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.