88R14068 MLH-D     By: Button H.B. No. 4698       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the collection and evaluation of data related to child   care programs in this state.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 302.0043, Labor Code, is amended by   adding Subsections (c-2), (c-3), and (c-4) to read as follows:          (c-2)  The commission shall measure and evaluate the need for   and availability of child care in this state. The commission shall   consider:                (1)  the total number of places available at all child   care providers in each local workforce development area categorized   by:                      (A)  subsidized and nonsubsidized places;                      (B)  filled and unfilled places;                      (C)  child care providers participating in the   Texas Rising Star Program and child care providers not   participating in the Texas Rising Star Program; and                      (D)  for those child care providers participating   in the Texas Rising Star Program, the provider's Rising Star   rating;                (2)  the total number of children receiving child care   services in each local workforce development area categorized by:                      (A)  children receiving subsidized child care and   children receiving nonsubsidized child care;                      (B)  child care providers participating in the   Texas Rising Star Program and child care providers not   participating in the Texas Rising Star Program; and                      (C)  for those child care providers participating   in the Texas Rising Star Program, the provider's Rising Star   rating; and                (3)  the total number of children on a waiting list to   receive child care in each local workforce development area   categorized by:                      (A)  children waiting for a subsidized place; and                      (B)  children waiting for a nonsubsidized place.          (c-3)  The commission shall to the extent possible compare   the data under Subsections (c-2)(2) and (3) to ensure there are no   children counted under both subdivisions.          (c-4)  The commission shall coordinate with the Health and   Human Services Commission to acquire data required under Subsection   (c-2).          SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is   amended by adding Section 302.00432 to read as follows:          Sec. 302.00432.  DATA REPORTING PILOT PROGRAM. (a) In this   section, "program" means the enhanced child care data reporting   pilot program established under this section.          (b)  The commission shall develop and implement an enhanced   child care data reporting pilot program to enhance the commission's   ability to measure the need for and availability of child care in   this state.          (c)  The commission shall partner with local workforce   development boards to conduct outreach to child care providers and   to recruit providers to participate in the program.  The commission   shall ensure that participants in the program represent   geographically and demographically different areas of the state.          (d)  A child care provider participating in the program shall   provide to the commission:                (1)  the total number of places available at the   provider categorized by:                      (A)  subsidized and nonsubsidized places; and                      (B)  filled and unfilled places;                (2)  the size of the provider's facility in comparison   to the number of places available;                (3)  the number of places currently available in   comparison to the number of places that would be available at the   provider's maximum operational capacity;                (4)  the total number of children on a waiting list to   receive child care from the provider categorized by:                      (A)  children waiting for a subsidized place; and                      (B)  children waiting for a nonsubsidized place;   and                (5)  the number of employees who left employment with   the provider in the preceding year compared to the number of   additional employees the provider would need to operate at maximum   operational capacity.          (e)  The commission shall to the extent possible compare the   data collected under the program to ensure that:                (1)  no children are counted under both the total   number of children enrolled in a child care program and the total   number of children on a waiting list to receive child care in a   local workforce development area; and                (2)  no children are counted on multiple waiting lists   when determining the number of children waiting for child care in a   local workforce development area.          (f)  The commission shall sort data provided under this   section by local workforce development board.          (g)  The commission shall work with the Health and Human   Services Commission to make joint recommendations to the   legislature on the development of an information technology system   that allows for the regular reporting and collection of the data   collected under the program statewide.          (h)  Not later than December 1, 2024, the commission shall   provide a report to the legislature. The report must include:                (1)  the local workforce development boards that   participated in the program;                (2)  the types and characteristics of child care   providers in each local workforce development area that   participated in the program;                (3)  the data collected through the program; and                (4)  recommendations to the legislature to improve the   availability of child care in this state, including the   recommendations developed under Subsection (g).          (i)  The commission may use any available funding to   implement the program.          (j)  The commission shall ensure that no personally   identifiable information is disclosed in the report or the program.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.