Texas HB 3965: Relating to authorizing the establishment of community child-care collaboratives and establishing a grant program for those collaboratives administered by the Texas Workforce Commission.

Bill Text

By:AABernal H.B.ANo.A3965
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to authorizing the establishment of community child-care
collaboratives and establishing a grant program for those
collaboratives administered by the Texas Workforce Commission.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTIONA1.AASubtitle G, Title 10, Government Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 2308B to read as follows:
CHAPTER 2308B. COMMUNITY CHILD-CARE COLLABORATIVE GRANT PROGRAM
Sec.A2308B.001.AADEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1)AA"Commission" means the Texas Workforce
Commission.
(2)AA"Community child-care collaborative" means a
group of public, private, and nonprofit organizations working to
expand child-care capacity in this state.
(3)AA"Priority area" means an area:
(A)AAwhere the number of children younger than six
years of age who have working parents is at least three times
greater than the capacity of licensed child-care providers in the
area; or
(B)AAdetermined by the commission to be
underserved with respect to child-care providers.
Sec.A2308B.002.AACOMMUNITY CHILD-CARE COLLABORATIVE
GRANTS.AA(a) To the extent funds are appropriated to the
commission for that purpose, the commission shall develop a grant
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program for eligible community child-care collaboratives that may
include a combination of local governmental entities, nonprofit
community organizations, economic development agencies, local
employers, licensed child-care providers, and faith-based
community organizations to establish or expand quality child-care
capacity in priority areas through partnerships between local
stakeholders and qualified providers.
(b)AAEach grant shall fund community child-care
collaboratives that are designed to:
(1)AAbring together public and private sector partners
to address child-care needs in this state;
(2)AAincrease the number of licensed, high-quality
child-care providers available to serve communities in priority
areas;
(3)AAoversee ongoing child-care operations; and
(4)AAproduce any other outcomes the commission
considers necessary for the success of the grant program.
(c)AAThe grant program may not award more than five grants
each year.
(d)AAThe commission shall develop a competitive application
process for the grant program.
(e)AAThe commission shall require each applicant for a grant
to:
(1)AAprovide evidence of substantial coordination and
partnership between the lead grant applicant and local
municipalities, employers, child-care providers, and other
community stakeholders in the formation, operation, and oversight
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of the community child-care collaborative;
(2)AAclearly demonstrate the community child-care
collaborative’s plan to provide licensed child-care services
through child-care facilities and family homes licensed,
registered, or listed under Chapter 42, Human Resources Code;
(3)AAinclude in the application the applicant’s
proposed structure for governance and oversight of the community
child-care collaborative; and
(4)AAlist all possible additional resources from public
or private sources that may be used to sustain the community
child-care collaborative and the effort to continue providing
child-care services after the initial grant period has expired.
Sec.A2308B.003.AAPROGRAM REQUIREMENTS. The commission shall
establish standards for the grant program that require a grant
recipient to:
(1)AAincrease licensed child-care capacity in a
priority area by a minimum of 50 children;
(2)AAapply for and receive approval to operate a
licensed child-care facility or facilities that will meet the
minimum requirements established by the commission;
(3)AAdemonstrate high-quality early childhood
education practices by participating in the Texas Rising Star
program;
(4)AAserve children supported through child-care
subsidies;
(5)AAcollaborate with partners to ensure working
families can access and afford child care that meets their needs;
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(6)AAgovern and oversee ongoing child-care operations;
and
(7)AAmeet other standards the commission considers
necessary for the success of the grant program.
Sec.A2308B.004.AAACCEPTABLE USES OF GRANT MONEY. An entity
shall use money received from a grant under this chapter to
establish a community child-care collaborative to expand
child-care capacity. Acceptable uses for the money include:
(1)AAplanning and developing child-care
infrastructure, including construction, renovation, land
acquisition, permits, furniture, and other supplies;
(2)AAestablishing, operating, or maintaining expanded
child-care capacity in the community served by the community
child-care collaborative, including child-care facilities and
family homes licensed, registered, or listed under Chapter 42,
Human Resources Code;
(3)AAproviding services to ensure child-car