bill for day-care emergency guidelines and audits

The text as introduced · 392 words

89R12365 AMF-D

By: Manuel
H.B. No. 5223

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to emergency response protocols and safety and security

audits developed by the Texas School Safety Center and Health and

Human Services Commission for day-care centers.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter G, Chapter 37, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 37.2135 to read as follows:

Sec. 37.2135. DAY-CARE CENTERS. (a) In this section,

"day-care center" has the meaning assigned by Section 42.002, Human

Resources Code.

(b) The center, in collaboration with the Health and Human

Services Commission, shall:

(1) research best practices regarding emergency

preparedness of day-care centers and serve as a clearinghouse for

that information;

(2) develop safety and security audit procedures for

day-care centers that include:

(A) the frequency of the safety and security

audit to be conducted by a day-care center under Section 42.04432,

Human Resources Code; and

(B) the manner in which a day-care center must

report the results of the safety and security audit conducted under

Section 42.04432, Human Resources Code, to the center;

(3) develop and publish guidelines for standard

emergency response protocol requirements; and

(4) provide day-care centers with safety and standard

emergency response protocol training and technical assistance.

SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 42, Human Resources Code,

is amended by adding Section 42.04432 to read as follows:

Sec. 42.04432. EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROTOCOL FOR AND SAFETY

AND SECURITY AUDIT OF CERTAIN FACILITIES. (a) In this section,

"center" means the Texas School Safety Center.

(b) Each day-care center shall:

(1) follow the standard emergency response protocol

guidelines developed by the center in collaboration with the

commission under Section 37.2135, Education Code;

(2) conduct safety and security audits following the

safety and security audit procedures developed by the center in

collaboration with the commission under Section 37.2135, Education

Code; and

(3) report the results of the safety and security

audit conducted under Subdivision (2) to the center in the manner

required by Section 37.2135, Education Code.

SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date

of this Act, the Texas School Safety Center and the Health and Human

Services Commission shall develop the procedures and guidelines

required by Section 37.2135, Education Code, and Section 42.04432,

Human Resources Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.