By: Van de Putte, Zaffirini S.B. No. 382
Uresti
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) "Health care practitioner" has the meaning
assigned by Section 112.001, Occupations Code.
(3) "Health science center" means The University of
Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
(4) "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 50,000
children.
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;
(3) require that health care practitioners volunteer
to:
(A) in conjunction with performing well-child
examinations, provide books to children and encourage parents to
read to their children to develop preliteracy skills;
(B) maintain waiting rooms that encourage
children to read; and
(C) provide services designed to increase the
school readiness of children receiving program services; and
(4) partner with local adult literacy providers to
encourage parent literacy in appropriate circumstances.
(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
health science center in consultation with the Reach Out and Read
National 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 may consider:
(1) the demonstrated need for a literacy program in
the community in which the applicant proposes to operate or expand
the program, which the health science center shall determine 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 guidelines published 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 GUIDELINES. The health
science center, with the assistance of the Reach Out and Read
National Center, shall publish guidelines for the literacy programs
funded under this subchapter. The guidelines 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 PROGRAM FUNDS. (a) In addition to
awarding grants under this subchapter, the health science center
may use program funds to:
(1) administer the competitive grant program; and
(2) purchase or contract to purchase discounted books
for use by grant recipients.
(b) A grant recipient may use grant funds awarded under this
subchapter only to cover costs related to implementing or expanding
and operating a literacy program, including costs related to:
(1) administering the literacy program;
(2) training and managing health care practitioners
who volunteer to participate in the literacy program; and
(3) purchasing or contracting to purchase discounted
books for use in the literacy program.
Sec. 73.608. PROGRAM MONITORING AND EVALUATION; ANNUAL
COMMITTEE REPORTS. (a) The health science center, with the
assistance of the Reach Out and Read National Center, shall publish
performance indicators that are designed to measure a grant
recipient's performance with respect to the literacy program
guidelines published under Section 73.606.
(b) The health science center shall:
(1) use the performance indicators published 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 Committee on Education,
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, grants
of money, and in-kind contributions from the federal government,
local governments, private corporations, or other persons to assist
in financing the competitive grant program.
SECTION 2. The University of Texas Health Science Center at
Houston shall:
(1) 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, as required by Section 73.609, Education Code, as added by this
Act;
(2) not later than December 1, 2009, submit a report to
the Senate Committee on Education, 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;
(3) not later than September 1, 2010, establish and
implement the competitive grant program required by Subchapter I,
Chapter 73, Education Code, as added by this Act, and, with the
assistance of the Reach Out and Read National Center, publish the
guidelines required by Section 73.606, Education Code, as added by
this Act; and
(4) not later than December 1, 2011, submit the
initial annual report required by Subdivision (2), Subsection (b),
Section 73.608, Education Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act does not make an appropriation. A
provision in this Act that creates a new governmental program,
creates a new entitlement, or imposes a new duty on a governmental
entity is not mandatory during a fiscal period for which the
legislature has not made a specific appropriation to implement the
provision.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.