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.