By Cuellar of Webb H.B. No. 1727
74R4267 JSA-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to adult literacy, education, counseling, and job
1-3 training.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 11, Education Code, is
1-6 amended by adding Section 11.2093 to read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 11.2093. EDUCATE TEXAS PROGRAM. (a) The Educate Texas
1-8 Program is created to provide adult education services to clients
1-9 of Aid to Families with Dependent Children who are referred to the
1-10 program under Section 31.0124, Human Resources Code.
1-11 (b) The Central Education Agency, the Texas Higher Education
1-12 Coordinating Board, and the state agency charged with primary
1-13 responsibility for job training, employment, and workforce
1-14 development shall jointly develop a system of adult education
1-15 learning laboratories in public schools and community colleges
1-16 under this program to provide the following emergency services, as
1-17 needed, to a person eligible to receive Aid to Families with
1-18 Dependent Children:
1-19 (1) development of literacy in English and proficiency
1-20 in oral and written language skills;
1-21 (2) preparation for a high school equivalency
1-22 examination;
1-23 (3) training in parenting skills;
1-24 (4) training in principles of family dynamics and
2-1 family responsibility;
2-2 (5) family counseling and case management;
2-3 (6) employment readiness training in such areas as
2-4 work ethics and interview skills; and
2-5 (7) child-care services as necessary to allow a person
2-6 to participate in the training and education services under this
2-7 subsection.
2-8 (c) A person referred to the program may receive services
2-9 under Subsection (b) for a period not to exceed one year. During
2-10 that period, a person must attempt to obtain a certificate of high
2-11 school equivalency if the person does not have a certificate or a
2-12 high school diploma.
2-13 SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 31, Human Resources Code,
2-14 is amended by adding Section 31.0124 to read as follows:
2-15 Sec. 31.0124. REFERRAL TO EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. The
2-16 department shall determine whether a person who registers to
2-17 participate in the job opportunities and basic skills training
2-18 program needs and is eligible for adult education services provided
2-19 under Section 11.2093, Education Code. If the person is eligible
2-20 for the adult education services, the department shall determine
2-21 the person's needs and goals and refer the person to the
2-22 appropriate adult education service provided under Section 11.2093,
2-23 Education Code.
2-24 SECTION 3. Chapter 88, Education Code, is amended by adding
2-25 Subchapter G to read as follows:
2-26 SUBCHAPTER G. TEXAS CENTER FOR
2-27 ADULT LITERACY AND LEARNING
3-1 Sec. 88.541. DUTIES OF TEXAS CENTER FOR ADULT LITERACY AND
3-2 LEARNING. (a) The Texas Center for Adult Literacy and Learning at
3-3 Texas A&M University shall evaluate instructional videotapes or
3-4 similar recorded materials generally available for use in providing
3-5 adult literacy instruction and from time to time shall publish a
3-6 guide describing and evaluating those videotapes and materials. The
3-7 center shall encourage cable companies and other appropriate
3-8 entities to use the guide in selecting materials to use in
3-9 broadcasting and may take other action to promote the broadcast or
3-10 dissemination of materials the center considers effective in
3-11 teaching adult literacy.
3-12 (b) The center shall develop voluntary standards for the
3-13 curriculum and materials used in adult literacy programs, including
3-14 programs for teaching English as a second language. To develop the
3-15 standards, the center shall organize an advisory group and shall
3-16 encourage the participation of major providers of adult literacy
3-17 programs in this state, including private nonprofit organizations,
3-18 institutions of education, and correctional facilities. The Texas
3-19 Department of Criminal Justice shall designate an employee of the
3-20 department to participate in the initial development of the
3-21 standards.
3-22 (c) In connection with the standards developed under
3-23 Subsection (b), the center shall develop materials to be used by
3-24 teachers and students in adult literacy programs to track the
3-25 progress of the student and to allow the student to understand and
3-26 maintain a record of the student's progress and proficiency.
3-27 (d) The center shall develop and update as necessary
4-1 informational brochures, promotional posters, or similar materials
4-2 suitable for distribution to state employees or the general public
4-3 describing the need for adult literacy and education services in
4-4 this state and encouraging qualified persons to support or
4-5 volunteer to assist programs that provide those services. As the
4-6 center determines appropriate, the center may provide samples of
4-7 those materials to the governing boards or chief executive officers
4-8 of state agencies, including institutions of higher education, and
4-9 to other employers and institutions in this state and shall
4-10 encourage those entities to distribute or make available the
4-11 materials to their employees.
4-12 SECTION 4. Subchapter B, Chapter 13, Education Code, is
4-13 amended by adding Section 13.044 to read as follows:
4-14 Sec. 13.044. ADULT LITERACY AND ENGLISH AS SECOND LANGUAGE
4-15 CURRICULUM. (a) Each general academic teaching institution, as
4-16 defined by Section 61.003, that conducts an approved teacher
4-17 education program shall include in the curriculum of at least one
4-18 course in the program a unit that introduces the students to the
4-19 fundamentals of teaching adult literacy and English as a second
4-20 language courses.
4-21 (b) If the institution operates a center for professional
4-22 development and technology in connection with its teacher education
4-23 program, the institution through the center may provide interested
4-24 students in the education program with opportunities for
4-25 internships or other field-based training and experience in
4-26 teaching adult literacy or English as a second language.
4-27 SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
5-1 SECTION 6. The importance of this legislation and the
5-2 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
5-3 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
5-4 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
5-5 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.