81R11340 UM-D
By: Watson S.B. No. 2021
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to creating the Texas Early Learning Council.
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 71 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 71. TEXAS EARLY LEARNING COUNCIL
Sec. 71.001. TEXAS EARLY LEARNING COUNCIL. In this
chapter:
(1) "Board" means the board of the Texas Early
Learning Council.
(2) "Council" means the Texas Early Learning Council.
Sec. 71.002. BOARD. (a) The board is composed of:
(1) the administrative head of the following agencies
or that person's designee:
(A) the Texas Education Agency;
(B) the Health and Human Services Commission;
(C) the Department of Assistive and
Rehabilitative Services;
(D) the Texas Workforce Commission; and
(E) the Department of Family and Protective
Services;
(2) a representative from the Health and Human
Services Commission's nurse-family partnership program appointed
by the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services
Commission;
(3) a representative from the Health and Human
Services Commission's women's health program appointed by the
executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission;
(4) a representative from the early childhood
intervention services program appointed by the commissioner of the
Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services;
(5) one member appointed by the lieutenant governor;
(6) one member appointed by the speaker of the house of
representatives; and
(7) the following members appointed by the governor:
(A) an employee of the governor's office;
(B) an individual to represent federal
children's programs and services; and
(C) 11 members from the public and private
sectors who have an interest in early childhood care and education,
including representatives from the following fields:
(i) early childhood education and
development;
(ii) child care;
(iii) child advocacy;
(iv) parenting support;
(v) local community collaborations among
early care and education programs and services;
(vi) maternal and child health;
(vii) children with special needs;
(viii) business and industry;
(ix) labor; and
(x) law enforcement.
(b) The governor shall request that the director of the
regional office of the Administration for Children and Families of
the United States Department of Health and Human Services provide
the governor with a list of individuals, each of whom is eligible to
serve as a representative appointed under Subsection (a)(7)(B).
(c) In appointing the members of the council, the persons
making appointments must attempt to reflect the geographic, racial,
and cultural diversity of the state.
Sec. 71.003. PRESIDING OFFICER. The governor shall
designate a member of the board from the private sector to serve as
co-presiding officer of the board with the member who is an employee
of the governor's office.
Sec. 71.004. TERMS. The members of the board appointed by
the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house
of representatives serve for staggered six-year terms, with the
terms of one-third of the members expiring on February 1 of each
even-numbered year.
Sec. 71.005. COMPENSATION. The members of the board serve
without compensation but are entitled to reimbursement for actual
and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of official
duties as provided by the General Appropriations Act.
Sec. 71.006. POWERS AND DUTIES. The council shall:
(1) coordinate existing state programs and services
for children from birth to age three in order to better meet the
early learning needs of children and their families;
(2) implement the vision of a statewide, high-quality,
accessible, and comprehensive early learning system to benefit all
young children;
(3) address how the state can:
(A) expand access to high-quality early
childhood development programs for all at-risk children under three
years of age; and
(B) improve the quality of services offered to
very young children and their families;
(4) inventory public and private early learning
programs in the state and, if feasible, rate the effectiveness of
each program;
(5) work with pre-K and elementary school educators to
establish a link between elementary schools and programs for
children from birth to age three, and from age three to age five;
and
(6) link early learning programs to other early
childhood providers, programs, and services, including specialized
development and mental health services, pediatric and perinatal
health services, and public benefit programs.
Sec. 71.007. ANNUAL REPORT. Not later than December 1 of
each year, the council shall report to the governor and legislature
on the council's progress towards its goals and objectives.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.