TITLE: Relating to establishing optional certifications for child-care providers participating in the Texas Rising Star Program and establishing a grant program for those providers.

SUMMARY: Relating to establishing optional certifications for child-care providers participating in the Texas Rising Star Program and establishing a grant program for those providers.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to establishing optional certifications for child-care providers participating in the Texas Rising Star Program and establishing a grant program for those providers. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter G, Chapter 2308, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 2308.3156 to read as follows: Sec. 2308.3156. OPTIONAL CERTIFICATIONS FOR TEXAS RISING STAR PROGRAM; GRANT PROGRAM. (a) As part of the Texas Rising Star Program, the commission shall create optional certifications that a child-care provider may obtain to enhance the provider's rating under the program. (b) The optional certifications created under Subsection (a) must include a certification for child-care providers who provide for the inclusion of children with disabilities with their typically developing peers. (c) The commission shall establish and administer a grant program to provide a child-care provider who receives an optional certification under this section with additional funding. The commission shall award a grant under this section to a provider in each year the provider receives or maintains an optional certification under Subsection (a). (d) To receive a grant under this section, a child-care provider who obtains an optional certification under Subsection (a) must apply to the commission on the form and in the manner prescribed by commission rule. (e) In determining the amount of a grant under this section, the commission must consider the age groups of children served by the provider and the provider's enrollment capacity. (f) The commission may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations from any public or private source for purposes of this section. (g) The commission shall adopt rules to administer this section. SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, the Texas Workforce Commission shall adopt rules necessary to implement Section 2308.3156, Government Code, as added by this Act. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.