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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to training requirements for certain child-care workers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 42.0421, Human Resources Code, is |
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amended by amending Subsections (a) and (f) and adding Subsections |
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(a-1) and (j) to read as follows: |
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(a) The minimum training standards prescribed by the |
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department under Section 42.042(p) for an employee, director, or |
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operator of a day-care center, group day-care home, or registered |
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family home must include: |
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(1) 60 [24] hours of initial training [that must be
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completed not later than the 90th day after the employee's first day
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of employment] for an employee of a day-care center who has no |
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previous training or less than two years of employment experience |
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in a regulated child-care facility, subject to the following |
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requirements: |
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(A) the employee must complete the initial |
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training not later than the first anniversary of the employee's |
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first day of employment; |
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(B) the employee must complete at least 36 hours |
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of the initial training not later than the 90th day after the |
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employee's first day of employment; and |
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(C) the employee must complete at least 24 [,
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eight] hours of the initial training [which must be completed] |
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before the employee is given responsibility for a group of |
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children; |
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(2) 24 hours of annual training for each employee of a |
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day-care center or group day-care home who has completed the |
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initial training required by Subdivision (1), excluding the |
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director, which must include at least: |
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(A) six hours of training in one or more of the |
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following areas: |
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(i) [(A)] child growth and development; |
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(ii) [(B)] guidance and discipline; and |
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(iii) [(C)] age-appropriate curriculum; |
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and |
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(B) six hours of training in |
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[(D)] teacher-child interaction; and |
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(3) 30 hours of annual training for each director of a |
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day-care center or group day-care home, or operator of a registered |
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family home, which must include at least six hours of training in |
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one or more of the following areas: |
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(A) child growth and development; |
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(B) guidance and discipline; |
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(C) age-appropriate curriculum; and |
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(D) teacher-child interaction. |
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(a-1) Thirty hours of the initial training required under |
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Subsection (a)(1), and the 12 hours of annual training required |
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under Subsections (a)(2)(A) and (B) must be provided by a person who |
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meets at least one of the qualifications listed under Subsection |
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(f)(1), (2), (3), or (4). |
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(f) The training required by this section must be |
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appropriately targeted and relevant to the age of the children who |
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will receive care from the individual receiving training and must |
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be provided by a person who: |
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(1) is a training provider registered with the Texas |
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Early Care and Education Career Development System's Texas Trainer |
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Registry that is maintained by the Texas Head Start State |
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Collaboration Office; |
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(2) is an instructor at a public or private secondary |
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school, an institution of higher education, as defined by Section |
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61.003, Education Code, or a private college or university |
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accredited by a recognized accrediting agency who teaches early |
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childhood development or another relevant course, as determined by |
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rules adopted by the commissioner of education and the commissioner |
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of higher education; |
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(3) is an employee of a state agency with relevant |
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expertise; |
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(4) is a physician, psychologist, licensed |
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professional counselor, social worker, or registered nurse; |
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(5) holds a generally recognized credential [or
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possesses documented knowledge] relevant to the training the person |
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will provide; |
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(6) is a registered family home care provider or |
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director of a day-care center or group day-care home in good |
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standing with the department, if applicable, and who: |
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(A) has demonstrated core knowledge in child |
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development and caregiving; and |
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(B) is only providing training at the home or |
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center in which the provider or director and the person receiving |
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training are employed; or |
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(7) has at least two years of experience working in |
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child development, a child development program, early childhood |
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education, a childhood education program, or a Head Start or Early |
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Head Start program and: |
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(A) has been awarded a Child Development |
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Associate (CDA) credential; or |
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(B) holds at least an associate's degree in child |
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development, early childhood education, or a related field. |
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(j) The training required by this section may be provided in |
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person or online. |
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SECTION 2. Section 42.0421(a), Human Resources Code, as |
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amended by this Act, applies only to an employee who is initially |
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employed by a day-care center on or after the effective date of this |
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Act. An employee who is initially employed by a day-care center |
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before that date is subject to the law in effect immediately before |
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the effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |