SRC-VRA S.B. 223 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 223
78R537 SGA-DBy: Shapleigh
Health and Human Services
2/7/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, child care services are provided at the local level with
guidance from the state.  While there are many innovative initiatives
occurring through the local workforce development boards, there is limited
sharing of information.  As proposed, S.B. 223 would address this problem
by directing the Health and Human Services Commission to work in
conjunction with the Texas Workforce Commission and the Texas Department
of Protective and Regulatory Services to develop a comprehensive report of
statewide and local initiatives, both publicly and privately funded,
targeted at enhancing the quality of child care.  The report would
establish benchmarks and include a description of program activities,
success factors, and the amount and source of funding and programmatic
best practices for statewide use.  

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.  STUDY AND REPORT ON CHILD-CARE INITIATIVES.  (a) Requires the
Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to study and produce a
comprehensive report on state and local initiatives and collaborate
initiatives funded from public or private sources. 

(b) Requires HHS to work in conjunction with the Texas Workforce
Commission and the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services in
studying the initiatives and producing the report. 

(c) Requires HHSC to coordinate the efforts under this section with the
activities of the Office of Early Childhood Coordination, particularly as
those efforts relate to the development of the statewide strategic plan
required under Section 531.284, Government Code (Strategic Plan). 

(d) Requires the report include, describe, and establish certain items. 

(e) Requires HHSC to submit the report to certain persons not later than
September 1, 2004. 
 
SECTION 2.  Expiration date: September 1, 2005.

SECTION 3.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.