Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas House Bill HB1615 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New	Differences
1	1	H.B. No. 1615
2	2
3	3
4	4	AN ACT
5	5	relating to strategies to increase the availability of child-care
6	6	and prekindergarten programs.
7	7	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
8	8	SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is
9	9	amended by adding Sections 302.0051 and 302.0063 to read as
10	10	follows:
11	11	Sec. 302.0051. PREKINDERGARTEN PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM. (a)
12	12	The commission shall establish and administer a prekindergarten
13	13	partnership program to assist child-care providers who meet the
14	14	definition of an eligible private provider under Section 29.171,
15	15	Education Code, in partnering with local school districts and
16	16	open-enrollment charter schools to provide the prekindergarten
17	17	classes required under Section 29.153, Education Code.
18	18	(b) Using existing funds, the commission shall coordinate
19	19	with the Texas Education Agency to develop joint strategies to
20	20	expand the availability of prekindergarten partnership programs.
21	21	Sec. 302.0063. CHILD-CARE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
22	22	SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. (a) In this section, "program" means the
23	23	professional development scholarship program established under
24	24	this section.
25	25	(b) From funds appropriated for the purpose, the commission
26	26	shall establish and administer a professional development
27	27	scholarship program for current and prospective child-care
28	28	workers.
29	29	(c) A scholarship under the program may be used to pay an
30	30	individual's costs related to:
31	31	(1) earning:
32	32	(A) a Child Development Associate (CDA)
33	33	credential; or
34	34	(B) an associate's degree or bachelor's degree in
35	35	early childhood education or another related field from a public or
36	36	private institution of higher education; and
37	37	(2) participation in a registered child-care
38	38	apprenticeship program.
39	39	(d) The program may be used to pay for other ancillary costs
40	40	for child-care workers who are enrolled in an educational program
41	41	or apprenticeship program described by Subsection (c), including:
42	42	(1) books and supplies;
43	43	(2) release time or stipends to attend classes;
44	44	(3) costs related to the examination for the Child
45	45	Development Associate (CDA) credential;
46	46	(4) travel to attend classes or attend a hands-on
47	47	practicum training; and
48	48	(5) stipends for mentors or master teachers who
49	49	provide hands-on training at a child-care program.
50	50	SECTION 2. Section 2308.256(a), Government Code, is amended
51	51	to read as follows:
52	52	(a) A board is composed as follows:
53	53	(1) representatives of the private sector, who:
54	54	(A) constitute a majority of the membership of
55	55	the board; and
56	56	(B) are owners of business concerns, chief
57	57	executives or chief operating officers of nongovernmental
58	58	employers, or other private sector executives who have substantial
59	59	management or policy responsibilities;
60	60	(2) representatives of organized labor and
61	61	community-based organizations, who constitute not less than 15
62	62	percent of the membership of the board; and
63	63	(3) representatives of each of the following:
64	64	(A) educational agencies, including community
65	65	colleges and secondary and postsecondary practitioners
66	66	representing vocational education, that are representative of all
67	67	educational agencies in the service delivery area;
68	68	(B) vocational rehabilitation agencies;
69	69	(C) public assistance agencies;
70	70	(D) economic development agencies;
71	71	(E) the public employment service;
72	72	(F) local literacy councils; [and]
73	73	(G) adult basic and continuing education
74	74	organizations; and
75	75	(H) the child-care workforce.
76	76	SECTION 3. Section 2308.256(g), Government Code, is
77	77	repealed.
78	78	SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
79	79	______________________________ ______________________________
80	80	President of the Senate Speaker of the House
81	81	I certify that H.B. No. 1615 was passed by the House on April
82	82	13, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 126, Nays 21, 2 present, not
83	83	voting.
84	84	______________________________
85	85	Chief Clerk of the House
86	86	I certify that H.B. No. 1615 was passed by the Senate on May
87	87	17, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 26, Nays 5.
88	88	______________________________
89	89	Secretary of the Senate
90	90	APPROVED: _____________________
91	91	Date
92	92	_____________________
93	93	Governor