By Ellis S.B. No. 800 76R5066 CBH-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the summer food service program. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Section 33.024, Human Resources Code, is amended 1-5 by adding Subsections (k)-(m) to read as follows: 1-6 (k) The department shall develop and implement an outreach 1-7 program to increase participation in the summer program. The 1-8 department shall design the outreach program to: 1-9 (1) increase participation of children from low-income 1-10 families; 1-11 (2) increase the number of summer programs offered 1-12 across this state, with particular emphasis on increasing programs 1-13 in needy communities; and 1-14 (3) encourage school districts and public and private 1-15 nonprofit agencies to form partnerships to develop summer programs 1-16 that combine educational activities, such as reading enrichment, 1-17 with the provision of meals. 1-18 (l) The outreach program required by Subsection (k) must 1-19 target communities and schools that have the highest percentage of 1-20 eligible children and include: 1-21 (1) presentations to public schools, public entities, 1-22 and private nonprofit agencies that would be eligible to 1-23 participate in the summer program; 1-24 (2) dissemination of information regarding eligibility 2-1 requirements and application procedures; 2-2 (3) continual support and technical assistance to 2-3 existing programs to increase participation levels and to ensure 2-4 that the programs continue to operate; and 2-5 (4) public service announcements that publicize the 2-6 summer program and that appear on local television and radio 2-7 stations. 2-8 (m) The department shall administer a grant program designed 2-9 to encourage eligible organizations to serve as local sponsors or 2-10 meal preparation sites for the summer program by awarding a 2-11 financial supplement for each meal served from funds appropriated 2-12 and available for that purpose. 2-13 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999. 2-14 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-15 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-16 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-17 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-18 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.