SRC-JFA, AAA C.S.H.B. 107 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.H.B. 107 By: Giddings (Ratliff) Finance 5-9-97 Committee Report (Substituted) DIGEST Last year, more than 20 percent of third graders failed the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills test in reading. Educators almost universally believe that if a child is not reading at grade-level by third grade, the child's chances of reaching his or her full potential and becoming a productive citizen is greatly diminished. Consequently, making sure that every child has an opportunity to read takes on an added urgency and must be a top priority. C.S.H.B. 107 creates a "Read to Succeed" license plate program, the proceeds from which will offer reading programs for students in kindergarten through grade three who read below their grade level. PURPOSE As proposed, C.S.H.B. 107 creates a "Read to Succeed" license plate program, the proceeds from which will offer reading programs for students in kindergarten through grade three who read below their grade level. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is granted to the commission of education in SECTION 2 (Sections 28.006(b) and (g), Education Code) and to a district-level committee established under Chapter 11F, Education Code, in SECTION 2 (Section 28.006(b), Education Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 502F, Transportation Code, by adding Section 502.292, as follows: Sec. 502.292. READ TO SUCCEED. Requires the Department of Transportation (department) to issue specially designed "Read to Succeed" license plates for passenger cars and trucks. Sets forth persons to whom the license plates will be available and the fee for the special plates. Authorizes the fee collected under Subsection (c)(1) to be used only to defray the cost of administrating this section. Requires the department to deposit each fee collected under Subsection (c)(2) to the credit of an account in the general revenue fund to be known as the "Read to Succeed" account. Authorizes money from the account to be used only to supplement appropriated funds in implementing the requirements under Section 28.006, Education Code. Sets forth the composition of the account. SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 28A, Education Code, by adding Section 28.006, as follows: Sec. 28.006. READING DIAGNOSIS. (a) Requires the commissioner of education (commissioner) to develop certain recommendations for school districts relating to reading diagnosis. Requires the commissioner to adopt a list of reading instruments that a school district may use to diagnose student reading development and comprehension. (b) Authorizes a district-level committee established under Chapter 11F, to adopt a list of reading instruments for use in the district in addition to the reading instruments on the commissioner's list. Requires each reading instrument adopted by the commissioner or a district-level committee to be based on scientific research concerning reading skills development and reading comprehension. Requires a list of reading instruments adopted under this subsection to provide for diagnosing the reading development and comprehension of students participating in a program under Chapter 29B. (c) Requires each school district to administer, at certain grade levels, a reading instrument on the list adopted by the commissioner or by the district-level committee. Requires the district to administer the reading instrument in accordance with the commissioner's recommendations under Subsection (a)(1). (d) Requires the superintendent of each school district to report to the board of trustees of the district the results of the reading instruments. (e) Prohibits the results of reading instruments administered under this section from being used for purposes of appraisals and incentives under Chapter 21 or accountability under Chapter 39. (f) Authorizes this section to be implemented only if funds are appropriated for administering the reading instruments. Authorizes certain funds to be used to pay the cost of administering a reading instrument only if the instrument is on the list adopted by the commissioner. (g) Requires the commissioner to adopt a list of reading instruments and recommendations concerning those reading instruments in accordance with this section no later than August 1, 1998. Requires each school district to implement a reading diagnosis program in accordance with this section, and recommendations adopted under this section, beginning with the 1998-1999 school year. This subsection expires January 1, 1999. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1997. SECTION 4. Emergency clause. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES Revises proposed relating clause. SECTION 1. Amends Section 502.292, Transportation Code, to revise proposed Subsections (c)-(e). SECTION 2. Omits proposed Chapter 29J, Education Code, relating to the "Read to Succeed" Program. Replaces it with proposed Section 28.006, Education Code, relating to reading diagnosis. SECTION 3. Omits proposed session law relating to grants made under proposed Chapter 29J, Education Code. Redesignates existing SECTIONS 4 and 5 as SECTIONS 3 and 4, accordingly.