79R7747 CLG-D

By:  Villarreal                                                   H.B. No. 2461



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to establishing a program to provide child-care assistance 
to certain military personnel.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is 
amended by adding Section 302.0047 to read as follows:
	Sec. 302.0047.  CHILD-CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN 
MILITARY FAMILIES.  (a)  The commission by rule shall develop and 
administer a program under which child-care assistance is provided 
to eligible military personnel called to active duty overseas.
	(b)  To be eligible to receive child-care assistance under 
the program, a person must:
		(1)  have a child who is younger than 13 years of age;                 
		(2)  be a member of:                                                   
			(A)  the Texas National Guard called to federal 
active duty overseas; or
			(B)  a reserve component of the United States 
armed forces called to active duty overseas; and
		(3)  have a median household income that is not greater 
than 75 percent of the median state household income for the most 
recent year for which statistics are available.
	(c)  A person is ineligible for child-care assistance under 
the program if the person receives child-care assistance from the 
United States military.
	(d)  A person whose child is receiving subsidized child-care 
services under a program administered by the commission or a local 
workforce development board before the date the person is called to 
active duty overseas is eligible only for child-care assistance 
under the program for the cost of any additional child care provided 
to the child that results as a consequence of the person's call to 
active duty.
	(e)  Child-care assistance may be provided under the program 
only until the earlier of:
		(1)  the date the recipient is no longer serving on 
active duty overseas; or
		(2)  the date the recipient's youngest child reaches 
the age of 13.  
	SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable after the effective date 
of this Act, the Texas Workforce Commission shall adopt rules to 
implement Section 302.0047, Labor Code, as added by this Act.
	SECTION 3.  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, 2005.