86R17660 KFF-F
 
  By: Raney H.B. No. 2879
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a competitive grant program to fund promotion of early
  literacy programs in certain communities in this state.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 73, Education Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter J to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER J.  COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM TO PROMOTE EARLY LITERACY
         Sec. 73.701.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Competitive grant program" means the competitive
  grant program to promote early literacy established under this
  subchapter.
               (2)  "Health care practitioner" has the meaning
  assigned by Section 112.001, Occupations Code.
               (3)  "Health science center" means The University of
  Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
               (4)  "Literacy program" means a program to promote
  early literacy.
         Sec. 73.702.  ESTABLISHMENT OF COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM TO
  PROMOTE EARLY LITERACY. (a)  Subject to Section 73.709, The
  University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston shall
  establish a competitive grant program to promote early literacy
  through which the health science center will award grants for the
  implementation of literacy programs, or the expansion of existing
  programs, and for the operation of those programs for a period of
  not less than two years.
         (b)  The health science center shall award grants under the
  program to applicants, including applicants operating existing
  programs, in a manner that ensures that the literacy programs
  collectively operate in multiple communities that are
  geographically distributed throughout this state.
         Sec. 73.703.  LITERACY PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.  A literacy
  program funded through a grant awarded under this subchapter must:
               (1)  consult and use as a guide the program model
  developed by the Reach Out and Read National Center, including any
  clinical, programmatic, and data collection requirements of that
  model;
               (2)  require that health care practitioners who
  participate in the literacy program:
                     (A)  in conjunction with performing well-child
  examinations, provide books to children and encourage parents to
  read to their children to develop preliteracy skills;
                     (B)  maintain waiting rooms that encourage
  children to read; and
                     (C)  provide services designed to increase the
  school readiness of children receiving program services; and
               (3)  partner with local adult literacy providers to
  encourage parent literacy in appropriate circumstances.
         Sec. 73.704.  APPLICATION. (a)  A public or private entity,
  including a county, municipality, or other political subdivision of
  this state, may apply for a grant under this subchapter.
         (b)  To apply for a grant, an applicant must submit a written
  application to the health science center on a form prescribed by the
  health science center in consultation with the Reach Out and Read
  National Center.
         Sec. 73.705.  LITERACY PROGRAM GUIDELINES. The health
  science center, with the assistance of the Reach Out and Read
  National Center, shall publish guidelines for the literacy programs
  funded under this subchapter. The guidelines may follow the Reach
  Out and Read national program model standards and guidelines that
  have been tested and replicated in multiple communities.
         Sec. 73.706.  USE OF PROGRAM MONEY. (a)  In addition to
  awarding grants under this subchapter, the health science center
  may use program money to:
               (1)  administer the competitive grant program; and
               (2)  purchase or contract to purchase discounted books
  for use by grant recipients.
         (b)  A grant recipient may use grant money awarded under this
  subchapter only to cover costs related to implementing or expanding
  and operating a literacy program, including costs related to:
               (1)  administering the literacy program;
               (2)  training and managing health care practitioners
  who volunteer to participate in the literacy program; and
               (3)  purchasing or contracting to purchase discounted
  books for use in the literacy program.
         Sec. 73.707.  PROGRAM EVALUATION; BIENNIAL COMMITTEE
  REPORTS. (a)  The health science center, with the assistance of
  the Reach Out and Read National Center, shall prepare and submit a
  biennial report, not later than December 1 of each even-numbered
  year, to the senate committee on education, or its successor, and
  the house public education committee, or its successor, regarding
  the grants awarded during the preceding two state fiscal years.
         (b)  The report required under Subsection (a) must include:
               (1)  the number of health care practitioners who
  participate in the program;
               (2)  the number of children receiving literacy program
  services as a result of the program; and
               (3)  the amount of each grant awarded to a health care
  practitioner under the program.
         (c)  On request, each grant recipient shall timely collect
  and provide data and any other information required by the health
  science center to monitor and evaluate the program, including
  recipient participation in the program, and to prepare the report
  required by this section.
         Sec. 73.708.  COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM FUNDING.  (a)  The
  health science center shall actively seek and apply for any
  available federal money to assist in financing the competitive
  grant program established under this subchapter.
         (b)  To assist in financing the competitive grant program,
  the health science center may:
               (1)  use appropriated money from the state government;
  and
               (2)  accept gifts, donations, grants of money, and
  in-kind contributions from the federal government, local
  governments, private corporations, or other persons, provided that
  the health science center implements the program in accordance with
  the contingency under Section 73.709.
         Sec. 73.709.  APPROPRIATION CONTINGENCY.  The health science
  center is required to implement a provision of this subchapter only
  if the legislature appropriates money specifically for that
  purpose.  If the legislature does not appropriate money
  specifically for that purpose, the health science center may, but
  is not required to, implement the provision using other money
  available to the health science center for that purpose.
         SECTION 2.  The University of Texas Health Science Center at
  Houston shall:
               (1)  as soon as practicable, apply for any available
  federal money to assist in financing the competitive grant program
  under Subchapter J, Chapter 73, Education Code, as added by this
  Act, as required by Section 73.708, Education Code, as added by this
  Act; and
               (2)  not later than December 1, 2022, submit a report to
  the senate committee on education, or its successor, and the house
  public education committee, or its successor, regarding the
  implementation and status of the competitive grant program under
  Subchapter J, Chapter 73, Education Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.