88R14068 MLH-D
By: Button H.B. No. 4698
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the collection and evaluation of data related to child
care programs in this state.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 302.0043, Labor Code, is amended by
adding Subsections (c-2), (c-3), and (c-4) to read as follows:
(c-2) The commission shall measure and evaluate the need for
and availability of child care in this state. The commission shall
consider:
(1) the total number of places available at all child
care providers in each local workforce development area categorized
by:
(A) subsidized and nonsubsidized places;
(B) filled and unfilled places;
(C) child care providers participating in the
Texas Rising Star Program and child care providers not
participating in the Texas Rising Star Program; and
(D) for those child care providers participating
in the Texas Rising Star Program, the provider's Rising Star
rating;
(2) the total number of children receiving child care
services in each local workforce development area categorized by:
(A) children receiving subsidized child care and
children receiving nonsubsidized child care;
(B) child care providers participating in the
Texas Rising Star Program and child care providers not
participating in the Texas Rising Star Program; and
(C) for those child care providers participating
in the Texas Rising Star Program, the provider's Rising Star
rating; and
(3) the total number of children on a waiting list to
receive child care in each local workforce development area
categorized by:
(A) children waiting for a subsidized place; and
(B) children waiting for a nonsubsidized place.
(c-3) The commission shall to the extent possible compare
the data under Subsections (c-2)(2) and (3) to ensure there are no
children counted under both subdivisions.
(c-4) The commission shall coordinate with the Health and
Human Services Commission to acquire data required under Subsection
(c-2).
SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is
amended by adding Section 302.00432 to read as follows:
Sec. 302.00432. DATA REPORTING PILOT PROGRAM. (a) In this
section, "program" means the enhanced child care data reporting
pilot program established under this section.
(b) The commission shall develop and implement an enhanced
child care data reporting pilot program to enhance the commission's
ability to measure the need for and availability of child care in
this state.
(c) The commission shall partner with local workforce
development boards to conduct outreach to child care providers and
to recruit providers to participate in the program. The commission
shall ensure that participants in the program represent
geographically and demographically different areas of the state.
(d) A child care provider participating in the program shall
provide to the commission:
(1) the total number of places available at the
provider categorized by:
(A) subsidized and nonsubsidized places; and
(B) filled and unfilled places;
(2) the size of the provider's facility in comparison
to the number of places available;
(3) the number of places currently available in
comparison to the number of places that would be available at the
provider's maximum operational capacity;
(4) the total number of children on a waiting list to
receive child care from the provider categorized by:
(A) children waiting for a subsidized place; and
(B) children waiting for a nonsubsidized place;
and
(5) the number of employees who left employment with
the provider in the preceding year compared to the number of
additional employees the provider would need to operate at maximum
operational capacity.
(e) The commission shall to the extent possible compare the
data collected under the program to ensure that:
(1) no children are counted under both the total
number of children enrolled in a child care program and the total
number of children on a waiting list to receive child care in a
local workforce development area; and
(2) no children are counted on multiple waiting lists
when determining the number of children waiting for child care in a
local workforce development area.
(f) The commission shall sort data provided under this
section by local workforce development board.
(g) The commission shall work with the Health and Human
Services Commission to make joint recommendations to the
legislature on the development of an information technology system
that allows for the regular reporting and collection of the data
collected under the program statewide.
(h) Not later than December 1, 2024, the commission shall
provide a report to the legislature. The report must include:
(1) the local workforce development boards that
participated in the program;
(2) the types and characteristics of child care
providers in each local workforce development area that
participated in the program;
(3) the data collected through the program; and
(4) recommendations to the legislature to improve the
availability of child care in this state, including the
recommendations developed under Subsection (g).
(i) The commission may use any available funding to
implement the program.
(j) The commission shall ensure that no personally
identifiable information is disclosed in the report or the program.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.