85R144 YDB-D     By: Farrar H.B. No. 751       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to state agency authority to establish child-care subsidy   programs.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter E, Chapter 659, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 659.062 to read as follows:          Sec. 659.062.  CHILD-CARE SUBSIDY PROGRAM. (a) A state   agency using money appropriated to the agency by this state may   establish a child-care subsidy program to assist the agency's lower   income employees with their child-care costs. The assistance may be   provided for full-time and part-time child care, before-school and   after-school programs, and daytime summer programs.          (b)  Two or more state agencies in a multitenant building may   establish a child-care subsidy program and share the program costs   to provide employees of the agencies with child-care services   through a child-care facility located in the building.          (c)  Except as provided by Subsection (d), a state agency may   impose restrictions on the use of appropriated money for its   child-care subsidy program based on employees' needs, the agency's   staffing requirements, the local availability of child care, and   other factors determined by the agency, including eligibility   restrictions based on an employee's:                (1)  full-time or part-time employment status;                (2)  use of an on-site child-care facility;                (3)  use of full-time child care; or                (4)  use of child care in limited locations.          (d)  A state agency that establishes a child-care subsidy   program under this section:                (1)  shall give preference for the payment of subsidies   to agency employees who are veterans and who meet the program   participation requirements under this section and agency rules; and                (2)  may not limit the payment of subsidies to only   child-care facilities licensed by this state under Chapter 42,   Human Resources Code.          (e)  Subject to any restriction established under Subsection   (c) and any preference provided under Subsection (d)(1), an   employee who qualifies as a lower income employee under a state   agency's child-care subsidy program is eligible to receive a   child-care subsidy for the care of each child under 13 years of age   or, for a child with a disability, under 18 years of age.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.