88R14446 AMF-D
By: Button H.B. No. 4683
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to establishing a statewide reading enrichment program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 3, Human Resources Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 74 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 74. STATEWIDE READING ENRICHMENT PROGRAM
Sec. 74.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Commission" means the Texas Workforce
Commission.
(2) "Program" means the statewide reading enrichment
program established under this chapter.
Sec. 74.002. STATEWIDE READING ENRICHMENT PROGRAM. (a)
The commission, in collaboration with the Texas Education Agency,
shall establish a statewide reading enrichment program to encourage
early childhood literacy and support the future educational and
economic success of children in this state by mailing
age-appropriate books on a monthly basis to children six years of
age or younger who register for the program.
(b) The commission, after consulting with the Texas
Education Agency, shall:
(1) develop a list of high-quality, age-appropriate
books encompassing diverse subjects and genres to be distributed to
children in the program;
(2) publish on the commission's Internet website
information about the program; and
(3) develop, coordinate, and promote a statewide
public awareness campaign to inform the public regarding the
program, including how to register eligible children into the
program.
Sec. 74.003. FUNDING. The commission shall actively seek
and apply for any available federal funding to assist in financing
the program, including funding available under the Child Care and
Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Section 9858 et
seq.).
Sec. 74.004. RULES. The commission may adopt rules as
necessary to implement this section.
SECTION 2. The Texas Workforce Commission shall, as soon as
practicable after the effective date of this Act, apply for any
available federal money to assist in financing the statewide
reading enrichment program under Chapter 74, Human Resources Code,
as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.