Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1555 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	S.B. No. 1555
	1	+	By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 1555
	2	+	(Raney, Button)
2	3
3	4
	5	+	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
4	6		AN ACT
5	7		relating to establishing reimbursement rates for certain
6	8		child-care providers participating in the subsidized child-care
7	9		program administered by the Texas Workforce Commission.
8	10		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
9	11		SECTION 1. Subchapter G, Chapter 2308, Government Code, is
10	12		amended by amending Section 2308.315 and adding Section 2308.3151
11	13		to read as follows:
12	14		Sec. 2308.315. REIMBURSEMENT RATES FOR CHILD-CARE
13	15		PROVIDERS [CHILD CARE]. Each board shall establish and implement
14	16		graduated reimbursement rates for child-care providers
15	17		participating in the commission's subsidized child-care program
16	18		that align the commission's age groupings with the
17	19		child-to-caregiver ratios and group sizes adopted by the Health and
18	20		Human Services Commission. The graduated rates shall provide the
19	21		highest reimbursement rate to child-care providers that provide
20	22		care to children in the age group with the lowest
21	23		child-to-caregiver ratio. The commission shall supply any
22	24		demographic data needed by the board to establish the rates.
23	25		Sec. 2308.3151. REIMBURSEMENT RATES FOR TEXAS RISING STAR
24	26		PROGRAM PROVIDERS. (a) Each board shall establish graduated
25	27		reimbursement rates for child care based on the commission's Texas
26	28		Rising Star Program.
27	29		(b) The minimum reimbursement rate for a Texas Rising Star
28	30		Program provider must be greater than the maximum rate established
29	31		for a provider who is not a Texas Rising Star Program provider for
30	32		the same category of care. The reimbursement rate must be:
31	33		(1) at least five percent higher for a provider with a
32	34		two-star rating;
33	35		(2) at least seven percent higher for a provider with a
34	36		three-star rating; and
35	37		(3) at least nine percent higher for a provider with a
36	38		four-star rating.
37	39		(c) The Texas Rising Star Program rate differential
38	40		established in this section shall be funded with federal child-care
39	41		[child care] development funds.
40	42		(d) The commission shall examine and implement strategies
41	43		to address the increased costs a Texas Rising Star Program provider
42	44		with a four-star or three-star rating would incur to provide care to
43	45		infants and toddlers due to low child-to-caregiver ratios for
44	46		children in those age groups. [Notwithstanding Subsection (b), a
45	47		board may not reimburse a provider under the reimbursement rates
46	48		provided by Subsection (b) before the date any revisions to rules
47	49		recommended by the Texas Rising Star Program review work group
48	50		under Section 2308.321 are adopted by the commission.]
49	51		SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2023, each local
50	52		workforce development board shall establish the child-care
51	53		reimbursement rates required under Section 2308.315, Government
52	54		Code, as amended by this Act.
53	55		SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
54		-	______________________________ ______________________________
55		-	President of the Senate Speaker of the House
56		-	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1555 passed the Senate on
57		-	April 29, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
58		-	______________________________
59		-	Secretary of the Senate
60		-	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1555 passed the House on
61		-	May 5, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 120, Nays 23, one present
62		-	not voting.
63		-	______________________________
64		-	Chief Clerk of the House
65		-	Approved:
66		-	______________________________
67		-	Date
68		-	______________________________
69		-	Governor