81R3216 KFF-F
By: Van de Putte, Zaffirini S.B. No. 382
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a competitive grant program to fund promotion of early
literacy programs in certain communities in this state.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 73, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter I to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER I. COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM TO PROMOTE EARLY LITERACY
Sec. 73.601. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Competitive grant program" means the competitive
grant program to promote early literacy established under this
subchapter.
(2) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board.
(3) "Health care practitioner" has the meaning
assigned by Section 112.001, Occupations Code.
(4) "Health science center" means The University of
Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
(5) "Literacy program" means a program to promote
early literacy.
Sec. 73.602. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM TO
PROMOTE EARLY LITERACY. (a) The University of Texas Health Science
Center at Houston shall establish a competitive grant program to
promote early literacy through which the health science center will
award grants for the implementation of literacy programs, or the
expansion of existing programs, and for the operation of those
programs for a period of not less than two years.
(b) The health science center shall award grants under the
program to applicants, including applicants operating existing
programs, in a manner that ensures that the literacy programs
collectively:
(1) operate in multiple communities that are
geographically distributed throughout this state; and
(2) provide program services to approximately 100,000
families.
Sec. 73.603. LITERACY PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS. (a) A
literacy program funded through a grant awarded under this
subchapter must:
(1) strictly adhere to the program model developed by
the Reach Out and Read National Center, including any clinical,
programmatic, and data collection requirements of that model;
(2) provide matching funds in an amount equal to the
amount of the grant funds awarded under this subchapter; and
(3) require that health care practitioners volunteer
to:
(A) in conjunction with performing well-child
examinations, encourage parents to read to their children and teach
their children to read, and provide books to children;
(B) maintain waiting rooms that encourage
children to read; and
(C) provide services designed to increase the
school readiness of children receiving program services.
(b) Matching funds under Subsection (a)(2) may include
in-kind contributions.
Sec. 73.604. 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.
(b) To apply for a grant, an applicant must submit a written
application to the health science center on a form prescribed by the
coordinating board in consultation with the Reach Out and Read
National Center.
(c) The application must:
(1) require the applicant to provide data on the
number of low-income families residing in the community in which
the applicant proposes to operate or expand a literacy program and
provide a description of existing services available to those
families;
(2) describe the ongoing monitoring and evaluation
process to which a grant recipient is subject under Section 73.608,
including the recipient's obligation to collect and provide
information requested by the health science center under Section
73.608(d); and
(3) require the applicant to provide other relevant
information as determined by the health science center.
Sec. 73.605. ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS IN AWARDING GRANTS.
In addition to the factors described by Sections 73.602(b) and
73.603, in determining whether to award a grant to an applicant
under this subchapter, the health science center shall consider:
(1) the demonstrated need for a literacy program in
the community in which the applicant proposes to operate or expand
the program, which may be determined by considering:
(A) the poverty rate, the crime rate, the number
of births to Medicaid recipients, the rate of poor birth outcomes,
and the incidence of referrals of elementary school students for
remedial instruction or special education services, and of child
abuse and neglect, during a prescribed period in the community; and
(B) the need to enhance school readiness in the
community;
(2) the applicant's ability to participate in ongoing
monitoring and performance evaluations under Section 73.608,
including the applicant's ability to collect and provide
information requested by the health science center under Section
73.608(d);
(3) the applicant's ability to adhere to the literacy
program standards adopted under Section 73.606;
(4) the applicant's ability to develop broad-based
community support for implementing or expanding a literacy 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. 73.606. LITERACY PROGRAM STANDARDS. The coordinating
board, with the assistance of the Reach Out and Read National
Center, shall adopt standards for the literacy programs funded
under this subchapter. The standards must adhere to the Reach Out
and Read national program model standards and guidelines that have
been tested and replicated in multiple communities.
Sec. 73.607. USE OF AWARDED GRANT FUNDS. The grant funds
awarded under this subchapter may be used only to cover costs
related to implementing or expanding and operating a literacy
program, including costs related to:
(1) administering the program;
(2) training and managing health care practitioners
who volunteer to participate in the program; and
(3) purchasing discounted books for use in the
literacy program.
Sec. 73.608. PROGRAM MONITORING AND EVALUATION; ANNUAL
COMMITTEE REPORTS. (a) The coordinating board, with the
assistance of the Reach Out and Read National Center, shall adopt
performance indicators that are designed to measure a grant
recipient's performance with respect to the literacy program
standards adopted under Section 73.606.
(b) The health science center shall:
(1) use the performance indicators adopted under
Subsection (a) to continuously monitor and formally evaluate on an
annual basis the performance of each grant recipient; and
(2) prepare and submit an annual report, not later
than December 1 of each year, to the Senate Education Committee, or
its successor, and the House Public Education Committee, or its
successor, regarding the performance of each grant recipient during
the preceding state fiscal year with respect to providing literacy
program services.
(c) The report required under Subsection (b)(2) must
include:
(1) the number of low-income children receiving
literacy program services;
(2) the number of health care practitioners who
participate in the program and the estimated value of the services
provided by those practitioners under the program; and
(3) the extent to which each grant recipient adhered
to the Reach Out and Read national program model.
(d) On request, each grant recipient shall timely collect
and provide data and any other information required by the health
science center to monitor and evaluate the recipient or to prepare
the report required by this section.
Sec. 73.609. COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM FUNDING. (a) The
health science center shall actively seek and apply for any
available federal funds to assist in financing the competitive
grant program established under this subchapter.
(b) The health science center may use appropriated funds
from the state government 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 program.
SECTION 2. (a) As required by Section 73.609, Education
Code, as added by this Act, The University of Texas Health Science
Center at Houston shall, as soon as practicable, apply for any
available federal funds to assist in financing the competitive
grant program under Subchapter I, Chapter 73, Education Code, as
added by this Act.
(b) Not later than September 1, 2010, the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board shall adopt necessary rules for, and
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston shall
establish and implement, the competitive grant program required by
Subchapter I, Chapter 73, Education Code, as added by this Act.
(c) Not later than December 1, 2009, The University of Texas
Health Science Center at Houston shall submit a report to the Senate
Education Committee, or its successor, and the House Public
Education Committee, or its successor, regarding the
implementation and status of the competitive grant program required
by Subchapter I, Chapter 73, Education Code, as added by this Act.
(d) Not later than December 1, 2011, The University of Texas
Health Science Center at Houston shall submit the initial annual
report required by Section 73.608(b)(2), Education Code, as added
by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.