88S30096 MM-F
By: Gervin-Hawkins H.B. No. 44
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a grant program to provide free public school
prekindergarten programs to certain children who are eligible for
the subsidized child-care program administered by the Texas
Workforce Commission.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 29.1537 to read as follows:
Sec. 29.1537. PREKINDERGARTEN COMMUNITY-BASED CHILD-CARE
PARTNERSHIP GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The commissioner shall establish
and administer a grant program to support school districts and
open-enrollment charter schools in increasing partnerships with
community-based child-care providers to provide prekindergarten
classes under Section 29.153.
(b) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may
apply for a grant under the program in partnership with a
community-based child-care provider described by Section
29.153(g).
(c) A school district or open-enrollment charter school
shall use money received under the grant program to fund the
enrollment of eligible children in prekindergarten classes
provided under Section 29.153 through a partnership between the
district or school and a community-based child-care provider
described by Section 29.153(g). Notwithstanding Section
29.153(b), a child is eligible for enrollment in a prekindergarten
class described by this subsection using money received under the
grant program if the child:
(1) is at least three years of age; and
(2) receives subsidized child-care services provided
through the child-care services program administered by the Texas
Workforce Commission.
(d) The commissioner may provide grants under the grant
program for the enrollment in each school year of not more than
3,500 children in a prekindergarten class described by Subsection
(c).
(e) The agency shall annually report to the legislature
regarding the number of children whose enrollment in a
prekindergarten class is funded as described by Subsection (c).
SECTION 2. Section 29.1537, Education Code, as added by
this Act, applies beginning with the 2024-2025 school year.
SECTION 3. 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.