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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to creating an Internet website of certain day-care |
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providers and parenting resources. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Section 42.025, Human Resources |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 42.025. SEARCHABLE DATABASE OF PREVIOUSLY DISCIPLINED |
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FAMILY HOMES. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 42, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 42.026 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 42.026. INTERNET WEBSITE LISTING DAY-CARE PROVIDERS. |
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(a) The commission shall maintain a single, statewide Internet |
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website of day-care providers, including day-care centers, group |
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day-care homes, listed and registered family homes, and |
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prekindergarten programs provided by public school districts or |
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charter schools under Chapter 29, Education Code. |
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(b) The Internet website must: |
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(1) be user-friendly, easy to navigate, and designed to |
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assist parents in locating and selecting day-care providers; |
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(2) be searchable by the information provided under |
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Subdivision (5)(D); |
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(3) provide resources for parents regarding early |
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childhood education and development, including information or |
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materials developed under Section 2308.317(a)(5), Government Code; |
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(4) be easily accessible by: |
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(A) persons who speak a language other than |
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English; and |
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(B) persons and families of persons with a |
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disability; and |
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(5) include: |
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(A) information to assist families in |
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understanding the importance of licensed day-care facilities; |
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(B) an annual report compiled by the commission |
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on the number of deaths, serious injuries, and incidents of child |
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abuse and neglect that have occurred in day-care facilities; |
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(C) contact information for state and local |
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agencies that can provide additional assistance to parents and |
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individuals with questions about day-care facilities; |
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(D) the following information for each day-care |
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provider: |
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(i) the provider's address and zip code; |
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(ii) whether the provider is licensed, |
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listed, or registered; |
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(iii) the provider's hours of operation; |
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(iv) the setting of the day-care provider; |
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(v) the ages of children served by the |
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provider; |
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(vi) whether the provider participates in |
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the Texas Workforce Commission's child care subsidy program; |
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(vii) the provider's Texas Rising Star |
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Program rating provided by the Texas Workforce Commission; |
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(viii) the provider's status as an Early |
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Head Start or Head Start provider as provided by the Texas Head |
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Start State Collaboration Office; and |
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(ix) a link to each inspection report for |
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the provider posted on the commission's Internet website; and |
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(E) an optional profile for each day-care |
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provider, developed in collaboration with the provider, that |
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includes a brief narrative about the provider, information about |
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the provider's services, and photographs. |
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(c) The commission shall consult with the Texas Early |
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Learning Council in developing the Internet website required by |
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this section. |
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(d) The commission shall make the Internet website |
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available through a mobile application for wireless communication |
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devices. |
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(e) The commission may contract with a third party to |
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establish the Internet website and mobile application for wireless |
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communication devices required under this section. |
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SECTION 3. Not later than January 1, 2020, the Health and |
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Human Services Commission shall make the Internet website required |
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by Section 42.026, Human Resources Code, as added by this Act, |
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available to the public. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |