section 40.071 to read as follows:
 1-8           Sec. 40.071.  CHILD-CARE INTERVENTION PILOT PROGRAM. (a)
 1-9     Subject to available funding, the department shall develop and
1-10     implement a pilot program under which the department awards grants
1-11     to or contracts with community-based organizations experienced in
1-12     parenting skills training to provide child-care intervention
1-13     services to:
1-14                 (1)  parents of children who are at least 18 months of
1-15     age but not more than five years of age and who are identified as
1-16     exhibiting severe behavioral problems in a child-care environment;
1-17     and
1-18                 (2)  child-care facilities, as defined by Section
1-19     42.002, providing care for children described by Subdivision (1).
1-20           (b)  An organization awarded a grant or with which the
1-21     department contracts under the pilot program shall:
1-22                 (1)  contract with child-care facilities to provide
1-23     care for children described by Subsection (a); and
1-24                 (2)  ensure that the organization has procedures by
 2-1     which it refers each child suspected of having a disability to an
 2-2     appropriate early childhood intervention or special education
 2-3     program.
 2-4           (c)  Child-care intervention services provided by an
 2-5     organization awarded a grant or with which the department contracts
 2-6     under the pilot program must include:
 2-7                 (1)  integrated family services for parents of children
 2-8     described by Subsection (a) requiring parental participation and
 2-9     parenting skills training, including training in positive parenting
2-10     and behavioral intervention techniques, that are designed to
2-11     minimize child-care disruptions and loss of child-care options; and
2-12                 (2)  specialized training in behavioral intervention
2-13     techniques for child-care facilities with which the organization
2-14     contracts under Subsection (b)(1).
2-15           (d)  Not later than December 1, 2002, the department shall
2-16     submit to the legislature a report concerning the effectiveness of
2-17     the pilot program.
2-18           (e)  This section expires September 1, 2003.
2-19           SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.