HBA-EDN, SEP H.B. 2074 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2074
By: Martinez Fischer
Economic Development
3/13/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

There is a shortage of child care in this state and across the country.  In
particular, many economically disadvantaged and rural areas lack access to
child care facilities.  Welfare reform is also  contributing to growing
child care needs as more people are transitioning from welfare to work.  To
comply with federal welfare reform laws, Texas is incrementally lowering
the age of the youngest child for which a caretaker is temporarily exempted
from employment obligations.  By September 2001, only caretakers with a
child under the age of one will be exempt from employment obligations.
Other factors contributing to the state's growing child care needs include
the increase of single-parent households and growing employment rates.
House Bill 2074 requires the Texas Workforce Commission to conduct a study
of ways to increase the supply of child care providers in this state. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 2074 sets forth law to require the Texas Workforce Commission
(TWC) to conduct a study of means by which this state may act to increase
the supply of childcare workers in this state.  The bill requires TWC to
give special consideration to the needs for child care services of parents
involved with welfare-to-work programs or similar services of TWC and other
state agencies.  The bill also requires TWC to include in the study an
analysis of proposed or experimental programs TWC considers to have merit
and the efforts of other states in this regard.  The bill further requires
TWC to report the study findings to the governor, lieutenant governor, and
the speaker of the house of representatives not later than September 1,
2002, and sets forth specifications for the contents of the report.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, of if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.