• Texas Code
  • Texas Human Resources Code

     The Texas Workforce Commission is the state agency designated to administer a day-care program established by federal law and financed partially or totally by federal funds.

Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2370, ch. 842, art. 1, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1979. Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 717, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, § 8.024, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 655, § 11.64, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

     (a) The Texas Workforce Commission shall promulgate rules to carry out the administrative provisions of the program consistent with federal law and regulations.

     (b) The rules must include procedures to allow operators of day-care centers to review and comment on proposed rules and policies.

     (c) The rules must establish procedures for input by the parents of the children in a day-care center into the operation of the center. Where programs have more than 30 percent of their licensed capacity purchased by the commission, these procedures must include the establishment of ongoing parent advisory committees that regularly meet and review day-care center operations.

     (d) The executive director of the commission may promulgate eligibility standards for admittance into the program, but the standards must allow for exceptions where necessary to maintain family self-sufficiency and integrity. The exceptions must be reviewed biannually by the commission with opportunity provided for public input. The initial exceptions and any revisions must be published in the Texas Register.

Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2370, ch. 842, art. 1, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1979. Amended by Acts 1987, 70th leg., ch. 717, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, § 8.025, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 655, § 11.65, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

     (a) If the program is to be funded through political subdivisions of the state or local agencies approved by the commission matching federal grants, the commission shall promulgate procedures for effective delivery of services consistent with this section and with federal law and regulations.

     (b) If the services are provided through contracting with operators of day-care programs on request from political subdivisions or local agencies, the commission may not promulgate standards for selection of the type of programs more restrictive than required by federal law or regulations.

     (c) The executive director of the commission shall establish an accounting system consistent with federal law and regulations which will provide that an operator of a day-care program contracting with the commission:

     (1) shall receive prepayment in accordance with policies and procedures mutually agreed on by the comptroller and the commission; and

     (2) shall be paid on the basis of legitimate and reasonable expenses, insofar as possible, given federal regulations and department policy, instead of being paid on the basis of the number of children attending or the number of children enrolled in the program, provided that on being monitored by the commission, the contracting operator can substantiate that there were sufficient preparations in the development of the services offered.

     (d) The executive director of the commission shall establish procedures for hearing complaints by operators of day-care programs contracting with the commission relating to the failure of the commission to comply with Subsection (c).

Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2370, ch. 842, art. 1, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1979. Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 717, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, § 8.026, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 655, § 11.66, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

     (a) The commission may establish day-care centers for all children who qualify for services under Section 44.032. Where in the opinion of the executive director of the commission it appears feasible for the furtherance of the objectives of this legislation, the commission may establish cooperative agreements with other state agencies.

     (b) The commission is not required to establish a day-care center or to provide services under this subchapter unless funds are appropriated for that purpose.

Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 717, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, § 8.027, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 655, § 11.67, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

     (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), to be eligible for admission to a day-care center authorized under this subchapter, a child must be at least six weeks of age and:

     (1) the child must be eligible for state assistance under the aid to families with dependent children program and the child's caretaker must be employed, enrolled in a job training program authorized by the Texas Workforce Commission, registered to work by that commission, or permanently and totally disabled; or

     (2) the child must be from a family eligible under federal law or regulations to participate in a partially or totally federally funded welfare or social services program.

     (b) Additional children of the same age group may also be admitted to a center under additional standards established by the commission.

     (c) To reduce rapid turnover of children in care and to ensure maximum stability for the child to the extent possible within federal guidelines, once a child meets the initial eligibility standards and is enrolled in a child-care program, the child remains eligible for not less than one year after the date of enrollment.

Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 717, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, § 8.028, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 655, § 11.68, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

     (a) A fee for services rendered by the day-care center may not be charged for a child who is eligible for state assistance under the aid to families with dependent children program.

     (b) A fee that is scaled to family income for services rendered by the day-care program may be charged for a child who is not eligible for state assistance under the aid to families with dependent children program.

Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 717, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

     (a) If the Texas Workforce Commission establishes day-care centers under this subchapter, the department shall prescribe standards of operation and performance for the centers that will ensure proper nutrition, social adjustment, health services, and appropriate growth and development for children admitted.

