H.B. No. 117 establishes the Governor's Task Force on the Governance of Early Childhood Education and Care in Texas, aimed at addressing the governance and operational challenges within the state's early childhood education system. The task force will be administratively attached to the Texas Education Agency and will consist of a steering committee that includes key officials from the Health and Human Services Commission, Texas Education Agency, and Texas Workforce Commission, as well as representatives from various educational and childcare sectors. The governor will appoint the chair and members of the task force, which will not be subject to the size, composition, or duration limitations typically outlined in Chapter 2110.

The task force is tasked with examining challenges in early childhood education, developing standards for high-quality prekindergarten programs, and reviewing the functions of relevant state agencies to improve efficiency and service delivery. It is required to submit policy and budget recommendations to the legislature by December 1, 2026, aimed at enhancing participant engagement with state agencies and improving operational efficiency in early childhood education. The task force will be dissolved, and the chapter will expire on September 1, 2027. Additionally, the implementation of the provisions of this Act is contingent upon the legislature appropriating funds specifically for this purpose.

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