88R14342 ANG-D
By: Bernal H.B. No. 4744
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to establishing a program to allow certain child-care
providers to provide free or reduced-cost breakfast and lunch
meals.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is
amended by adding Section 302.00437 to read as follows:
Sec. 302.00437. EARLY CHILDHOOD BREAKFAST AND LUNCH GRANT
PROGRAM. (a) In this section:
(1) "Child-care provider" means a day-care center or a
group day-care home licensed under Chapter 42, Human Resources
Code, or a family home registered under Chapter 42, Human Resources
Code.
(2) "Eligible child" means a child who:
(A) is eligible for services from a federal Head
Start or Early Head Start program;
(B) receives subsidized child-care services; or
(C) except for the child's age, meets a
requirement of Section 29.153(b), Education Code.
(3) "Eligible meal" means a breakfast or lunch that
meets the nutritional requirements for:
(A) the national school breakfast program as
provided by the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. Section
1773); or
(B) the national school lunch program of free or
reduced-price lunches under 7 C.F.R. Section 210.10 or a successor
regulation.
(4) "Program" means the early childhood breakfast and
lunch grant program established under this section.
(b) The commission shall establish the early childhood
breakfast and lunch grant program to award grants to child-care
providers to provide eligible meals to eligible children for free
or at a reduced cost.
(c) A child-care provider may elect to participate in the
program. A child-care provider participating in the program shall
offer eligible meals without charge or at a reduced cost to each
eligible enrolled child.
(d) From funds appropriated for the purpose, the commission
shall provide grants to reimburse child-care providers that
participate in the program for costs related to providing meals
under Subsection (c) in an amount established by the commission
that ensures each participating child-care provider is able to
receive a grant.
(e) The commission shall adopt rules to implement this
section, including rules regarding the eligibility criteria for
receiving a grant and the process for awarding a grant under this
section.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.