89R5363 CMO-D     By: Paxton S.B. No. 2194       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to an early childhood integrated data system.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subtitle B, Title 3, Human Resources Code, is   amended by adding Chapter 74 to read as follows:   CHAPTER 74.  EARLY CHILDHOOD INTEGRATED DATA SYSTEM          Sec. 74.0001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:                (1)  "Cooperating entity" means the:                      (A)  Children's Learning Institute at The   University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston;                      (B)  Department of Family and Protective   Services;                      (C)  Health and Human Services Commission;                      (D)  Texas Education Agency;                      (E)  Texas Workforce Commission; and                      (F)  Texas Head Start State Collaboration Office.                (2)  "Early childhood interagency workgroup" means the   workgroup that promotes collaboration across state agencies   serving families with young children and that consists of   representatives from the following state agencies:                      (A)  Department of Family and Protective   Services;                      (B)  Department of State Health Services;                      (C)  Health and Human Services Commission;                      (D)  Texas Education Agency; and                      (E)  Texas Workforce Commission.                (3)  "Lead agency" means the state agency designated   under Section 74.0003.                (4)  "System" means the early childhood integrated data   system established under this subchapter.          Sec. 74.0002.  INITIAL DEVELOPMENT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD   INTEGRATED DATA SYSTEM. (a)  Subject to Section 74.0004(1), the   early childhood interagency workgroup shall develop the early   childhood integrated data system for the purpose of facilitating   and strengthening the sharing of data from early childhood programs   across state agencies to:                (1)  better inform policy related to those programs at   the state level; and                (2)  guide improvements to those programs that support   this state's early childhood goals and priorities and provide   better outcomes for children and families in this state.          (b)  The system must be developed in a manner that:                (1)  allows for the integration of existing state and   federal data systems that are accessible to the cooperating   agencies and that contain data derived from early childhood   services and programs that serve families with children from birth   through eight years of age, including data related to outcomes   under those services and programs;                (2)  allows for the identification of and reporting on:                      (A)  specific outcome measures using aggregated   data that does not contain any identifying information, to the   extent state or federal law, as applicable, expressly authorizes   that use of the information;                      (B)  gaps in services and underserved   populations;                      (C)  opportunities to align services and   programs; and                      (D)  coordination needs across services and   programs; and                (3)  complies with state and federal laws relating to   privacy, cybersecurity, and data collection, including rules   establishing procedures to ensure that there is no unauthorized   duplication or removal of confidential information.          (c)  Data other than that described by Subsection (b)(1) may   not be collected for purposes of the system.          Sec. 74.0003.  DESIGNATION OF LEAD AGENCY. During the   initial development of the system under Section 74.0002, the early   childhood interagency workgroup shall designate from among the   state entities listed in Sections 74.0001(1)(A) through (E) one   entity to act as the lead agency for the system.          Sec. 74.0004.  LEAD AGENCY DUTIES. The lead agency shall:                (1)  complete the development of the system initially   developed under Section 74.0002 in a manner consistent with the   requirements of that section;                (2)  implement and maintain the system with assistance   from the early childhood interagency workgroup;                (3)  provide staff to operate the system; and                (4)  using system data, conduct data matching using a   protocol approved by the cooperating entities.          Sec. 74.0005.  COOPERATING ENTITIES. (a)  The lead agency   and each cooperating entity shall enter into a memorandum of   understanding regarding the sharing of data for purposes of the   system.  The memorandum of understanding must specify the data to be   shared consistent with Sections 74.0002(b)(1) and (c) and the   frequency and manner of that data sharing.          (b)  Each cooperating entity shall participate in the system   and share data for purposes of the system as required by the   memorandum of understanding.          Sec. 74.0006.  REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. (a)  Not later than   January 1 of each year, the early childhood interagency workgroup   shall submit to the legislature a report on the workgroup's, lead   agency's, and cooperating entities' progress in developing,   establishing, and operating the system.          (b)  The initial report required by Subsection (a) must   include:                (1)  the state entity the early childhood interagency   workgroup designated to act as the lead agency;                (2)  an interagency data governance plan that includes:                      (A)  objectives relevant to the system and a   framework for achieving those objectives;                      (B)  the roles and responsibilities of all state   entities involved in establishing and maintaining the system; and                      (C)  documentation of relevant state and federal   privacy, cybersecurity, and data collection laws, including rules;                (3)  a standardized process for updating the memorandum   of understanding into which the cooperating entities entered under   Section 74.0005;                (4)  a design plan that focuses on:                      (A)  data security, storage, retention,   management, processing, transportation, and analytics and other   products; and                      (B)  roles and responsibilities of relevant state   entity personnel regarding data integration; and                (5)  information on the status of:                      (A)  hiring project management full-time   equivalents;                      (B)  grant funding applied for and grant funding   secured; and                      (C)  the development of an Internet website that   includes a preliminary, publicly available consumer data   dashboard.          (c)  Each report required by Subsection (a) following the   initial report must include:                (1)  updates to the information required by Subsections   (a)(2) through (5);                (2)  an overview on business use cases the system can   support; and                 (3)  information on the development of analytic tools   based on the business use cases described by Subdivision (2).           Sec. 74.0007.  FUNDING. (a)  The early childhood   interagency workgroup, the cooperating entities, and the lead   agency may use any available state or federal money to develop the   system.          (b)  The lead agency shall actively pursue grants or other   money available from the federal government to operate the system.          SECTION 2.  Not later than January 1, 2026, the early   childhood interagency workgroup shall:                (1)  designate the lead agency for the early childhood   integrated data system as required by Section 74.0003, Human   Resources Code, as added by this Act; and                (2)  submit to the legislature the initial report   required by Section 74.0006, Human Resources Code, as added by this   Act.          SECTION 3.  If before implementing any provision of this Act   a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a   federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,   the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or   authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the   waiver or authorization is granted.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.