The bill, introduced by Representative Gonzlez, aims to enhance the regulation of child-care facilities and registered family homes, particularly in relation to services for children with disabilities or special needs. Key amendments to Section 42.042 of the Human Resources Code include the introduction of new subsections that prohibit discrimination based on race or disability status, while allowing facilities to deny services to children with disabilities only under specific conditions outlined by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Additionally, the bill mandates that child-care facilities promote inclusive practices, integrate children with special needs into general activities, and provide access for certified childhood intervention service providers.

Further provisions in the bill require operators of licensed facilities to maintain comprehensive records, including those for children with special needs, and to provide parents with written disclosures about early childhood intervention resources and the facility's policies on caring for children with disabilities. The executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission is tasked with adopting necessary rules to implement these changes, which are set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Human Resources Code 42.042, Human Resources Code 42.045 (Human Resources Code 42)