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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to state agency authority to establish child-care subsidy |
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programs. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 659, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 659.062 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 659.062. CHILD-CARE SUBSIDY PROGRAM. (a) A state |
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agency using money appropriated to the agency by this state may |
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establish a child-care subsidy program to assist the agency's lower |
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income employees with their child-care costs. The assistance may be |
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provided for full-time and part-time child care, before-school and |
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after-school programs, and daytime summer programs. |
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(b) Two or more state agencies in a multitenant building may |
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establish a child-care subsidy program and share the program costs |
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to provide employees of the agencies with child-care services |
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through a child-care facility located in the building. |
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(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), a state agency may |
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impose restrictions on the use of appropriated money for its |
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child-care subsidy program based on employees' needs, the agency's |
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staffing requirements, the local availability of child care, and |
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other factors determined by the agency, including eligibility |
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restrictions based on an employee's: |
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(1) full-time or part-time employment status; |
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(2) use of an on-site child-care facility; |
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(3) use of full-time child care; or |
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(4) use of child care in limited locations. |
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(d) A state agency that establishes a child-care subsidy |
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program under this section: |
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(1) shall give preference for the payment of subsidies |
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to agency employees who are veterans and who meet the program |
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participation requirements under this section and agency rules; and |
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(2) may not limit the payment of subsidies to only |
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child-care facilities licensed by this state under Chapter 42, |
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Human Resources Code. |
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(e) Subject to any restriction established under Subsection |
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(c) and any preference provided under Subsection (d)(1), an |
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employee who qualifies as a lower income employee under a state |
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agency's child-care subsidy program is eligible to receive a |
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child-care subsidy for the care of each child under 13 years of age |
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or, for a child with a disability, under 18 years of age. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |