88S30274 BDP-D
By: Smith H.B. No. 121
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to establishing a pilot program to provide school district
employees assistance with child-care services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 22, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 22.012 to read as follows:
Sec. 22.012. CHILD-CARE SERVICES ASSISTANCE PILOT PROGRAM.
(a) In this section:
(1) "Child-care facility" has the meaning assigned by
Section 42.002, Human Resources Code.
(2) "Pilot program" means the child-care services
assistance pilot program established under this section.
(b) The agency shall establish the child-care services
assistance pilot program to award grants to school districts to
provide child-care services for children of district employees.
(c) A grant awarded to a school district under the pilot
program may be used to:
(1) establish a child-care facility on district
property;
(2) contract with a child-care facility to provide
child-care services for children of district employees; or
(3) provide district employees with stipends to cover
all or part of the costs of child-care services.
(d) The agency shall:
(1) establish criteria for awarding grants to school
districts under the pilot program that include criteria based on:
(A) the availability of child-care facilities in
a district;
(B) the need for child-care services assistance
among district employees; and
(C) any other factor the agency determines is
necessary and relevant; and
(2) to the extent practicable, award grants to a
representative sample of school districts, including at least:
(A) one school district with a student enrollment
of 10,000 or more;
(B) one school district with a student enrollment
of at least 2,500 but less than 10,000;
(C) one school district with a student enrollment
of more than 1,000 but less than 2,500; and
(D) one school district with a student enrollment
of 1,000 or less.
(e) To receive a grant under the pilot program, a school
district must apply to the agency in the form and manner prescribed
by the agency.
(f) Not later than September 1, 2026, each school district
that received a grant under the pilot program shall submit to the
agency a report that includes:
(1) an itemized list of each item on which the district
spent the grant money; and
(2) an evaluation of the pilot program by district
employees who received child-care services or a stipend under the
pilot program.
(g) Not later than December 1, 2026, the agency shall submit
to the legislature a report on the effectiveness of the pilot
program, using data reported to the agency under Subsection (f),
and any recommendations for legislative or other action.
(h) This section expires September 1, 2027.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the
legislative session.