By:  Chavez                                                       H.B. No. 1272


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to certain requirements for prekindergarten programs for public school students. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 29.1532, Education Code, is amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows: (b) A [If a] school [district contracts with a private entity for the operation of the] district's prekindergarten program, including a program operated by a private entity contracting with the district, [the program] must at a minimum comply with the applicable child-care licensing standards adopted by the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services under Section 42.042, Human Resources Code. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules designed to ensure the school district's compliance with the standards. (d) Before a school district may implement a prekindergarten program, the district shall: (1) investigate the possibility of sharing program sites with existing child-care programs licensed by the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services and existing federal Head Start programs; and (2) coordinate use of any sites to the greatest extent possible. (e) A school district shall implement to the greatest extent possible coordinated use of licensed child-care and Head Start sites with existing prekindergarten programs. SECTION 2. A school district's prekindergarten program established before September 1, 2003, is not required to comply with the applicable child-care standards adopted by the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, as required by Section 29.1532(b), Education Code, as amended by this Act, until September 1, 2006. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.