By: Strama H.B. No. 3587
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to establishment of the Texas Early Learning Council.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 29, Education Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter
  E-1 to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER E-1.  TEXAS EARLY LEARNING COUNCIL
         Sec. 29.171.  DEFINITION.  In this subchapter, "council" 
  means the Texas Early Learning Council.
         Sec. 29.172.  TEXAS EARLY LEARNING COUNCIL:  ESTABLISHMENT
  AND PURPOSES.  The Texas Early Learning Council is an advisory
  council established to improve school readiness in this state.
         Sec. 29.173.  COMPOSITION AND ORGANIZATION.  (a)  The
  council is composed of 12 members as follows:
               (1)  two members representing Head Start agencies in
  this state, including the director of the Texas Head Start State
  Collaboration Office and one member appointed by the governor;
               (2)  one member representing the Department of Family
  and Protective Services, appointed by the commissioner of the
  Department of Family and Protective Services;
               (3)  one member representing the Department of State
  Health Services, appointed by the commissioner of the Department of
  State Health Services;
               (4)  one member representing the Department of
  Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, appointed by the
  commissioner of the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative
  Services;
               (5)  one member representing the agency, appointed by
  the commissioner of education;
               (6)  one member representing a school district in this
  state who has expertise in early childhood learning, appointed by
  the commissioner of education;
               (7)  one member representing a public institution of
  higher education who teaches courses or engages in research
  concerning school readiness, appointed by the commissioner of
  higher education;
               (8)  one member representing local providers of early
  childhood education and development services, appointed by the
  governor;
               (9)  two members who have expertise in early childhood
  learning, appointed by the governor; and
               (10)  one member representing parents of preschool
  students, appointed by the governor.
         (b)  The members of the council annually shall elect one
  member to serve as the presiding officer.
         (c)  Council meetings are held at the call of the presiding
  officer.
         (d)  The council is administratively attached to the agency
  but is independent of direction by the agency or the commissioner of
  education.  The agency shall provide administrative support and
  resources to the council as necessary to enable the council to
  perform its duties.
         (e)  The agencies represented on the council shall provide
  periodic staff support of specialists as needed to the council.
         (f)  The council is not subject to Chapter 2110, Government
  Code.
         Sec. 29.174.  SUNSET PROVISION.  The council is subject to
  Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act).  Unless continued
  in existence as provided by that chapter, the council is abolished
  and this subchapter expires September 1, 2017.
         Sec. 29.175.  DUTIES.  (a)  In an effort to improve the
  school readiness of young children in this state, the council
  shall:
               (1)  develop effective, comprehensive standards for
  early childhood learning and school readiness that recognizes but
  may not be limited to the importance of literacy, numeracy, social
  and emotional development, and the physical health of children,
  including developing systems for rating and improving child-care
  and early childhood learning programs;
               (2)  develop recommendations for outreach to and
  communication with parents and guardians of young children,
  including children in underrepresented or special populations,
  concerning the availability of and need and best practices for
  child care and early childhood learning, for the purpose of
  increasing the overall participation of children in existing
  federal, state, and local child-care and early childhood learning
  programs;
               (3)  identify opportunities for and barriers to
  collaboration and coordination among federally funded and
  state-funded child development, child-care, and early childhood
  learning programs and services, including collaboration and
  coordination among state agencies responsible for administering
  such programs;
               (4)  develop recommendations concerning statewide
  professional development, including career advancement, for early
  childhood educators;
               (5)  provide recommendations concerning the
  establishment of a unified data collection system for public
  child-care and early childhood learning programs and services
  throughout this state;
               (6)  conduct a periodic statewide needs assessment
  concerning the quality and availability of early childhood
  education and development programs and services for children from
  birth to school entry, including an assessment of the availability
  of high-quality prekindergarten services for educationally
  disadvantaged children in this state; and
               (7)  assess the capacity and effectiveness of public
  and private institutions of higher education, including junior
  colleges, in supporting the preparation of early childhood
  educators, including the extent to which such institutions have in
  place articulation agreements, professional development and career
  advancement plans, and internships or similar opportunities for
  students to work in a Head Start or prekindergarten program.
         (b)  The council shall hold public hearings and provide
  opportunities for public comment concerning the activities of the
  council, including the activities of the council in carrying out
  duties under Subsection (a).
         (c)  Not later than November 1 of each year, the council
  shall submit to the governor, the legislature, and the director of
  the Texas Head Start State Collaboration Office a report concerning
  the activities of the council, including the activities of the
  council in carrying out duties under Subsection (a).
         Sec. 29.176.  COORDINATOR.  The commissioner of education
  shall coordinate the activities of the council.
         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, 2013.