87R5955 MM-D
By: Raney H.B. No. 1695
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to establishing reimbursement rates for certain
child-care providers participating in the subsidized child-care
program administered by the Texas Workforce Commission.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter G, Chapter 2308, Government Code, is
amended by amending Section 2308.315 and adding Section 2308.3151
to read as follows:
Sec. 2308.315. REIMBURSEMENT RATES FOR CHILD-CARE
PROVIDERS [CHILD CARE]. In establishing reimbursement rates for
child-care providers participating in the commission's subsidized
child-care program, each board shall equalize the amount that
child-care providers providing care to children in the same
commission age group receive based on the maximum number of
children the provider may enroll under the child-to-caregiver
ratios and group sizes adopted by the Health and Human Services
Commission.
Sec. 2308.3151. REIMBURSEMENT RATES FOR TEXAS RISING STAR
PROGRAM PROVIDERS. (a) Each board shall establish graduated
reimbursement rates for child care based on the commission's Texas
Rising Star Program.
(b) The minimum reimbursement rate for a Texas Rising Star
Program provider must be greater than the maximum rate established
for a provider who is not a Texas Rising Star Program provider for
the same category of care. The reimbursement rate must be:
(1) at least five percent higher for a provider with a
two-star rating;
(2) at least seven percent higher for a provider with a
three-star rating; and
(3) at least nine percent higher for a provider with a
four-star rating.
(c) The Texas Rising Star Program rate differential
established in this section shall be funded with federal child-care
[child care] development funds.
[(d) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), a board may not
reimburse a provider under the reimbursement rates provided by
Subsection (b) before the date any revisions to rules recommended
by the Texas Rising Star Program review work group under Section
2308.321 are adopted by the commission.]
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.