H.B. No. 1615
AN ACT
relating to strategies to increase the availability of child-care
and prekindergarten programs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is
amended by adding Sections 302.0051 and 302.0063 to read as
follows:
Sec. 302.0051. PREKINDERGARTEN PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM. (a)
The commission shall establish and administer a prekindergarten
partnership program to assist child-care providers who meet the
definition of an eligible private provider under Section 29.171,
Education Code, in partnering with local school districts and
open-enrollment charter schools to provide the prekindergarten
classes required under Section 29.153, Education Code.
(b) Using existing funds, the commission shall coordinate
with the Texas Education Agency to develop joint strategies to
expand the availability of prekindergarten partnership programs.
Sec. 302.0063. CHILD-CARE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. (a) In this section, "program" means the
professional development scholarship program established under
this section.
(b) From funds appropriated for the purpose, the commission
shall establish and administer a professional development
scholarship program for current and prospective child-care
workers.
(c) A scholarship under the program may be used to pay an
individual's costs related to:
(1) earning:
(A) a Child Development Associate (CDA)
credential; or
(B) an associate's degree or bachelor's degree in
early childhood education or another related field from a public or
private institution of higher education; and
(2) participation in a registered child-care
apprenticeship program.
(d) The program may be used to pay for other ancillary costs
for child-care workers who are enrolled in an educational program
or apprenticeship program described by Subsection (c), including:
(1) books and supplies;
(2) release time or stipends to attend classes;
(3) costs related to the examination for the Child
Development Associate (CDA) credential;
(4) travel to attend classes or attend a hands-on
practicum training; and
(5) stipends for mentors or master teachers who
provide hands-on training at a child-care program.
SECTION 2. Section 2308.256(a), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) A board is composed as follows:
(1) representatives of the private sector, who:
(A) constitute a majority of the membership of
the board; and
(B) are owners of business concerns, chief
executives or chief operating officers of nongovernmental
employers, or other private sector executives who have substantial
management or policy responsibilities;
(2) representatives of organized labor and
community-based organizations, who constitute not less than 15
percent of the membership of the board; and
(3) representatives of each of the following:
(A) educational agencies, including community
colleges and secondary and postsecondary practitioners
representing vocational education, that are representative of all
educational agencies in the service delivery area;
(B) vocational rehabilitation agencies;
(C) public assistance agencies;
(D) economic development agencies;
(E) the public employment service;
(F) local literacy councils; [and]
(G) adult basic and continuing education
organizations; and
(H) the child-care workforce.
SECTION 3. Section 2308.256(g), Government Code, is
repealed.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1615 was passed by the House on April
13, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 126, Nays 21, 2 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1615 was passed by the Senate on May
17, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 26, Nays 5.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor