1-1     By:  Maxey (Senate Sponsor - Ellis)                    H.B. No. 937
 1-2           (In the Senate - Received from the House May 11, 1999;
 1-3     May 12, 1999, read first time and referred to Committee on Human
 1-4     Services; May 14, 1999, reported favorably by the following vote:
 1-5     Yeas 5, Nays 0; May 14, 1999, sent to printer.)
 1-6                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-7                                   AN ACT
 1-8     relating to the operation of certain food programs administered by
 1-9     the Texas Department of Human Services.
1-10           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-11           SECTION 1.  Section 33.024, Human Resources Code, is amended
1-12     by adding Subsections (k)-(m) to read as follows:
1-13           (k)  The department shall develop and implement an outreach
1-14     program to increase participation in the summer program if funds
1-15     are appropriated or otherwise made available for that purpose.  The
1-16     department shall design the outreach program to:
1-17                 (1)  increase participation of children from low-income
1-18     families;
1-19                 (2)  increase the number of summer programs offered
1-20     across this state, with particular emphasis on increasing programs
1-21     in needy communities;
1-22                 (3)  encourage school districts and public and private
1-23     nonprofit agencies to form partnerships to develop summer programs
1-24     that combine educational activities, such as reading enrichment,
1-25     with the provision of meals; and
1-26                 (4)  promote any other goal established by the
1-27     department relating to increased participation in the summer
1-28     program.
1-29           (l)  The outreach program required by Subsection (k) must
1-30     target communities and schools that have the highest percentage of
1-31     eligible children and include:
1-32                 (1)  presentations to public schools, public entities,
1-33     and private nonprofit agencies that would be eligible to
1-34     participate in the summer program;
1-35                 (2)  dissemination of information regarding eligibility
1-36     requirements and application procedures;
1-37                 (3)  continual support and technical assistance to
1-38     existing programs to increase participation levels and to ensure
1-39     that the programs continue to operate; and
1-40                 (4)  public service announcements that publicize the
1-41     summer program and that appear on local television and radio
1-42     stations.
1-43           (m)  The department shall administer a grant program designed
1-44     to encourage eligible organizations to serve as local sponsors or
1-45     meal preparation sites for the summer program by awarding a
1-46     financial supplement for each meal served from funds appropriated
1-47     or otherwise made available for that purpose.
1-48           SECTION 2.  Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, is amended by
1-49     adding Section 33.026 to read as follows:
1-50           Sec. 33.026.  CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM:  REQUIRED
1-51     NOTICES AND ADVISORY COMMITTEE AUTHORITY.  (a)  Before adopting or
1-52     changing a department rule or policy relating to the federal Child
1-53     and Adult Care Food Program, the department shall submit the
1-54     proposed action to the department's advisory committee on that
1-55     program for comment, unless immediate action is required by federal
1-56     law.  If immediate action is required by federal law, the
1-57     department shall submit the action for comment at the earliest
1-58     possible date.
1-59           (b)  The department shall provide written notice to each
1-60     sponsoring organization of any modification or clarification of
1-61     department rules or policies relating to the federal Child and
1-62     Adult Care Food Program.  Notice provided through electronic mail
1-63     is considered to be written notice for purposes of this subsection.
1-64           (c)  The department's advisory committee on the federal Child
 2-1     and Adult Care Food Program may:
 2-2                 (1)  conduct public hearings in accordance with
 2-3     department procedures;
 2-4                 (2)  refer issues relating to the program to the board
 2-5     for discussion; and
 2-6                 (3)  recommend modifications to the department's
 2-7     training programs for sponsoring organizations and other persons
 2-8     participating in the program.
 2-9           SECTION 3.  Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, is amended by
2-10     adding Section 33.027 to read as follows:
2-11           Sec. 33.027.  CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM:  ELECTRONIC
2-12     FILING.  (a)  In administering the federal Child and Adult Care
2-13     Food Program, the department shall, unless prohibited by federal
2-14     law, permit a sponsoring organization or other person participating
2-15     in the program to submit applications and other required
2-16     information to the department in an electronic format or through
2-17     the use of electronically produced forms.
2-18           (b)  The department may implement Subsection (a) by
2-19     developing necessary computer systems or by using computer systems
2-20     developed or made available for that purpose by a sponsoring
2-21     organization or other appropriate person.
2-22           SECTION 4.  (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this
2-23     section, this Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
2-24           (b)  Section 3 of this Act takes effect January 1, 2001.
2-25           SECTION 5.  The importance of this legislation and the
2-26     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-27     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-28     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-29     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
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