By:  Zaffirini                                                    S.B. No. 74 
	(In the Senate - Filed November 12, 2002; January 27, 2003, 
read first time and referred to Committee on Health and Human 
Services; February 24, 2003, reported favorably by the following 
vote:  Yeas 8, Nays 0; February 24, 2003, sent to printer.)


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT


relating to a study regarding certain child-care initiatives.               
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  STUDY AND REPORT ON CHILD-CARE INITIATIVES. (a)  
The Health and Human Services Commission shall study and produce a 
comprehensive report on state and local initiatives and 
collaborative initiatives targeted at enhancing the quality of 
child care, including initiatives funded from public or private 
sources.
	(b)  The Health and Human Services Commission shall 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)  The Health and Human Services Commission shall 
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.
	(d)  The report must:                                                          
		(1)  include a description of each initiative's 
activity, including:        
			(A)  factors relevant to the initiative's 
success; and                     
			(B)  the amount and sources of the initiative's 
funding;                   
		(2)  describe programmatic best practices as models for 
replication statewide; and
		(3)  establish statewide benchmarks for quality child 
care.                 
	(e)  The Health and Human Services Commission shall submit 
the report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of 
the house of representatives, and the presiding officers of 
appropriate legislative committees not later than September 1, 
2004.
	SECTION 2.  EXPIRATION DATE.  This Act expires September 1, 
2005.            
	SECTION 3.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act takes effect 
immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members 
elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas 
Constitution.  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for 
immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2003.



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