88R22923 MM-F
 
  By: Dutton H.B. No. 1614
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a grant program to provide free public school
  prekindergarten programs to certain children who are eligible for
  the subsidized child-care program administered by the Texas
  Workforce Commission.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter E, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 29.1537 to read as follows:
         Sec. 29.1537.  PREKINDERGARTEN COMMUNITY-BASED CHILD-CARE
  PARTNERSHIP GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The commissioner shall establish
  and administer a grant program to support school districts and
  open-enrollment charter schools in increasing partnerships with
  community-based child-care providers to provide prekindergarten
  classes under Section 29.153.
         (b)  A school district or open-enrollment charter school may
  apply for a grant under the program in partnership with a
  community-based child-care provider described by Section
  29.153(g).
         (c)  A school district or open-enrollment charter school
  shall use money received under the grant program to fund the
  enrollment of eligible children in prekindergarten classes
  provided under Section 29.153 through a partnership between the
  district or school and a community-based child-care provider
  described by Section 29.153(g).  A child is eligible for enrollment
  in a prekindergarten class described by this subsection using money
  received under the grant program if the child is: 
               (1)  at least three years of age; and
               (2)  receives subsidized child-care services provided
  through the child-care services program administered by the Texas
  Workforce Commission. 
         (d)  The commissioner may provide grants under the grant
  program for the enrollment in each school year of not more than
  3,500 children in a prekindergarten class described by Subsection
  (c). 
         (e)  The agency shall annually report to the legislature
  regarding the number of children described by Subsection (c)
  enrolled in a prekindergarten class.
         SECTION 2.  Section 29.1537, Education Code, as added by
  this Act, applies beginning with the 2023-2024 school year.
         SECTION 3.  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, 2023.