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.