LABOR CODE
CHAPTER 310. CHILD-CARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL NETWORK
§ 310.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Member" means a member of the child-care resource
and referral network that provides child-care resource and referral
services in this state.
(2) "Network" means the child-care resource and
referral network administered by a nonprofit public or private
organization that contracts with the commission to provide
child-care resource and referral services in this state.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1445, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
§ 310.002. CHILD-CARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL
NETWORK. (a) The commission, through funds allocated to the
commission as the agency designated to administer the grant under
the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C.
Section 9858 et seq.), as amended, and specifically appropriated to
the commission for that purpose, shall:
(1) contract with a child-care resource and referral
network to provide child-care resource and referral services in
this state; and
(2) require the network to be administered in
compliance with the requirements of the block grant program.
(b) The commission shall use a system of competitive
procurement to award a contract to a child-care resource and
referral network that has proven experience in providing child-care
resource and referral services.
(c) To the extent funds from the block grant program are
available for that purpose, the commission shall award the contract
under this section in a manner that will allow for the provision of
child-care resource and referral services throughout this state.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1445, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
§ 310.003. STATEWIDE CHILD-CARE NEEDS
ASSESSMENT. (a) The network shall conduct a needs assessment to
determine the supply of and demand for child-care services in this
state and to identify discrepancies between that supply and demand.
(b) Based on the needs assessment, the network shall make
recommendations to the commission regarding collaborative
solutions to address the identified child-care supply and demand
discrepancies. The recommended solutions must involve
collaboration between:
(1) local workforce development boards;
(2) community-based social services agencies;
(3) employers;
(4) child-care providers; and
(5) parents who are consumers of child-care services.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1445, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
§ 310.004. RESOURCE SERVICES. The network, through its
members, shall provide and continually update resource information
regarding:
(1) child-care and early childhood education services
in this state; and
(2) assistance in becoming a child-care provider,
including information about:
(A) the general requirements for applying for and
maintaining a license, listing, or registration under Chapter 42,
Human Resources Code; and
(B) the availability of financial resources and
educational, technical, and other training opportunities,
including management skills training and continuing education
programs for operators and employees of child-care facilities,
regardless of whether the network or another person provides those
opportunities.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1445, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
§ 310.005. REFERRAL SERVICES. (a) The network,
through its members, shall provide referral services to:
(1) a person who is seeking child-care and early
childhood education services; and
(2) an employer seeking child-care assistance for the
employer or an employee through:
(A) a consultation regarding the availability of
child-care and early childhood education services; or
(B) specialized services for the employer or its
employees.
(b) In addition to providing referrals to child-care and
early childhood education services, the network, through its
members, shall provide:
(1) referrals to available support services,
including:
(A) parenting education classes; and
(B) services for parents or children offered by
health and human services agencies, as defined by Section 531.001,
Government Code, or otherwise available in the community; and
(2) information for consumers of child-care and early
childhood education services, including:
(A) information regarding early childhood
development;
(B) criteria for identifying quality child-care
and early childhood education services that support the healthy
development of children; and
(C) other information that will assist consumers
in making informed and effective choices regarding child-care and
early childhood education services.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1445, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
§ 310.006. ADVERTISEMENT OF SERVICES. (a) The
network, through its members, shall inform parents, child-care
consumers, child-care providers, and employers located in the
member's service area of:
(1) the resource and referral services available from
the network; and
(2) the methods by which a person may contact the
member to access resource and referral services.
(b) A member may provide the information under Subsection
(a) through the media and alternative means, including:
(1) state and local community, job, and health fairs;
(2) public service announcements and advertisements;
(3) career development centers;
(4) offices of health and human services agencies;
(5) Texas workforce centers that comprise the Texas
Workforce Network; and
(6) direct contacts with employers and child-care
providers.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1445, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
§ 310.007. COLLECTION OF CHILD-CARE DATA. (a) The
network, through its members, shall:
(1) collect and continuously update statewide data
regarding the supply of and demand for child-care and early
childhood education services in this state;
(2) report the data to the commission each calendar
quarter; and
(3) make the information available statewide.
(b) The data required by this section must include a
comprehensive compilation of all available child-care and early
childhood education services in this state and information
concerning unmet needs of consumers with respect to those services.
(c) The commission and the Department of Protective and
Regulatory Services shall provide assistance to the network and
members of the network in collecting, aggregating, and updating the
data required by this section.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1445, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
§ 310.008. RULES. The commission may adopt rules
necessary to implement this chapter.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1445, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
