By: Watson S.B. No. 2022

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to creating an account to promote early child-care development.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code, is amended by adding Section 40.0567 to read as follows:

Sec. 40.0567. EARLY CHILD-CARE DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT. (a) The early child-care development account is an account in the general revenue fund that may be appropriated only to the department for the purposes and activities authorized by this section and for reasonable administrative expenses under this chapter.

(b) The account consists of:

(1) money allocated under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Pub. L. No. 111-5) or any other similar federal legislation that is enacted on or after January 1, 2009, for improving the provision of and quality of infant and toddler care;

(2) all money appropriated for the purposes of this section;

(3) any gifts, grants, or donations received for the purposes of this section; and

(4) interest earned on money in the account.

(c) The account is exempt from the application of Section 403.095, Government Code.

(d) The purpose of the account is to:

(1) carry out federal directives under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Pub. L. No. 111-5) or any other similar federal legislation that is enacted on or after January 1, 2009;

(2) fund continuing education initiatives that implement infant and toddler child-care best practices for caregivers; and

(3) provide financial support to:

(A) parent and consumer education initiatives; and

(B) collaborations with the Early Head Start program.

SECTION 2. 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.