86R11501 EAS-D

By: Goldman, et al. H.B. No. 3738

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to creating an Internet website of certain day-care providers and parenting resources.

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

SECTION 1. The heading to Section 42.025, Human Resources Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 42.025. SEARCHABLE DATABASE OF PREVIOUSLY DISCIPLINED FAMILY HOMES.

SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 42, Human Resources Code, is amended by adding Section 42.026 to read as follows:

Sec. 42.026. INTERNET WEBSITE LISTING DAY-CARE PROVIDERS. (a) The commission shall maintain a single, statewide Internet website of day-care providers, including day-care centers, group day-care homes, listed and registered family homes, and prekindergarten programs provided by public school districts or charter schools under Chapter 29, Education Code.

(b) The Internet website must:

(1) be user-friendly, easy to navigate, and designed to assist parents in locating and selecting day-care providers;

(2) be searchable by the information provided under Subdivision (5)(D);

(3) provide resources for parents regarding early childhood education and development, including information or materials developed under Section 2308.317(a)(5), Government Code;

(4) be easily accessible by:

(A) persons who speak a language other than English; and

(B) persons and families of persons with a disability; and

(5) include:

(A) information to assist families in understanding the importance of licensed day-care facilities;

(B) an annual report compiled by the commission on the number of deaths, serious injuries, and incidents of child abuse and neglect that have occurred in day-care facilities;

(C) contact information for state and local agencies that can provide additional assistance to parents and individuals with questions about day-care facilities;

(D) the following information for each day-care provider:

(i) the provider's address and zip code;

(ii) whether the provider is licensed, listed, or registered;

(iii) the provider's hours of operation;

(iv) the setting of the day-care provider;

(v) the ages of children served by the provider;

(vi) whether the provider participates in the Texas Workforce Commission's child care subsidy program;

(vii) the provider's Texas Rising Star Program rating provided by the Texas Workforce Commission;

(viii) the provider's status as an Early Head Start or Head Start provider as provided by the Texas Head Start State Collaboration Office; and

(ix) a link to each inspection report for the provider posted on the commission's Internet website; and

(E) an optional profile for each day-care provider, developed in collaboration with the provider, that includes a brief narrative about the provider, information about the provider's services, and photographs.

(c) The commission shall consult with the Texas Early Learning Council in developing the Internet website required by this section.

(d) The commission shall make the Internet website available through a mobile application for wireless communication devices.

(e) The commission may contract with a third party to establish the Internet website and mobile application for wireless communication devices required under this section.

SECTION 3. Not later than January 1, 2020, the Health and Human Services Commission shall make the Internet website required by Section 42.026, Human Resources Code, as added by this Act, available to the public.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.