TECEC Priorities Passed During the 79th Legislative Session

What a whirlwind of a Session! It wasn't until the last day of the 79th Legislative Session that TECEC and its partners knew which TECEC priorities would pass and which would die in the process. TECEC is excited to announce that three of its four priorities passed and were signed into law by Governor Rick Perry during the 79th Legislation Session. Thank you to all of our partners and the legislative leadership that helped make this possible.

TECEC PRIORITY: Expansion of the Texas Early Education Model (TEEM) Project
Legislation Filed: Senate Bill 23 (Zaffirini)
Status: Signed by the Governor on June 9, 2005; Effective September 1, 2005
Bill Analysis: SB23, a bipartisan initiative authored by Zaffirini and sponsored by Representatives Kolkhorst and Naishtat in the House PASSED to expand the Texas Early Education Model (TEEM).  SB23 will:

· Ensure children are served through coordinated efforts among Child Care, Head Start, Early Head Start, Prekindergarten and after-school programs;

· Develop streamlined enrollment and simplified eligibility for children entering the early care and education system;

· Include a program evaluation component that will continue to strengthen standards, enhance quality, increase access, and expand professional development opportunities; and

· Develop a voluntary School Readiness Certification System in conjunction with the P-16 Council to certify the effectiveness of early care and education programs in order to better inform parents of their choices of care

THANK YOU to legislative leadership who carried and worked on this important initiative including Senator Zaffirini, Representative Kolkhorst, Senator Lucio, Senator Madla and Representative Naishtat.

Thank you to legislative leadership who carried and worked on this important initiative including Senator Zaffirini, Representative Kolkhorst, Senator Lucio, Senator Madla and Representative Naishtat.

TECEC PRIORITY: Financing: Early Education Blue Ribbon Committee
Legislation Filed: House Bill 2808 (Morrison)-Originally filed as HB2327, Villarreal
Status: Signed by the Governor on June 18, 2005; Effective on September 1, 2005
Bill Analysis: HB2808, another bipartisan effort authored by Representative Morrison and sponsored by Senator West PASSED and calls for the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) to conduct a performance review and develop a report to:

· Study the resource needs of high quality early childhood care and education programs, including Head Start, Early Head Start, Prekindergarten, after-school programs and licensed child care programs;

· Recommend options to secure additional funding for early care and education programs and;

· Recommend a plan to implement in phases full-day preschool programs for at-risk children and to expand the eligibility for early care and education programs.

Thank you to Representative Morrisson, Senator West and Representative Villarreal for your incredible efforts on this important legislation!

TECEC PRIORITY: Single Point of Access for Families
Legislation Filed: House Bill 2048 (Uresti)-Originally filed as HB1356, Villarreal
Status: Signed by the Governor on June 18, 2005; Effective Immediately
Bill Analysis: HB2048, authored by Representative Uresti and sponsored by Senator Ellis will create an online single point of access for families in need of early care and education and after-school programs for children under the age of 13.  HB2048 will accomplish the goal of HB1356 by Representative Villarreal through the Texas Information and Referral Network (HelpinTexas) website in conjunction with 211 and the child care resource and referral network. HB2048 uses the City of San Antonio Single Portal of Entry© model used on the Kid First website. It is exciting to see provisions of a local model replicated at the statewide level.

Thank you to Representative Uresti, Senator Ellis, and Representative Villarreal for your role in ensuring this important provision for families has moved through the legislative process!