By Maxey                                              H.B. No. 1450
       74R4883 JSA-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to adult literacy and adult education.
    1-3        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-4        SECTION 1.  Chapter 88, Education Code, is amended by adding
    1-5  Subchapter G to read as follows:
    1-6                    SUBCHAPTER G.  TEXAS CENTER FOR
    1-7                      ADULT LITERACY AND LEARNING
    1-8        Sec. 88.541.  DUTIES OF TEXAS CENTER FOR ADULT LITERACY AND
    1-9  LEARNING.  (a) The Texas Center for Adult Literacy and Learning at
   1-10  Texas A&M University shall evaluate instructional videotapes or
   1-11  similar recorded materials generally available for use in providing
   1-12  adult literacy instruction and from time to time shall publish a
   1-13  guide describing and evaluating those videotapes and materials. The
   1-14  center shall encourage cable companies and other appropriate
   1-15  entities to use the guide in selecting materials to use in
   1-16  broadcasting and may take other action to promote the broadcast or
   1-17  dissemination of materials the center considers effective in
   1-18  teaching adult literacy.
   1-19        (b)  The center shall develop voluntary standards for the
   1-20  curriculum and materials used in adult literacy programs, including
   1-21  programs for teaching English as a second language.  To develop the
   1-22  standards, the center shall organize an advisory group and shall
   1-23  encourage the participation of major providers of adult literacy
   1-24  programs in this state, including private nonprofit organizations,
    2-1  institutions of education, and correctional facilities.  The Texas
    2-2  Department of Criminal Justice shall designate an employee of the
    2-3  department to participate in the initial development of the
    2-4  standards.
    2-5        (c)  In connection with the standards developed under
    2-6  Subsection (b), the center shall develop materials to be used by
    2-7  teachers and students in adult literacy programs to track the
    2-8  progress of the student and to allow the student to understand and
    2-9  maintain a record of the student's progress and proficiency.
   2-10        (d)  The center shall develop and update as necessary
   2-11  informational brochures, promotional posters, or similar materials
   2-12  suitable for distribution to state employees or the general public
   2-13  describing the need for adult literacy and education services in
   2-14  this state and encouraging qualified persons to support or
   2-15  volunteer to assist programs that provide those services.  As the
   2-16  center determines appropriate, the center may provide samples of
   2-17  those materials to the governing boards or chief executive officers
   2-18  of state agencies, including institutions of higher education, and
   2-19  to other employers and institutions in this state and shall
   2-20  encourage those entities to distribute or make available the
   2-21  materials to their employees.
   2-22        SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 13, Education Code, is
   2-23  amended by adding Section 13.044 to read as follows:
   2-24        Sec. 13.044.  ADULT LITERACY AND ENGLISH AS SECOND LANGUAGE
   2-25  CURRICULUM.  (a) Each general academic teaching institution, as
   2-26  defined by Section 61.003, that conducts an approved teacher
   2-27  education program shall include in the curriculum of at least one
    3-1  course in the program a unit that introduces the students to the
    3-2  fundamentals of teaching adult literacy and English as a second
    3-3  language courses.
    3-4        (b)  If the institution operates a center for professional
    3-5  development and technology in connection with its teacher education
    3-6  program, the institution through the center may provide interested
    3-7  students in the education program with opportunities for
    3-8  internships or other field-based training and experience in
    3-9  teaching adult literacy or English as a second language.
   3-10        SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
   3-11        SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
   3-12  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   3-13  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   3-14  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   3-15  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.