86R11501 EAS-D
By: Goldman H.B. No. 3738
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to creating an Internet website of certain day-care
providers and parenting resources.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The heading to Section 42.025, Human Resources
Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 42.025. SEARCHABLE DATABASE OF PREVIOUSLY DISCIPLINED
FAMILY HOMES.
SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 42, Human Resources Code,
is amended by adding Section 42.026 to read as follows:
Sec. 42.026. INTERNET WEBSITE LISTING DAY-CARE PROVIDERS.
(a) The commission shall maintain a single, statewide Internet
website of day-care providers, including day-care centers, group
day-care homes, listed and registered family homes, and
prekindergarten programs provided by public school districts or
charter schools under Chapter 29, Education Code.
(b) The Internet website must:
(1) be user-friendly, easy to navigate, and designed to
assist parents in locating and selecting day-care providers;
(2) be searchable by the information provided under
Subdivision (5)(D);
(3) provide resources for parents regarding early
childhood education and development, including information or
materials developed under Section 2308.317(a)(5), Government Code;
(4) be easily accessible by:
(A) persons who speak a language other than
English; and
(B) persons and families of persons with a
disability; and
(5) include:
(A) information to assist families in
understanding the importance of licensed day-care facilities;
(B) an annual report compiled by the commission
on the number of deaths, serious injuries, and incidents of child
abuse and neglect that have occurred in day-care facilities;
(C) contact information for state and local
agencies that can provide additional assistance to parents and
individuals with questions about day-care facilities;
(D) the following information for each day-care
provider:
(i) the provider's address and zip code;
(ii) whether the provider is licensed,
listed, or registered;
(iii) the provider's hours of operation;
(iv) the setting of the day-care provider;
(v) the ages of children served by the
provider;
(vi) whether the provider participates in
the Texas Workforce Commission's child care subsidy program;
(vii) the provider's Texas Rising Star
Program rating provided by the Texas Workforce Commission;
(viii) the provider's status as an Early
Head Start or Head Start provider as provided by the Texas Head
Start State Collaboration Office; and
(ix) a link to each inspection report for
the provider posted on the commission's Internet website; and
(E) an optional profile for each day-care
provider, developed in collaboration with the provider, that
includes a brief narrative about the provider, information about
the provider's services, and photographs.
(c) The commission shall consult with the Texas Early
Learning Council in developing the Internet website required by
this section.
(d) The commission shall make the Internet website
available through a mobile application for wireless communication
devices.
(e) The commission may contract with a third party to
establish the Internet website and mobile application for wireless
communication devices required under this section.
SECTION 3. Not later than January 1, 2020, the Health and
Human Services Commission shall make the Internet website required
by Section 42.026, Human Resources Code, as added by this Act,
available to the public.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.