88R19643 MM-F     By: Button, Murr, Talarico, Raney, H.B. No. 1615       Morales Shaw     Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1615:     By:  Button C.S.H.B. No. 1615       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to strategies to increase the availability of child-care   and prekindergarten programs.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is   amended by adding Sections 302.0051 and 302.0063 to read as   follows:          Sec. 302.0051.  PREKINDERGARTEN PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM. (a)   The commission shall establish and administer a prekindergarten   partnership program to assist child-care providers who meet the   definition of an eligible private provider under Section 29.171,   Education Code, in partnering with local school districts and   open-enrollment charter schools to provide the prekindergarten   classes required under Section 29.153, Education Code.          (b)  Using existing funds, the commission shall coordinate   with the Texas Education Agency to develop joint strategies to   expand the availability of prekindergarten partnership programs.           Sec. 302.0063.  CHILD-CARE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT   SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.  (a) In this section, "program" means the   professional development scholarship program established under   this section.           (b)  From funds appropriated for the purpose, the commission   shall establish and administer a professional development   scholarship program for current and prospective child-care   workers.          (c)  A scholarship under the program may be used to pay an   individual's costs related to:                (1)  earning:                      (A)  a Child Development Associate (CDA)   credential; or                      (B)  an associate's degree or bachelor's degree in   early childhood education or another related field from a public or   private institution of higher education; and                (2)  participation in a registered child-care   apprenticeship program.          (d)  The program may be used to pay for other ancillary costs   for child-care workers who are enrolled in an educational program   or apprenticeship program described by Subsection (c), including:                (1)  books and supplies;                (2)  release time or stipends to attend classes;                (3)  costs related to the examination for the Child   Development Associate (CDA) credential;                (4)  travel to attend classes or attend a hands-on   practicum training; and                (5)  stipends for mentors or master teachers who   provide hands-on training at a child-care program.          SECTION 2.  Section 2308.256(a), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a)  A board is composed as follows:                (1)  representatives of the private sector, who:                      (A)  constitute a majority of the membership of   the board; and                      (B)  are owners of business concerns, chief   executives or chief operating officers of nongovernmental   employers, or other private sector executives who have substantial   management or policy responsibilities;                (2)  representatives of organized labor and   community-based organizations, who constitute not less than 15   percent of the membership of the board; and                (3)  representatives of each of the following:                      (A)  educational agencies, including community   colleges and secondary and postsecondary practitioners   representing vocational education, that are representative of all   educational agencies in the service delivery area;                      (B)  vocational rehabilitation agencies;                      (C)  public assistance agencies;                      (D)  economic development agencies;                      (E)  the public employment service;                      (F)  local literacy councils; [and]                      (G)  adult basic and continuing education   organizations; and                      (H)  the child-care workforce.          SECTION 3.  Section 2308.256(g), Government Code, is   repealed.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.