By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 1555
 
  (Raney, Button)
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to establishing reimbursement rates for certain
  child-care providers participating in the subsidized child-care
  program administered by the Texas Workforce Commission.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter G, Chapter 2308, Government Code, is
  amended by amending Section 2308.315 and adding Section 2308.3151
  to read as follows:
         Sec. 2308.315.  REIMBURSEMENT RATES FOR CHILD-CARE
  PROVIDERS [CHILD CARE].  Each board shall establish and implement
  graduated reimbursement rates for child-care providers
  participating in the commission's subsidized child-care program
  that align the commission's age groupings with the
  child-to-caregiver ratios and group sizes adopted by the Health and
  Human Services Commission.  The graduated rates shall provide the
  highest reimbursement rate to child-care providers that provide
  care to children in the age group with the lowest
  child-to-caregiver ratio.  The commission shall supply any
  demographic data needed by the board to establish the rates.
         Sec. 2308.3151.  REIMBURSEMENT RATES FOR TEXAS RISING STAR
  PROGRAM PROVIDERS. (a)  Each board shall establish graduated
  reimbursement rates for child care based on the commission's Texas
  Rising Star Program.
         (b)  The minimum reimbursement rate for a Texas Rising Star
  Program provider must be greater than the maximum rate established
  for a provider who is not a Texas Rising Star Program provider for
  the same category of care. The reimbursement rate must be:
               (1)  at least five percent higher for a provider with a
  two-star rating;
               (2)  at least seven percent higher for a provider with a
  three-star rating; and
               (3)  at least nine percent higher for a provider with a
  four-star rating.
         (c)  The Texas Rising Star Program rate differential
  established in this section shall be funded with federal child-care
  [child care] development funds.
         (d)  The commission shall examine and implement strategies
  to address the increased costs a Texas Rising Star Program provider
  with a four-star or three-star rating would incur to provide care to
  infants and toddlers due to low child-to-caregiver ratios for
  children in those age groups. [Notwithstanding Subsection (b), a
  board may not reimburse a provider under the reimbursement rates
  provided by Subsection (b) before the date any revisions to rules
  recommended by the Texas Rising Star Program review work group
  under Section 2308.321 are adopted by the commission.]
         SECTION 2.  Not later than December 1, 2023, each local
  workforce development board shall establish the child-care
  reimbursement rates required under Section 2308.315, Government
  Code, as amended by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.