Parents have the right to:

1. (1) have persons represent them when applying for child care;
2. (2) notification of their eligibility to receive child care within 20 days from the day the Board's contractor receives all necessary documentation required to determine eligibility for child care;
3. (3) receive child care regardless of race, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, political beliefs, or religion;
4. (4) have the Board and the Board's contractor treat as confidential information that is used to determine eligibility for child care;

5. (5) except as provided by paragraph (6) of this section, written notification by the Board's contractor at least 15 days before the denial, delay, reduction, or termination of child care unless the following exceptions apply:

   1. (A) Notification of denial, delay, reduction, or termination in child care is not required when child care is authorized to cease immediately because either the parent is no longer participating in the Choices program; or child care is authorized to end immediately for children in protective services child care;
   2. (B) The Choices program participants and children in protective services child care are notified, of denial, delay, reduction, or termination of child care and the effective date of such actions by the Choices case worker or the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

6. (6) 30-day written notification by the Board's contractor if child care is to be terminated in order to make room for priority groups.

   1. (A) Written notification of denial, delay, reduction or termination shall include information regarding other child care services for which the recipient may be eligible.
   2. (B) If the notice on or before the 30th day before denial, delay, reduction or termination in child care would interfere with the ability of the Board to comply with its duties regarding the number of children served or would require the expenditure of funds in excess of the amount allocated to the Board, notice may be provided on the earliest date on which it is practicable for the Board to provide notice.

Source Note:The provisions of this §809.72 adopted to be effective January 29, 2004, 29 TexReg 644.