BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

                                                                                                                                           H.B. 1786

                                                                                                                                      By: Swinford

                                                                                                                                      Public Health

April 26, 2007

                                                                                                       Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

The Kids Café is a national program that was launched by America's Second Harvest in 1993 to serve nutritious meals to children at risk for hunger.  There are currently more than 1,600 Kids Cafés throughout the United States.  Kids Café alleviates childhood hunger by serving weekday dinners to children.

 

Texas currently exempts a variety of youth after-school and summer programs from child-care licensing requirements in order to facilitate charitable community programs.  HB 1786 would add meal programs that serve weekday evening meals to the list of community programs that are exempt from child-care licensing requirements. 

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or institution.

 

ANALYSIS

 

H.B. 1786 exempts food distribution programs that are operated by certain nonprofit food banks and serve an evening meal to children two years of age or older from child-care licensing requirements. The bill replaces the reference to the Department of Health with the Department of State Health Services.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2007