89R11485 RAL-D     By: Dutton H.B. No. 2646       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the establishment of the private child care task force.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  (a) In this section, "task force" means the   private child care task force.          (b)  The private child care task force is established to   study private child care providers in this state and methods to:                (1)  reduce the amounts charged for high-quality child   care provided by private child care providers;                (2)  increase the availability of high-quality child   care provided by private child care providers;                (3)  address issues with wait lists for scholarships to   receive high-quality child care; and                (4)  increase the number of families who are able to   receive high-quality child care.          (c)  The task force is composed of seven members appointed as   follows:                (1)  one member appointed by the governor to represent   the governor;                (2)  three members of the senate, appointed by the   lieutenant governor; and                (3)  three members of the house of representatives,   appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.          (d)  A task force member is not entitled to compensation for   service on the task force but is entitled to reimbursement for   actual and necessary expenses incurred in performing task force   duties. The task force may accept gifts, grants, and donations to   pay for those expenses.          (e)  The member appointed by the governor shall serve as the   presiding officer of the task force.          (f)  The task force shall meet at least quarterly at the call   of the presiding officer.          (g)  Notwithstanding Chapter 551, Government Code, or any   other law, the task force may meet by telephone conference call,   videoconference, or other similar telecommunication method. A   meeting held by telephone conference call, videoconference, or   other similar telecommunication method is subject to the   requirements of Sections 551.125(c), (d), (e), and (f), Government   Code.          (h)  The task force shall conduct a study to examine:                (1)  the amounts charged for high-quality child care   provided by private child care providers;                (2)  the availability of high-quality child care   provided by private child care providers;                (3)  wait lists for scholarships to receive   high-quality child care;                (4)  methods to reduce the cost to families and   increase the availability of high-quality child care;                (5)  strategies to increase the number of   prekindergarten partnerships between independent school districts   and high-quality child care programs; and                (6)  methods to strengthen the child care industry.          (i)  The task force may request relevant information from the   Health and Human Services Commission, the Texas Workforce   Commission, and the Texas Education Agency, and the entity   receiving the request shall comply with the request.          (j)  The task force shall develop recommendations to reduce   the amounts charged for and increase the availability of   high-quality child care by private child care providers and   prekindergarten partnerships.          (k)  The task force shall develop and submit a written report   on the study and recommendations developed by the task force to the   governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of   representatives, and each member of the legislature not later than   November 1, 2026.          (l)  The task force is abolished and this Act expires June 1,   2027.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2025.