88(3) HB 44 - Introduced version - Bill Text
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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a grant program to provide free public school |
 
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prekindergarten programs to certain children who are eligible for |
 
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the subsidized child-care program administered by the Texas |
 
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Workforce Commission. |
 
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             BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
 
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             SECTION  1.    Subchapter E, Chapter 29, Education Code, is |
 
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amended by adding Section 29.1537 to read as follows: |
 
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             Sec.  29.1537.    PREKINDERGARTEN COMMUNITY-BASED CHILD-CARE |
 
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PARTNERSHIP GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The commissioner shall establish |
 
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and administer a grant program to support school districts and |
 
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open-enrollment charter schools in increasing partnerships with |
 
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community-based child-care providers to provide prekindergarten |
 
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classes under Section 29.153. |
 
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             (b)    A school district or open-enrollment charter school may |
 
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apply for a grant under the program in partnership with a |
 
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community-based child-care provider described by Section |
 
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29.153(g). |
 
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             (c)    A school district or open-enrollment charter school |
 
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shall use money received under the grant program to fund the |
 
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enrollment of eligible children in prekindergarten classes |
 
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provided under Section 29.153 through a partnership between the |
 
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district or school and a community-based child-care provider |
 
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described by Section 29.153(g).  Notwithstanding Section |
 
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29.153(b), a child is eligible for enrollment in a prekindergarten |
 
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class described by this subsection using money received under the |
 
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grant program if the child:   |
 
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                         (1)    is at least three years of age; and |
 
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                         (2)    receives subsidized child-care services provided |
 
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through the child-care services program administered by the Texas |
 
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Workforce Commission.   |
 
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             (d)    The commissioner may provide grants under the grant |
 
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program for the enrollment in each school year of not more than |
 
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3,500 children in a prekindergarten class described by Subsection |
 
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(c).   |
 
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             (e)    The agency shall annually report to the legislature |
 
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regarding the number of children whose enrollment in a |
 
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prekindergarten class is funded as described by Subsection (c). |
 
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             SECTION  2.    Section 29.1537, Education Code, as added by |
 
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this Act, applies beginning with the 2024-2025 school year. |
 
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             SECTION  3.    This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
 
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
 
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.    If this |
 
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
 
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Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the |
 
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legislative session. |