(a) A parent, including a parent in a dual-parent family, is eligible for child care services under this section if at initial eligibility determination the family does not meet the minimum participation requirements for At-Risk Child Care as described in §809.50 of this subchapter.
(b) A Board shall allow parents to self-attest that the:
  (1) family meets the requirements of subsection (a) of this section; and
  (2) family income does not exceed 85 percent of the state median income.
(c) The 12-month eligibility period for child care under this section consists of an initial three-month job search period. If total activity participation of at least 25 hours for a single-parent family or a total combined 50 hours per week for dual-parent families, which must include a minimum of 12 hours in employment for a single-parent family and a total combined 25 hours in employment for a dual-parent family, are met within the initial three months, eligibility will continue for the remainder of the 12-month eligibility period, provided that the family income does not exceed 85 percent of the state median income. If the family does not meet minimum activity requirements under this subsection within three months, care must be terminated.
(d) For child care during the initial three-month job search period, the follow applies regarding the parent share of cost:
  (1) A Board shall initially assess the parent share of cost at the highest amount based on the family size and number of children in care.
  (2) The initially assessed amount will immediately be temporarily reduced to zero. This provision also applies to dual-parent families in which one parent is employed but the family meets the requirements in subsection (a) of this section for child care during initial job search.
  (3) If the parent begins to meet participation requirements of subsection (c) of this section within or by the end of the three-month job search period, the parent share of cost shall be reinstated at the initially assessed amount or the amount based on the actual family income, whichever is lower.
(e) Eligibility for child care under this section is limited to one initial three-month job search period per family within a 12-month period.
(f) A Board shall ensure that the parent in child care for job search is registered with the state's labor exchange system and has access to appropriate services available through the one-stop delivery network described in §801.28 of this title.

Source Note: The provisions of this §809.56 adopted to be effective October 3, 2022, 47 TexReg 6437; amended to be effective July 29, 2024, 49 TexReg 5540