Relating to an early childhood integrated data system, the official text

H.B. No. 3963

AN ACT

relating to an early childhood integrated data system.

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

SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 2, Education Code, is amended

by adding Chapter 10 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 10. EARLY CHILDHOOD INTEGRATED DATA SYSTEM

Sec. 10.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Cooperating entity" means the:

(A) Children's Learning Institute at The

University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston;

(B) Health and Human Services Commission;

(C) Texas Education Agency; and

(D) Texas Workforce Commission.

(2) "Early childhood interagency work group" means the

work group established to promote collaboration across state

agencies serving families with young children and that consists of

representatives from the following state agencies:

(A) Department of Family and Protective

Services;

(B) Department of State Health Services;

(C) Health and Human Services Commission;

(D) Texas Education Agency; and

(E) Texas Workforce Commission.

(3) "Lead agency" means the Texas Education Agency.

(4) "System" means the early childhood integrated data

system established under this subchapter.

Sec. 10.002. INITIAL DEVELOPMENT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD

INTEGRATED DATA SYSTEM. (a) Subject to Section 10.003(1), the

early childhood interagency work group shall initiate the

development of the early childhood integrated data system for the

purpose of facilitating the sharing of data from early childhood

programs across state agencies to:

(1) inform policy related to early childhood programs

at the state level; and

(2) guide improvements to early childhood programs to

provide better outcomes for children and families.

(b) The system must be developed in a manner that:

(1) allows for the integration of existing state and

federal data systems that are accessible to the cooperating

entities and that contain data derived from early childhood

services and programs;

(2) allows for the identification of and reporting on:

(A) specific outcome measures using aggregated

data that does not contain any identifying information, to the

extent state or federal law, as applicable, expressly authorizes

that use of the information;

(B) gaps in services;

(C) opportunities to align services and

programs; and

(D) coordination needs across services and

programs; and

(3) complies with state and federal laws relating to

privacy, cybersecurity, and data collection, including rules

establishing procedures to ensure that there is no unauthorized

duplication or removal of confidential information.

(c) Nothing in this chapter may be construed to authorize

the collection of data other than that described by Subsection

(b)(1).

Sec. 10.003. LEAD AGENCY DUTIES. The lead agency shall:

(1) oversee the completion of the system initially

developed under Section 10.002 in a manner consistent with the

requirements of that section;

(2) implement and maintain the system with assistance

from the early childhood interagency work group;

(3) provide staff to operate the system;

(4) using system data, conduct data matching using a

protocol approved by the cooperating entities; and

(5) in coordination with the cooperating entities,

oversee research projects related to the system.

Sec. 10.004. COOPERATING ENTITIES. (a) The lead agency and

each cooperating entity shall enter into a memorandum of

understanding regarding the sharing of data for purposes of the

system. The memorandum of understanding must specify the data to be

shared consistent with Sections 10.002(b)(1) and (c) and the

frequency and manner of that data sharing.

(b) Each cooperating entity shall participate in the system

and share data for purposes of the system as required by the

memorandum of understanding.

Sec. 10.005. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. (a) Not later than

September 1 of each year, the lead agency shall submit to the

governor and the legislature a report on the progress in

developing, establishing, and operating the system.

(b) The initial report required by Subsection (a) must

include:

(1) an interagency data governance plan that includes:

(A) objectives relevant to the system and a

framework for achieving those objectives;

(B) the roles and responsibilities of all state

entities involved in establishing and maintaining the system; and

(C) documentation of relevant state and federal

privacy, cybersecurity, and data collection laws, including rules;

(2) a design plan that includes:

(A) data integration, security, storage,

retention, management, processing, and analytics and other

products; and

(B) roles and responsibilities of relevant state

entity personnel regarding data integration; and

(3) information on the status of:

(A) hiring staff described by Section 10.003(3);

(B) funding applied for and secured; and

(C) the development of an Internet website that

includes a preliminary, publicly available consumer data

dashboard.

(c) Each report required by Subsection (a) following the

initial report must include:

(1) updates to the information required by Subsection

(b);

(2) an overview on business use cases the system can

support; and

(3) information on the development of analytic tools

based on the business use cases described by Subdivision (2).

Sec. 10.006. FUNDING; ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS, GRANTS, AND

DONATIONS. (a) The early childhood interagency work group, the

cooperating entities, and the lead agency may use any available

state or federal money to develop the system.

(b) The lead agency shall actively pursue grants or other

money available from the state and federal government to operate

the system.

(c) The early childhood interagency work group, the

cooperating entities, and the lead agency may accept gifts, grants,

and donations from any source for the purposes of this chapter.

SECTION 2. An entity to which Chapter 10, Education Code, as

added by this Act, applies is required to implement a provision of

this Act only if the legislature appropriates money specifically

for that purpose. If the legislature does not appropriate money

specifically for that purpose during a state fiscal biennium, an

entity may, but is not required to, implement a provision of this

Act using other money available for that purpose.

SECTION 3. The Texas Education Agency shall undertake to

ensure that the early childhood integrated data system established

under Section 10.002, Education Code, as added by this Act, is

completed not later than January 1, 2027.

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

______________________________
______________________________

President of the Senate
Speaker of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 3963 was passed by the House on May 8,

2025, by the following vote: Yeas 121, Nays 25, 2 present, not

voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.

No. 3963 on May 29, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 99, Nays 36,

1 present, not voting.

______________________________

Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 3963 was passed by the Senate, with

amendments, on May 27, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays

0.

______________________________

Secretary of the Senate

APPROVED: __________________

Date

__________________

Governor