TITLE: Proposing a constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the child care protection and enhancement fund.

SUMMARY: Proposing a constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the child care protection and enhancement fund.

FULL TEXT:
89(R) SJR 56-Introduced version-Bill Text By: West S.J.R. No. 56 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION proposing a constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the child care protection and enhancement fund. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended by adding Section 49-r to read as follows: Sec. 49-r. (a)The child care protection and enhancement fund is established as a trust fund outside the treasury.In accordance with general law, the fund may be used only the expansion of capacity of childcare seats in Texas, or the enhancement of state-subsidized care rates. (b) The child care protection and enhancement fund consists of: (1) money appropriated, credited, or transferred to the fund by the legislature; (2) gifts, grants, and donations received by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts in function for a purpose for which money in the fund may be used under this section; and (3) investment earnings and interest earned on amounts credited to the fund. (c) The legislature may appropriate money from the child care protection and enhancement fund to the Texas Workforce Commission or the department's successor in function for the purposes prescribed for the fund by this section and general law. (d) For purposes of Section 22, Article VIII, of this constitution: (1) money in the child care protection and enhancement fund is dedicated by this constitution; and (2) an appropriation of state tax revenues for the purpose of depositing money to the credit of the fund is treated as if it were an appropriation of revenues dedicated by this constitution. (e) The reasonable expenses of managing the fund and its assets shall be paid from the fund. SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 4, 2025. The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the proposition: "The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the childcare protection and enhancement fund to be used for the enhancement of childcare in this state."