BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2739

By: Lopez

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerns have been raised regarding the lack of affordable, quality child care accessible to veterans. Child-care assistance websites associated with the various workforce solution centers across the state provide eligibility requirements and online applications, but some websites are difficult to find, difficult to navigate, and lack consistency in appearance. Veterans, especially low-income, single parent, and millennial veterans, have the greatest need for these services, but typically have the least access. H.B. 2739 seeks to ensure that child-care services for veterans are made readily available in an easily accessible format by requiring any state agency that provides these services to post information regarding the services online.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2739 amends the Government Code to require a state agency, including a public institution of higher education, that provides services to veterans to post on its website and provide in printed materials information on child-care services available to veterans and their families.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.