     (b) The executive director of the commission shall prescribe procedures for receiving recommendations relating to the operation of the centers from parents, guardians, or custodians of children admitted to the centers, operators of the centers, and other interested persons.

Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 717, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, § 8.029, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 655, § 11.69, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

     (a) The executive director of the Texas Workforce Commission may contract for services authorized under this subchapter with an individual, organization, association, or corporation meeting the standards established under Section 44.034 and the standards for child-care facilities licensed by the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services.

     (b) The fees paid to the center under the contract may not exceed the amount it would cost the state to provide the same services.

     (c) The executive director of the commission shall terminate a contract with a day-care center that fails to maintain the department's standards.

     (d) When the executive director of the commission intends to cancel a contract with a day-care center, the executive director shall give the center reasonable notice and an opportunity for a hearing if one is requested. The commission shall adopt rules consistent with Chapter 2001, Government Code, to implement this section. Hearings under this section are contested cases under that chapter.

Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 717, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, §§ 5.95(49), 8.030, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 655, § 11.70, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

     If the commission establishes day-care centers or provides services under this subchapter, the commission, with the assistance of the department, shall evaluate the performance of the centers each state fiscal year. This evaluation shall be sent to the governor and to the Legislative Budget Board not later than the 100th day after the last day of the state fiscal year covered by the evaluation.

Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 717, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, § 8.031, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 655, § 11.71, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

     (a) The State Advisory Committee on Child-Care Programs is appointed by the Texas Workforce Commission on the recommendation of the executive director of the Texas Workforce Commission.

     (b) The committee shall consist of 20 members, not including ex officio members, who serve two-year terms.

     (c) The Texas Workforce Commission shall appoint the advisory committee to provide for balanced representation of:

     (1) parents, guardians, or custodians of children who use child-care programs;

     (2) child-care advocacy groups;

     (3) operators and providers of child-care programs and services representing rural and urban communities;

     (4) for profit and nonprofit providers of child-care services representing rural and urban communities;

     (5) experts in early childhood development and education;

     (6) experts in child health and nutrition;

     (7) other child-care professionals;

     (8) the general public; and

     (9) ex officio representatives from each state agency that has an interest or role in state child-care programs.

     (d) The Texas Workforce Commission shall provide to the committee staff support and other support necessary to operate the committee.

     (e) A member of the committee is not entitled to compensation but is entitled to reimbursement of the travel expenses incurred by the member while conducting the business of the board, as provided by the General Appropriations Act.

     (f) The committee shall advise and assist the Texas Workforce Commission in developing coordinated state policies for the use of federal and state funds in child-care programs, including policies relating to the:

     (1) review of any state plan required for the use of federal or state funds;

     (2) development of a coordinated and comprehensive training program for child-care providers;

     (3) establishment of guidelines providing technical assistance to child-care providers, including loans, grants, or training;

     (4) development of a quality improvement program for federal and state funded child-care services;

     (5) review of public access to current child-care services, with special emphasis placed on special needs populations and localities of the state with limited child-care programs;

     (6) development of consumer education programs related to the access and selection of child-care services;

     (7) review of appropriations to child-care programs;

     (8) review of expenditures of child-care programs; and

     (9) review of state efforts to maximize access to federal child-care funding.

     (g) The committee shall review child-care policies and programs for compliance with applicable guidelines and shall advise the Texas Workforce Commission on the results of the review.

     (h) The Texas Workforce Commission, with assistance from the committee, shall hold biennial public hearings on state and federal child-care programs to elicit public response and recommendations regarding the quality, accessibility, and affordability of child-care services. The hearings must be held in at least three separate geographical regions of the state and may be held in conjunction with other public hearings on child-care held by the Texas Workforce Commission.

     (i) The committee shall annually report its findings and recommendations to the Texas Workforce Commission.

     (j) The Texas Workforce Commission shall adopt rules to implement this section.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 120, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1991. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, § 8.032, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 655, § 11.72, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 251, § 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.