81R5542 JSC-D
By: Farias H.B. No. 1978
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of an evidence-based youth
development competitive grant pilot program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 531, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter S to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER S. EVIDENCE-BASED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT COMPETITIVE GRANT
PILOT PROGRAM
Sec. 531.751. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "adolescent"
means a person who is at least 12 years of age but younger than 18
years of age.
Sec. 531.752. ESTABLISHMENT OF EVIDENCE-BASED YOUTH
DEVELOPMENT COMPETITIVE GRANT PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The commission
shall establish an evidence-based youth development competitive
grant pilot program to award grants for the implementation,
expansion, and operation of evidence-based youth development
programs designed to provide information and guidance for not more
than 75 adolescents in making healthy and beneficial life choices.
(b) The pilot program shall be located in Bexar County and
serve regions that are:
(1) located in zip codes in which the school-age birth
rate is at least three times the national school-age birth rate; and
(2) served by one or more school districts in which:
(A) at least 90 percent of the student population
is economically disadvantaged; and
(B) the annual dropout rate for grades 7 through
12 is greater than five percent.
Sec. 531.753. EVIDENCE-BASED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
REQUIREMENTS. (a) An evidence-based youth development program
funded through a grant awarded under this subchapter must:
(1) target adolescents who:
(A) are at risk of becoming pregnant or causing
an unplanned pregnancy or already have a child;
(B) are at risk of engaging in delinquent conduct
or conduct indicating a need for supervision, as those terms are
defined by Section 51.03, Family Code;
(C) are at risk of dropping out of school;
(D) live in foster care or in a facility operated
by the state; or
(E) live in economically disadvantaged
circumstances;
(2) feature a curriculum that is appropriate for
adolescents and that has been demonstrated to reduce school dropout
and adolescent pregnancy rates;
(3) include a community service component of not fewer
than 20 hours each year;
(4) include at least one activity session or group
discussion each week; and
(5) cover a wide variety of developmental topics of
interest to adolescents, including:
(A) development of values and good judgment;
(B) communication and assertiveness;
(C) healthy relationships;
(D) influence of others and peer pressure;
(E) goal-setting;
(F) decision-making;
(G) development and human sexuality;
(H) preparation for participation in community
service activities;
(I) community service learning; and
(J) group reflection on community service
experiences.
(b) An evidence-based youth development program must
operate for not less than nine months or an academic school year.
Sec. 531.754. APPLICATION. (a) A public or private entity,
including a county, municipality, or other political subdivision of
this state, may apply for a grant under this subchapter by
submitting a written application to the commission on a form
prescribed by the commission.
(b) The application prescribed by the commission must:
(1) require the applicant to provide data on the
number of adolescents who will receive assistance through the
program;
(2) describe the ongoing monitoring and evaluation
process to which a grant recipient is subject, including the
recipient's obligation to collect and provide information
requested by the commission; and
(3) require the applicant to provide other relevant
information as determined by the commission.
Sec. 531.755. ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS IN AWARDING
GRANTS. In determining whether to award a grant under this
subchapter, the commission shall consider:
(1) the demonstrated need for an evidence-based youth
development program in the community in which the applicant
proposes to operate or expand the program, as determined by:
(A) the poverty rate;
(B) the crime rate;
(C) the school-age birth rate;
(D) the rate of drug and alcohol abuse; and
(E) the annual dropout rate for grades 7 through
12;
(2) the applicant's ability to participate in ongoing
monitoring and performance evaluations, including the applicant's
ability to collect and provide information required by the
commission;
(3) the applicant's ability to adhere to the
evidence-based youth development program operating and performance
standards;
(4) the applicant's ability to develop broad-based
community support for implementing or expanding an evidence-based
youth development program, as applicable; and
(5) the applicant's history of developing and
sustaining innovative, high-quality programs that meet the needs of
families and communities.
Sec. 531.756. EVIDENCE-BASED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
STANDARDS. The executive commissioner, in accordance with the
goals and requirements established by this subchapter, shall adopt
standards for an evidence-based youth development program awarded a
grant under this subchapter.
Sec. 531.757. USE OF AWARDED GRANT FUNDS. The grant funds
awarded under this subchapter may be used only to cover costs
related to implementing, expanding, or operating an evidence-based
youth development program, including costs related to:
(1) administering the program, including:
(A) appropriate local site selection; and
(B) required evaluation and quality monitoring;
(2) training and managing staff;
(3) paying staff salaries and expenses; and
(4) paying for program facilities and equipment.
Sec. 531.758. EVIDENCE-BASED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
MONITORING AND EVALUATION; COMMITTEE REPORT. (a) The executive
commissioner shall adopt performance indicators designed to
measure a grant recipient's performance with respect to the
evidence-based youth development program standards adopted by the
executive commissioner under Section 531.756.
(b) The commission shall use the performance indicators to
monitor and evaluate the performance of each grant recipient.
(c) Not later than December 1, 2010, the commission shall
submit a report to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee,
or its successor, and the House Human Services Committee, or its
successor, regarding the performance of each grant recipient with
respect to providing evidence-based youth development program
services, including:
(1) the number of low-income adolescents served by an
evidence-based youth development program and, of that number, the
number of adolescents who subsequently became pregnant or caused a
pregnancy; and
(2) any other information required by the commission.
(d) On request, each grant recipient shall timely collect
and provide data and any other information required by the
commission to monitor and evaluate the recipient or to prepare the
report required by this section.
Sec. 531.759. EVIDENCE-BASED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT COMPETITIVE
GRANT PILOT PROGRAM FUNDING. (a) The commission shall actively
seek and apply for any available federal funds or grants from any
source to assist in financing the competitive grant pilot program
established under this subchapter.
(b) The commission may use appropriated funds and may accept
gifts, donations, and grants of money from the federal government,
local governments, private corporations, or other persons to assist
in financing the competitive grant pilot program.
Sec. 531.760. EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires
September 1, 2011.
SECTION 2. (a) The Health and Human Services Commission
shall, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act,
apply for any available funds or grants to assist in financing the
evidence-based youth development competitive grant pilot program
created by this Act.
(b) Not later than December 1, 2009, the Health and Human
Services Commission shall establish and implement the
evidence-based youth development competitive grant pilot program
created by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.