By:  Pitts                                                        H.B. No. 3458



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

Relating to childcare services.                                               
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subsection (b), Section 34.007, Education Code, 
is amended to read as follows:
		(b)  In establishing and operating the transportation 
system, the county or school district board:
		(1)  shall employ school bus drivers certified in 
accordance with standards and qualifications adopted by the 
Department of Public Safety; and
		(2)  shall may allow a parent to designate a child-care 
facility, as defined by Section 42.002, Human Resources Code, 
instead of the child's residence as the regular location for 
purposes of obtaining transportation under the system to and from 
the child's school.
	SECTION 2.  Section 42.155, Education Code, is amended by 
adding Subsection (k) to read as follows:
		(k)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this 
section, the commissioner may not reduce the allotment to which a 
district or county is entitled under this section because the 
district or county provides transportation for an eligible student 
to and from a child-care facility, as defined by Section 42.002, 
Human Resources Code, instead of the student's residence, as 
authorized by Section 34.007, if the transportation is provided 
within the approved routes of the district or county for the school 
the student attends.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.