By: González of El Paso, et al. H.B. No. 211
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the regulation of child-care facilities and registered
  family homes, including the provision of services to children with
  disabilities or special needs.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 42.042, Human Resources Code, is amended
  by amending Subsection (e) and adding Subsections (e-6) and (e-7)
  to read as follows:
         (e)  The executive commissioner shall promulgate minimum
  standards that apply to licensed child-care facilities and to
  registered family homes covered by this chapter and that will:
               (1)  promote the health, safety, and welfare of
  children attending a facility or registered family home;
               (2)  promote safe, comfortable, and healthy physical
  facilities and registered family homes for children;
               (3)  ensure adequate supervision of children by
  capable, qualified, and healthy personnel;
               (4)  ensure adequate and healthy food service where
  food service is offered;
               (5)  except as provided by Subsection (e-6), prohibit
  [racial] discrimination based on race or disability status by
  child-care facilities and registered family homes;
               (6)  require procedures for parental and guardian
  consultation in the formulation of children's educational and
  therapeutic programs;
               (7)  prevent the breakdown of foster care and adoptive
  placement;
               (8)  ensure that a child-care facility or registered
  family home:
                     (A)  follows the directions of a child's physician
  or other health care provider in providing specialized medical
  assistance required by the child; and
                     (B)  maintains for a reasonable time a copy of any
  directions from the physician or provider that the parent provides
  to the facility or home; and
               (9)  ensure that a child's health, safety, and welfare
  are adequately protected on the grounds of a child-care facility or
  registered family home.
         (e-6)  A day-care center, group day-care home, or registered
  family home may deny services to a child with a disability only if,
  after meeting with the child and family, the facility or home
  determines under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42
  U.S.C. Section 12101 et seq.) that accommodating the child would:
               (1)  pose an undue burden on the facility or home as
  defined by 28 C.F.R. Section 36.104;
               (2)  pose a direct threat to the health or safety of
  other people at the facility or home as provided by 28 C.F.R.
  Section 36.208;
               (3)  require modifications in policies, practices, or
  procedures that would fundamentally alter the nature of the
  facility or home as provided by 28 C.F.R. Section 36.302; or
               (4)  pose a difficulty on or expense to the facility or
  home to remove architectural barriers to accommodate the child as
  provided by 28 C.F.R. Section 36.304.
         (e-7)  The minimum standards for a day-care center, group
  day-care home, or registered family home adopted under this section
  must require  the day-care center, group day-care home, or
  registered family home to:
               (1)  promote inclusive practices and integrate
  children with special needs into the general activities of the
  center or home; and
               (2)  allow certified childhood intervention service
  providers to have access to children who are clients attending the
  day-care center, group day-care home, or registered family home to
  provide services in accordance with an individualized family
  service plan while the child is integrated in an educational or
  instructional area of the center or home.
         SECTION 2.  Section 42.045(a), Human Resources Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A person who operates a licensed or certified facility
  shall maintain individual child development records, individual
  health records, records provided by parents for children with
  special needs, statistical records, and complete financial
  records.
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter C, Chapter 42, Human Resources Code,
  is amended by adding Section 42.069 to read as follows:
         Sec. 42.069.  REQUIRED INFORMATION FOR PARENTS. A day-care
  center, group day-care home, or registered family home shall
  provide written disclosure to a parent or guardian of each child
  attending the facility that includes:
               (1)  a copy of the commission's Early Childhood
  Intervention Developmental Checklist and any information available
  through the commission on accessing early childhood intervention in
  the area served by the day-care center, group day-care home, or
  registered family home under Part C, Individuals with Disabilities
  Education Act (20 U.S.C. Section 1431 et seq.); and
               (2)  the facility's policies on providing care to
  children with disabilities.
         SECTION 4.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
  Services Commission shall adopt the rules necessary to implement
  the changes in law made by this Act.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.