Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1543 Compare Versions

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1	1	By: Uresti S.B. No. 1543
2	2	(In the Senate - Filed March 9, 2009; March 17, 2009, read
3	3	first time and referred to Committee on Economic Development;
4	4	April 23, 2009, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
5	5	Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 3, Nays 0; April 23, 2009,
6	6	sent to printer.)
7	7	COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1543 By: Watson
8	8
9	9
10	10	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
11	11	AN ACT
12	12	relating to the establishment of the Interagency Literacy Council
13	13	for the study, promotion, and enhancement of literacy in this
14	14	state.
15	15	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
16	16	SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 4, Labor Code, is amended by
17	17	adding Chapter 312 to read as follows:
18	18	CHAPTER 312. INTERAGENCY LITERACY COUNCIL
19	19	Sec. 312.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "council" means
20	20	the Interagency Literacy Council established under this chapter.
21	21	Sec. 312.002. APPLICATION OF SUNSET ACT. The Interagency
22	22	Literacy Council is subject to Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas
23	23	Sunset Act). Unless continued in existence as provided by that
24	24	chapter, the council is abolished and this chapter expires
25	25	September 1, 2019.
26	26	Sec. 312.003. ESTABLISHMENT AND COMPOSITION. (a) The
27	27	commission shall establish the Interagency Literacy Council. The
28	28	council is composed of nine members as follows:
29	29	(1) a representative of the commission, appointed by
30	30	the executive director;
31	31	(2) a representative of the Texas Education Agency,
32	32	appointed by the commissioner of education;
33	33	(3) a representative of the Texas Higher Education
34	34	Coordinating Board, appointed by the commissioner of higher
35	35	education; and
36	36	(4) six public members who are leaders of the business
37	37	or nonprofit community engaged in literacy promotion efforts,
38	38	appointed by the executive director of the commission.
39	39	(b) The representative appointed under Subsection (a)(1)
40	40	shall serve as the presiding officer of the council.
41	41	Sec. 312.004. COMMISSION DUTIES. The commission shall
42	42	provide staff and resources as necessary for the operation of the
43	43	council.
44	44	Sec. 312.005. TERMS; VACANCY. (a) Members of the council
45	45	serve two-year terms, with the terms expiring February 1 of each
46	46	odd-numbered year.
47	47	(b) A member may be reappointed.
48	48	(c) A vacancy on the council shall be filled for the
49	49	remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner as provided by
50	50	Section 312.003(a).
51	51	Sec. 312.006. MEETINGS. (a) The council shall meet in
52	52	person at least three times each year and may hold meetings by
53	53	conference call if necessary. The council shall invite
54	54	stakeholders to participate in at least one council meeting each
55	55	year and provide an opportunity for submission of oral or written
56	56	testimony.
57	57	(b) Section 551.125, Government Code, applies to a meeting
58	58	held by conference call under this section, except that Section
59	59	551.125(b), Government Code, does not apply.
60	60	Sec. 312.007. COMPENSATION; REIMBURSEMENT. (a) A member
61	61	of the council may not receive compensation for service on the
62	62	council.
63	63	(b) A public member may be reimbursed for the member's
64	64	actual and necessary expenses for meals, lodging, and
65	65	transportation incurred while performing council business, subject
66	66	to any applicable limitation on reimbursement prescribed by the
67	67	General Appropriations Act.
68	68	Sec. 312.008. COUNCIL POWERS AND DUTIES. The council
69	69	shall:
70	70	(1) study current research to assess the adult
71	71	literacy needs in this state, including literacy needs relating to
72	72	business and finance, workforce and technology, civics, and health
73	73	and wellness;
74	74	(2) consult with key stakeholders to identify:
75	75	(A) barriers to improving literacy; and
76	76	(B) evidence-based best practices for improving
77	77	literacy;
78	78	(3) review the status of the programs and services
79	79	administered by each agency or entity represented on the council
80	80	that promote literacy in an effort to coordinate efforts, align
81	81	services, reduce redundancies, implement best practices, integrate
82	82	support services, and improve accountability;
83	83	(4) build existing funding streams and identify
84	84	additional state and federal funding sources available for the
85	85	promotion of literacy in this state; and
86	86	(5) raise literacy awareness and engage community
87	87	leaders in creative solution building for improving literacy in
88	88	this state.
89	89	Sec. 312.009. STATEWIDE LITERACY PLAN; REPORT. (a) The
90	90	council shall develop a comprehensive statewide action plan for the
91	91	improvement of literacy in this state, including a recommended
92	92	timeline for implementation.
93	93	(b) The council shall submit to both houses of the
94	94	legislature, the governor, and the Texas Workforce Investment
95	95	Council on or before November 1 of each even-numbered year a written
96	96	report on:
97	97	(1) the development of the council's statewide action
98	98	plan;
99	99	(2) the actions taken in furtherance of the plan;
100	100	(3) the areas that need improvement in implementing
101	101	the plan;
102	102	(4) any change to the plan; and
103	103	(5) the programs and services that address literacy
104	104	needs in this state.
105	105	Sec. 312.010. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. The commission
106	106	may accept for the council a gift, grant, or donation from any
107	107	source to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
108	108	Sec. 312.011. RULES. The commission may adopt rules
109	109	necessary to implement this chapter.
110	110	SECTION 2. (a) The Interagency Literacy Council shall
111	111	submit the initial report required under Subsection (b), Section
112	112	312.009, Labor Code, as added by this Act, not later than November
113	113	1, 2012.
114	114	(b) As soon as practicable after the effective date of this
115	115	Act, the designated appointing officials shall appoint the members
116	116	to the Interagency Literacy Council established under Chapter 312,
117	117	Labor Code, as added by this Act.
118	118	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
119	119	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
120	120	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
121	121	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
122	122	Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
123	123	* * * * *