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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of the governor's task force on the |
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governance of early childhood education and care. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle D, Title 4, Government Code, is amended |
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by adding Chapter 455 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 455. GOVERNOR'S TASK FORCE ON GOVERNANCE OF EARLY |
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CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE |
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Sec. 455.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "task force" |
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means the governor's task force on the governance of early |
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childhood education and care established under this chapter. |
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Sec. 455.002. ESTABLISHMENT. (a) The governor's task |
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force on the governance of early childhood education and care is |
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established to address the governance and operational challenges of |
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the early childhood education system in this state. |
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(b) The task force is administratively attached to the Texas |
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Education Agency. |
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Sec. 455.003. MEMBERS. (a) The task force shall include a |
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steering committee composed of the following members: |
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(1) the executive commissioner of the Health and Human |
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Services Commission; |
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(2) the commissioner of the Texas Education Agency; |
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(3) the chair of the Texas Workforce Commission; |
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(4) relevant division directors designated by the |
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individuals described by Subdivisions (1), (2), and (3); and |
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(5) the Texas Education Agency's inter-agency deputy |
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director of early childhood support. |
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(b) The task force is composed of the following members: |
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(1) one public school teacher certified to teach |
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prekindergarten; |
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(2) one certified teacher who is employed by a private |
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child-care facility or prekindergarten program; |
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(3) a representative from the Texas Head Start State |
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Collaboration Office appointed by the governor; |
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(4) a representative from the Department of State |
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Health Services appointed by the governor; |
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(5) two representatives from the Texas Early Learning |
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Council designated by the steering committee described by |
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Subsection (a); and |
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(6) at least two but not more than five individuals |
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with knowledge of early childhood education and care or experience |
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as a direct operator of an early childhood education and care |
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program, including business and community leaders, representatives |
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of nonprofit organizations, and other relevant stakeholders, |
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appointed by the governor. |
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(c) The governor shall appoint the chair of the task force. |
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(d) Chapter 2110 does not apply to the size, composition, or |
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duration of the task force. |
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Sec. 455.004. POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The task force shall: |
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(1) examine governance and operational challenges in |
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the early childhood education and care system, including federal |
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and local child-care programs and regulations governing those |
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programs; |
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(2) with a focus on improving government efficiency, |
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conduct a comprehensive review of the existing functions and |
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responsibilities of the Health and Human Services Commission, Texas |
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Education Agency, and Texas Workforce Commission related to early |
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childhood education and care; and |
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(3) consider methods for a large-scale redesign of the |
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administration of early childhood programs to improve efficiency, |
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service delivery, quality of care, and the efficient use of |
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funding. |
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(b) The steering committee of the task force shall: |
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(1) align goals and metrics of the Health and Human |
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Services Commission, Texas Education Agency, and Texas Workforce |
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Commission to measure progress, including aligning statewide data |
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systems; and |
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(2) require the Health and Human Services Commission, |
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Texas Education Agency, and Texas Workforce Commission to complete |
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and submit to the task force periodic progress reports and |
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regularly refine statewide goals and strategic plans to ensure |
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alignment with evolving early childhood education and care needs. |
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(c) From money appropriated or otherwise available for the |
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purpose, the Texas Education Agency shall pay the costs of data |
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system integration, research, and administration for the task |
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force. |
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Sec. 455.005. REPORT. Not later than December 1, 2026, the |
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task force shall develop and submit to the legislature policy and |
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budget recommendations designed to improve early childhood |
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education and care governance that will: |
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(1) facilitate and improve early childhood education |
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and care participant engagement with state agencies; and |
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(2) lead to improved operational efficiency, |
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increased affordable child care capacity, and improved |
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kindergarten readiness. |
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Sec. 455.006. EXPIRATION. The task force is abolished and |
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this chapter expires September 1, 2027. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |