Relating to use and operation of the childcare protection and enhancement fund.

SB 1617 establishes rules for managing the Child Care Protection and Enhancement Fund, created under Texas Constitution Section 49-r. The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) administers the fund, which holds money invested by the Texas Treasury Safekeeping Trust Company. The bill requires annual distributions of fund interest to increase subsidized childcare capacity and rates for families and providers. It prohibits using fund money for salaries, agency operations, or administrative costs, and mandates audits of all expenditures. The bill takes effect only if voters approve a related constitutional amendment in 2025.