81R8257 UM-D
By: Lucio S.B. No. 1613
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to establishing an Early Childhood Behavioral
Consultation Grant Program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 3, Human Resources Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 75 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 75. EARLY CHILDHOOD BEHAVIORAL CONSULTATION GRANT PROGRAM
Sec. 75.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services
Commission.
(2) "Office" means the commission's Office of Early
Childhood Coordination.
Sec. 75.002. EARLY CHILDHOOD BEHAVIORAL CONSULTATION GRANT
PROGRAM. (a) The commission shall establish a grant program and
award grants for the implementation of programs to provide early
childhood behavioral consultation services to certain licensed
child-care facilities.
(b) The office shall administer the grant program and award
grants to applicants in a manner that ensures that the programs
operate in multiple communities that are geographically diverse.
Sec. 75.003. PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS. A program funded by a
grant awarded under this chapter must:
(1) employ an early childhood behavioral consultant
who:
(A) holds a degree, credential, or certification
related to early childhood services considered appropriate by the
grantee in accordance with the guidance of the office;
(B) provides to child-care providers services
designed to:
(i) increase and expand providers'
knowledge regarding the provision of safe and developmentally
appropriate care to children less than three years of age;
(ii) increase the child-care staff's
ability to appropriately address challenging behaviors;
(iii) increase the competencies of
caregivers and parents of at-risk children in child-care settings;
(iv) improve the social, emotional, and
behavioral functioning of at-risk children in child-care settings;
and
(v) prevent young children who display
challenging or atypical behaviors from being removed from their
child-care settings;
(C) provides additional appropriate services as
necessary, that may include:
(i) on-site consultations and technical
assistance;
(ii) program assessment;
(iii) social-emotional screening or
assessment;
(iv) training for child-care providers and
caregivers;
(v) facilitating parent-provider
conferences;
(vi) facilitating parent and provider
support groups; and
(vii) linking providers and families to
services and resources within the community; and
(D) works with regional child-care licensing
offices to identify and solicit voluntary participation of
child-care providers in the program; and
(2) facilitate or participate in a community-based
coordinating group, comprised of persons in the region with
expertise in early childhood services, including technical
assistance and support services, that shall:
(A) conduct a community assessment or
environmental survey related to early childhood services in the
region;
(B) develop a strategic plan to improve the
coordination and delivery of services and supports to child-care
facilities and the children they serve;
(C) assist in identifying potential early
childhood behavioral consultants available to assist child-care
providers;
(D) promote the development of additional early
childhood behavioral consultants in rural areas;
(E) identify local funding and other community
resources available to assist providers in improving the safety and
quality of the care provided to young children;
(F) identify challenges facing the regional
population and identify and develop solutions to address those
challenges; and
(G) help educate parents about quality infant and
toddler care.
Sec. 75.004. APPLICATION FOR GRANT. (a) A public or
private entity may apply for a grant.
(b) An applicant must submit a written application to the
office on a form prescribed by the office that requires the
applicant to provide:
(1) data on the number of child-care facilities
located in the community in which the applicant proposes to
operate;
(2) a description of existing early childhood services
available to child-care facilities in that community;
(3) a description of existing child-care partnerships
within the community in which the applicant proposes to operate;
and
(4) any other relevant information as determined by
the office.
Sec. 75.005. CONSIDERATIONS IN AWARDING GRANTS. (a) In
determining whether to award a grant to an applicant, the office
shall consider:
(1) the demonstrated need for an early childhood
behavioral consultation program in the community in which the
applicant proposes to operate, as determined by:
(A) the number of child-care facilities serving
children less than three years of age;
(B) the number of low-income children receiving
subsidized child-care services;
(C) the number of children retained in
kindergarten, first grade, and second grade; and
(D) the applicant's ability to participate in
ongoing monitoring and performance evaluations, including the
applicant's ability to collect and provide information requested by
the office for evaluation purposes;
(2) the applicant's demonstrated history of:
(A) on-going relationships with the child-care
provider population served;
(B) support from the child-care provider
community;
(C) developing and sustaining innovative,
high-quality programs that meet the needs of child-care providers
and communities; and
(D) conducting program assessments, on-site
consultations, meetings, training, and quality improvement
projects with the child-care provider community; and
(3) the use of evidence-based, best practices within
the applicant's program proposal.
(b) The office may require an applicant to demonstrate the
applicant's ability to match funds received through the grant
program. The office shall consult with early childhood
stakeholders in determining the level of matching required of
applicants.
Sec. 75.006. USE OF GRANT FUNDS. Grant funds awarded under
this chapter may be used to pay only those costs related to
implementing and operating an early childhood behavioral
consultation program, including costs related to:
(1) administering the program;
(2) training and managing program consultants;
(3) paying the salaries and expenses of program
consultants; and
(4) paying for services provided by outside
consultants as needed.
Sec. 75.007. PROGRAM MONITORING AND EVALUATION; ANNUAL
REPORT. (a) The office shall adopt performance indicators that are
designed to measure a grant recipient's performance with respect to
program standards adopted by the office.
(b) Not later than December 1 of each year, the office shall
prepare and submit a report to the committees of the senate and
house of representatives with primary jurisdiction over the
commission. The report must address the performance of each grant
recipient during the preceding state fiscal year with respect to
providing early childhood behavioral consultation program
services.
Sec. 75.008. GRANT PROGRAM FUNDING. (a) The commission
shall actively seek and apply for any available federal funds to
assist in financing the grant program established under this
chapter.
(b) The commission may use appropriated funds from the state
government and may accept gifts, donations, and grants of money
from the federal government, local governments, private
corporations, or other persons to assist in financing the grant
program.
SECTION 2. (a) As required by Section 75.008(a), Human
Resources Code, as added by this Act, the Health and Human Services
Commission shall, as soon as practicable, apply for any available
federal funds to assist in financing the early childhood behavioral
consultation grant program under Chapter 75, Human Resources Code,
as added by this Act.
(b) Not later than December 1, 2010, the Health and Human
Services Commission shall submit the initial annual report required
by Section 75.007, Human Resources Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.