By Maxey H.B. No. 937 76R10856 KKA-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the operation of certain food programs administered by 1-3 the Texas Department of Human Services. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Section 33.024, Human Resources Code, is amended 1-6 by adding Subsections (k)-(m) to read as follows: 1-7 (k) The department shall develop and implement an outreach 1-8 program to increase participation in the summer program if funds 1-9 are appropriated or otherwise made available for that purpose. The 1-10 department shall design the outreach program to: 1-11 (1) increase participation of children from low-income 1-12 families; 1-13 (2) increase the number of summer programs offered 1-14 across this state, with particular emphasis on increasing programs 1-15 in needy communities; 1-16 (3) encourage school districts and public and private 1-17 nonprofit agencies to form partnerships to develop summer programs 1-18 that combine educational activities, such as reading enrichment, 1-19 with the provision of meals; and 1-20 (4) promote any other goal established by the 1-21 department relating to increased participation in the summer 1-22 program. 1-23 (l) The outreach program required by Subsection (k) must 1-24 target communities and schools that have the highest percentage of 2-1 eligible children and include: 2-2 (1) presentations to public schools, public entities, 2-3 and private nonprofit agencies that would be eligible to 2-4 participate in the summer program; 2-5 (2) dissemination of information regarding eligibility 2-6 requirements and application procedures; 2-7 (3) continual support and technical assistance to 2-8 existing programs to increase participation levels and to ensure 2-9 that the programs continue to operate; and 2-10 (4) public service announcements that publicize the 2-11 summer program and that appear on local television and radio 2-12 stations. 2-13 (m) The department shall administer a grant program designed 2-14 to encourage eligible organizations to serve as local sponsors or 2-15 meal preparation sites for the summer program by awarding a 2-16 financial supplement for each meal served from funds appropriated 2-17 or otherwise made available for that purpose. 2-18 SECTION 2. Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, is amended by 2-19 adding Section 33.026 to read as follows: 2-20 Sec. 33.026. CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM: REQUIRED 2-21 NOTICES AND ADVISORY COMMITTEE AUTHORITY. (a) Before adopting or 2-22 changing a department rule or policy relating to the federal Child 2-23 and Adult Care Food Program, the department shall submit the 2-24 proposed action to the department's advisory committee on that 2-25 program for comment, unless immediate action is required by federal 2-26 law. If immediate action is required by federal law, the 2-27 department shall submit the action for comment at the earliest 3-1 possible date. 3-2 (b) The department shall provide written notice to each 3-3 sponsoring organization of any modification or clarification of 3-4 department rules or policies relating to the federal Child and 3-5 Adult Care Food Program. Notice provided through electronic mail 3-6 is considered to be written notice for purposes of this subsection. 3-7 (c) The department's advisory committee on the federal Child 3-8 and Adult Care Food Program may: 3-9 (1) conduct public hearings in accordance with 3-10 department procedures; 3-11 (2) refer issues relating to the program to the board 3-12 for discussion; and 3-13 (3) recommend modifications to the department's 3-14 training programs for sponsoring organizations and other persons 3-15 participating in the program. 3-16 SECTION 3. Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, is amended by 3-17 adding Section 33.027 to read as follows: 3-18 Sec. 33.027. CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM: ELECTRONIC 3-19 FILING. (a) In administering the federal Child and Adult Care 3-20 Food Program, the department shall, unless prohibited by federal 3-21 law, permit a sponsoring organization or other person participating 3-22 in the program to submit applications and other required 3-23 information to the department in an electronic format or through 3-24 the use of electronically produced forms. 3-25 (b) The department may implement Subsection (a) by 3-26 developing necessary computer systems or by using computer systems 3-27 developed or made available for that purpose by a sponsoring 4-1 organization or other appropriate person. 4-2 SECTION 4. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this 4-3 section, this Act takes effect September 1, 1999. 4-4 (b) Section 3 of this Act takes effect January 1, 2001. 4-5 SECTION 5. The importance of this legislation and the 4-6 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 4-7 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 4-8 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 4-9 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.