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Relating to an investigation unit within the Health and Human Services Commission for certain unlicensed child-care facilities.
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB 706, As Engrossed:
a negative impact of ($4,548,389) through the biennium ending August 31, 2021.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of
funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
SB 706 would direct the executive commission of the Health and Human Services Commission to maintain a unit within the child-care licensing division of the commission consisting of investigators whose primary responsibility is to (1) identify child-care facilities that are operating without a license, certification, registration, or listing; and (2) initiate appropriate enforcement actions against those facilities.
Texas Action opposes SB 706 because it would violate limited government principles by expanding the size, scope, and cost of state responsibilities, including 36 new full time employees. While the safety of children is of the utmost importance, child-care is an industry that is currently regulated by the state to proficient standards with many provisions that are burdensome on operators. One means to draw greater child-care businesses into compliance would be to reduce the current stringent requirements of operation rather than seek out offenders who see illegal operations as a preferred risk to having to adhere to state requirements. Additionally, parents have a personal responsibility to ensure that they are sending their children to a safe and competent day-care provider.
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