88R14068 MLH-D
 
  By: Button H.B. No. 4698
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the collection and evaluation of data related to child
  care programs in this state.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 302.0043, Labor Code, is amended by
  adding Subsections (c-2), (c-3), and (c-4) to read as follows:
         (c-2)  The commission shall measure and evaluate the need for
  and availability of child care in this state. The commission shall
  consider:
               (1)  the total number of places available at all child
  care providers in each local workforce development area categorized
  by:
                     (A)  subsidized and nonsubsidized places;
                     (B)  filled and unfilled places;
                     (C)  child care providers participating in the
  Texas Rising Star Program and child care providers not
  participating in the Texas Rising Star Program; and
                     (D)  for those child care providers participating
  in the Texas Rising Star Program, the provider's Rising Star
  rating;
               (2)  the total number of children receiving child care
  services in each local workforce development area categorized by:
                     (A)  children receiving subsidized child care and
  children receiving nonsubsidized child care;
                     (B)  child care providers participating in the
  Texas Rising Star Program and child care providers not
  participating in the Texas Rising Star Program; and
                     (C)  for those child care providers participating
  in the Texas Rising Star Program, the provider's Rising Star
  rating; and
               (3)  the total number of children on a waiting list to
  receive child care in each local workforce development area
  categorized by:
                     (A)  children waiting for a subsidized place; and
                     (B)  children waiting for a nonsubsidized place.
         (c-3)  The commission shall to the extent possible compare
  the data under Subsections (c-2)(2) and (3) to ensure there are no
  children counted under both subdivisions.
         (c-4)  The commission shall coordinate with the Health and
  Human Services Commission to acquire data required under Subsection
  (c-2).
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is
  amended by adding Section 302.00432 to read as follows:
         Sec. 302.00432.  DATA REPORTING PILOT PROGRAM. (a) In this
  section, "program" means the enhanced child care data reporting
  pilot program established under this section.
         (b)  The commission shall develop and implement an enhanced
  child care data reporting pilot program to enhance the commission's
  ability to measure the need for and availability of child care in
  this state.
         (c)  The commission shall partner with local workforce
  development boards to conduct outreach to child care providers and
  to recruit providers to participate in the program.  The commission
  shall ensure that participants in the program represent
  geographically and demographically different areas of the state.
         (d)  A child care provider participating in the program shall
  provide to the commission:
               (1)  the total number of places available at the
  provider categorized by:
                     (A)  subsidized and nonsubsidized places; and
                     (B)  filled and unfilled places;
               (2)  the size of the provider's facility in comparison
  to the number of places available;
               (3)  the number of places currently available in
  comparison to the number of places that would be available at the
  provider's maximum operational capacity;
               (4)  the total number of children on a waiting list to
  receive child care from the provider categorized by:
                     (A)  children waiting for a subsidized place; and
                     (B)  children waiting for a nonsubsidized place;
  and
               (5)  the number of employees who left employment with
  the provider in the preceding year compared to the number of
  additional employees the provider would need to operate at maximum
  operational capacity.
         (e)  The commission shall to the extent possible compare the
  data collected under the program to ensure that:
               (1)  no children are counted under both the total
  number of children enrolled in a child care program and the total
  number of children on a waiting list to receive child care in a
  local workforce development area; and
               (2)  no children are counted on multiple waiting lists
  when determining the number of children waiting for child care in a
  local workforce development area.
         (f)  The commission shall sort data provided under this
  section by local workforce development board.
         (g)  The commission shall work with the Health and Human
  Services Commission to make joint recommendations to the
  legislature on the development of an information technology system
  that allows for the regular reporting and collection of the data
  collected under the program statewide.
         (h)  Not later than December 1, 2024, the commission shall
  provide a report to the legislature. The report must include:
               (1)  the local workforce development boards that
  participated in the program;
               (2)  the types and characteristics of child care
  providers in each local workforce development area that
  participated in the program;
               (3)  the data collected through the program; and
               (4)  recommendations to the legislature to improve the
  availability of child care in this state, including the
  recommendations developed under Subsection (g).
         (i)  The commission may use any available funding to
  implement the program.
         (j)  The commission shall ensure that no personally
  identifiable information is disclosed in the report or the program.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.