84R11223 KFF-F
By: Capriglione H.B. No. 2741
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 operate in multiple communities that are
geographically distributed throughout this state.
Sec. 73.603. LITERACY PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS. A literacy
program funded through a grant awarded under this subchapter must:
(1) consult and use as a guide the program model
developed by the Reach Out and Read National Center, including any
clinical, programmatic, and data collection requirements of that
model;
(2) 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
(3) partner with local adult literacy providers to
encourage parent literacy in appropriate circumstances.
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. 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 may follow the Reach
Out and Read national program model standards and guidelines that
have been tested and replicated in multiple communities.
Sec. 73.606. 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. 73.607. PROGRAM EVALUATION; BIENNIAL COMMITTEE
REPORTS. (a) The health science center, with the assistance of
the Reach Out and Read National Center, shall prepare and submit a
biennial report, not later than December 1 of each even-numbered
year, to the senate committee on education, or its successor, and
the house public education committee, or its successor, regarding
the grants awarded during the preceding two state fiscal years.
(b) The report required under Subsection (a) must include:
(1) the number of health care practitioners who
participate in the program;
(2) the number of children receiving literacy program
services as a result of the program; and
(3) the amount of each grant awarded to a health care
practitioner under the program.
(c) 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 program, including
recipient participation in the program, and to prepare the report
required by this section.
Sec. 73.608. 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 73.608, Education Code, as added by this
Act; and
(2) not later than December 1, 2018, 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.
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, 2015.