Texas SB 2979: Relating to establishing a child-care innovation pilot program.

Bill Text

By:AAHancock S.B.ANo.A2979
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to establishing a child-care innovation pilot program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTIONA1.AASubtitle B, Title 4, Labor Code, is amended by
adding Chapter 320 to read as follows:
CHAPTERA320.AACHILD-CARE INNOVATION PILOT PROGRAM
Sec.A320.001.AADEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1)AA"Board" means a local workforce development board
created under Subchapter F, Chapter 2308, Government Code.
(2)AA"Program" means the child-care innovation pilot
program established under this chapter.
(3)AA"Provider" means a child-care provider who is
engaging with the program established under this chapter.
Sec.A320.002.AAESTABLISHMENT. (a) The commission shall
establish and administer the child-care innovation pilot program to
address strategic workforce needs of designated pilot regions
across the state by increasing the supply of quality, affordable
child care and encouraging child-care partnerships with employers.
(b)AAThe program shall enable boards designated by the
commission to partner with local employers and high-quality
providers to provide grants that will fund innovative child-care
expansion projects and employer partnerships that directly impact
strategic local workforce needs.
Sec.A320.003.AAADMINISTRATION. (a) From funds appropriated
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
1

to the commission for the program, the program shall be
administered by local workforce development boards that serve:
(1)AAa county with a population greater than 2 million
that is adjacent to a county with a population greater than 2.5
million, or
(2)AAtwo or more counties adjacent to subsection (1).
(b)AAIf the commission determines there are additional funds
available after funding the local workforce development boards in
Subsection (a), the commission shall by rule adopt a process for
selecting additional local workforce development boards to operate
the pilot. Rulemaking shall include a competitive application
process and selection criteria.
Sec.A320.004.AAAPPLICATION; STRATEGIC PLAN. (a) Any local
workforce development board that participates in the program shall
submit a letter of intent to the commission including:
(1)AAa strategic plan proposing:
(A)AAmeasurable performance goals and progress
measures related to increasing the supply and accessibility of
quality, affordable child-care services;
(B)AAplans for engaging regional stakeholders,
including local employers, business associations, and
organizations that provide services to children and families, to
develop and meet regional performance goals that are based on
strategic workforce needs;
(C)AAthe number of providers to whom the board
plans to award grants;
(D)AAstaffing structures to support the effective
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
S.B.ANo.A2979
2

implementation of the program, including technical assistance for
child-care providers; and
(E)AAplans to maximize the results of the program
and support the future sustainability of child-care providers
participating in the program if state funding is not continued; and
(2)AAthe total amount of money requested to implement
that board’s strategic plan.
Sec.A320.005.AAAGREEMENTS WITH PARTICIPATING BOARDS. The
commission shall develop and enter into a performance agreement
with each participating local workforce development board. Each of
those boards shall comply with the terms of the performance
agreement during its participation in the program. The performance
agreement must:
(1)AAinclude measurable performance goals and progress
measures that are:
(A)AArelated to increasing the supply and
accessibility of quality, affordable child-care services in the
pilot region; and
(B)AAaligned to that board’s strategic plan; and
(2)AAallocate responsibilities for accessing and
reporting progress and outcome information.
Sec.A320.007.AAALLOCATION OF FUNDS. From the funds
appropriated to the commission for the program, the commission
shall award an amount of money to each local workforce development
board participating in the program. In determining the allocation
of money, the commission shall consider:
(1)AAthe size and population of the pilot region;
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
S.B.ANo.A2979
3

(2)AAthe unmet child-care needs in the region and the
proposed funding required to address the needs;
(3)AAthe proposed number of eligible providers in each
region to whom that board intends to award grants;
(4)AAthe budget requested in that board’s proposed
strategic plan under Section 320.004(a)(2); and
(5)AAother factors determined by the commission.
Sec.A320.008.AAGRANTS. (a) From funds awarded to a local
workforce development board participating in the program, the
board, after conducting a competitive selection process, shall
award grants to eligible providers that enter into a grant contract
with the board to expand quality, affordable child