81R28091 JSC-D
By: Farias, et al. H.B. No. 1978
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1978:
By: Rose C.S.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. DEFINITIONS. In this Act:
(1) "Adolescent" means a person who is at least 12
years of age but younger than 18 years of age.
(2) "Department" means the Department of Family and
Protective Services.
SECTION 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF EVIDENCE-BASED YOUTH
DEVELOPMENT COMPETITIVE GRANT PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The department
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 a total of 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.
SECTION 3. EVIDENCE-BASED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
REQUIREMENTS. (a) An evidence-based youth development program
funded through a grant awarded under this Act 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 students at risk of dropping out of
school as defined by Section 29.081(d), Education Code;
(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;
(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 that
receives a grant under this Act must use grant funding to operate
during a nine-month period beginning not earlier than August 1,
2010, and not later than September 30, 2010.
SECTION 4. 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 Act by submitting a
written application to the department on a form prescribed by the
department.
(b) The application prescribed by the department 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 department; and
(3) require the applicant to provide other relevant
information as determined by the department.
SECTION 5. ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS IN AWARDING GRANTS.
In determining whether to award a grant under this Act, the
department shall consider:
(1) the applicant's ability to:
(A) participate in ongoing monitoring and
performance evaluations, including the applicant's ability to
collect and provide information required by the department;
(B) adhere to the evidence-based youth
development program operating and performance standards; and
(C) develop broad-based community support for
implementing or expanding an evidence-based youth development
program, as applicable; and
(2) the applicant's history of developing and
sustaining innovative, high-quality programs that meet the needs of
families and communities.
SECTION 6. EVIDENCE-BASED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
STANDARDS. The commissioner of the department, in accordance with
the goals and requirements established by this Act, shall adopt
standards for an evidence-based youth development program awarded a
grant under this Act.
SECTION 7. USE OF AWARDED GRANT FUNDS. The grant funds
awarded under this Act may be used only to cover costs related to
implementing, expanding, or operating an evidence-based youth
development program during a nine-month period beginning not
earlier than August 1, 2010, and not later than September 30, 2010,
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.
SECTION 8. EVIDENCE-BASED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
MONITORING AND EVALUATION; COMMITTEE REPORT. (a) The commissioner
of the department 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
commissioner under Section 6 of this Act.
(b) The department shall use the performance indicators to
monitor and evaluate the performance of each grant recipient.
(c) Not later than November 1, 2011, the department 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 department.
(d) On request, each grant recipient shall timely collect
and provide data and any other information required by the
department to monitor and evaluate the recipient or to prepare the
report required by this section.
SECTION 9. EVIDENCE-BASED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT COMPETITIVE
GRANT PILOT PROGRAM FUNDING. (a) The department may 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 Act.
(b) The department 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.
SECTION 10. EXPIRATION. This Act expires December 31,
2011.
SECTION 11. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect
September 1, 2009.