By: Parker, Button (Senate Sponsor - Nelson) H.B. No. 2224

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 15, 2009; May 18, 2009, read first time and referred to Committee on Health and Human Services; May 22, 2009, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 22, 2009, sent to printer.)

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 2224 By: Nelson

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the minimum standards for licensed child-care facilities and registered family homes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as Paisley's Law.

SECTION 2. Section 42.042(e), Human Resources Code, is amended to read as follows:

(e) The department shall promulgate minimum standards that apply to licensed child-care facilities and to registered family homes covered by this chapter and that will:

(1) promote the health, safety, and welfare of children attending a facility or registered family home;

(2) promote safe, comfortable, and healthy physical facilities and registered family homes for children;

(3) ensure adequate supervision of children by capable, qualified, and healthy personnel;

(4) ensure adequate and healthy food service where food service is offered;

(5) prohibit racial discrimination by child-care facilities and registered family homes;

(6) require procedures for parental and guardian consultation in the formulation of children's educational and therapeutic programs; [and]

(7) prevent the breakdown of foster care and adoptive placement; and

(8) ensure that a child-care facility or registered family home follows the written directives from a child's physician or other health care professional licensed under the Occupations Code when providing specialized medical assistance required by the child.

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, 2009.

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