BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 1613
81R8257 UM-D By: Lucio
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Texas only requires a child care worker to have a general education diploma (GED) certificate and eight hours of pre-service training before the worker begins to care for children. The manner in which caregivers interact with young children can negatively or positively affect children's social and emotional behavior. Young children displaying challenging behaviors are unnecessarily being removed from their child-care program and are being placed in more restrictive and costly systems, such as alternative education programs, special education, and other mental health, child welfare, or juvenile justice systems instead of receiving the care and services needed to prepare them for school and life.
As proposed, S.B. 1613 requires the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to establish an Early Childhood Behavioral Consultation Grant Program (grant program) and award grants for the implementation of programs to provide early childhood behavioral consultation services to certain licensed child-care facilities. The bill sets forth the requirements of the grant program.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subtitle B, Title 3, Human Resources Code, by adding Chapter 75, as follows:
CHAPTER 75. EARLY CHILDHOOD BEHAVIORAL CONSULTATION GRANT PROGRAM
Sec. 75.001. DEFINITIONS. Defines "commission" and "office."
Sec. 75.002. EARLY CHILDHOOD BEHAVIORAL CONSULTATION GRANT PROGRAM. (a) Requires the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to establish an Early Childhood Behavioral Consultation Grant Program (grant program) and award grants for the implementation of programs to provide early childhood behavioral consultation services to certain licensed child-care facilities.
(b) Requires HHSC's Office of Early Childhood Coordination (office) to administer the grant program and award grants to applicants in a manner that ensures that the programs operate in multiple communities that are geographically diverse.
Sec. 75.003. PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS. Requires that a program funded by a grant awarded under this chapter:
(1) employ an early childhood behavioral consultant who holds a degree, credential, or certification related to early childhood services considered appropriate by the grantee in accordance with the guidance of the office; provides to child-care providers services designed to accomplish certain purposes; provides additional appropriate services as necessary, that may include certain services; and works with regional child-care licensing offices to identify and solicit voluntary participation of child-care providers in the program; and
(2) facilitate or participate in a community-based coordinating group, comprised of persons in the region with expertise in early childhood services, including technical assistance and support services, that are required to perform certain tasks.
Sec. 75.004. APPLICATION FOR GRANT. (a) Authorizes a public or private entity to apply for a grant.
(b) Requires an applicant to submit a written application to the office on a form prescribed by the office that requires the applicant to provide certain information.
Sec. 75.005. CONSIDERATIONS IN AWARDING GRANTS. (a) Requires the office, in determining whether to award a grant to an applicant, to consider the demonstrated need for an early childhood behavioral consultation program in the community in which the applicant proposes to operate, as determined by certain factors; the applicant's demonstrated history of certain factors; and the use of evidence-based, best practices within the applicant's program proposal.
(b) Authorizes the office to require an applicant to demonstrate the applicant's ability to match funds received through the grant program. Requires the office to consult with early childhood stakeholders in determining the level of matching required of applicants.
Sec. 75.006. USE OF GRANT FUNDS. Authorizes that grant funds awarded under this chapter be used to pay only those costs related to implementation and operating an early childhood behavioral consultation program, including certain costs.
Sec. 75.007. PROGRAM MONITORING AND EVALUATION; ANNUAL REPORT. (a) Requires the office to adopt performance indicators that are designed to measure a grant recipient's performance with respect to program standards adopted by the office.
(b) Requires the office, not later than December 1 of each year, to prepare and submit a report to the committees of the senate and house of representatives with primary jurisdiction over HHSC. Requires that the report address the performance of each grant recipient during the preceding state fiscal year with respect to providing early childhood behavioral consultation program services.
Sec. 75.008. GRANT PROGRAM FUNDING. (a) Requires HHSC to actively seek and apply for any available federal funds to assist in financing the grant program established under this chapter.
(b) Authorizes HHSC to use appropriated funds from the state government and to accept gifts, donations, and grants of money from the federal government, local governments, private corporations, or other persons to assist in financing the grant program.
SECTION 2. (a) Requires HHSC, as required by Section 75.008(a), Human Resources Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable, to apply for any available federal funds to assist in financing the early childhood behavioral consultation grant program under Chapter 75, Human Resources Code, as added by this Act.
(b) Requires HHSC, not later than December 1, 2010, to submit the initial annual report required by Section 75.007, Human Resources Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2009.