BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                          S.B. 23

79R1050 CLG-D                                                                                                            By: Zaffirini

                                                                                                                                            Eduaction

                                                                                                                                            2/25/2005

                                                                                                                                              As Filed

 

 

AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Current state law, enacted by S.B. 76 during the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, allows certain agencies to work with the State Center for Early Childhood Education to integrate and coordinate pre-kindergarten, Head Start, and after school child care programs, and to streamline eligibility and registration procedures for such programs.  In addition, S.B. 76 allows for the coordination of agencies and service providers in a coordination of resources demonstration project.  Preliminary findings from the 11 Texas Early Education Model (TEEM) demonstration projects established by S.B. 76 show substantial and often significant growth for children in many areas of literacy and language within two to three months.

 

As proposed, S.B. 23 builds on the S.B. 76 integration model by requiring the commissioner of education to coordinate early childhood education services and by authorizing the commissioner to establish financial incentives for early childhood education providers that provide coordinated services.  In addition, S.B. 23 authorizes the development of three integration demonstration projects by an early childhood education program provider 

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the commissioner of education in SECTION 2 (Section 29.1561, Education Code) of this bill.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Sections 29.155 (g) and (i), Education Code, by requiring, rather than authorizing, the commissioner of education (commissioner) to provide for certain programs from amounts appropriated.  Makes a nonsubstantive change.

 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 29.1561, Education Code, by adding Subsection (c) to require the commissioner, by rule, to establish a program to award financial incentives to providers of early childhood care and education programs that, to the greatest extent practicable, provide coordinated services authorized under Section 29.158(c).

 

SECTION 3. Amends Section 29.160(c), Education Code, to authorize certain entities to develop three, rather than one, or more coordination-of-resources demonstration projects.

 

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2005.