88R14446 AMF-D
 
  By: Button H.B. No. 4683
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to establishing a statewide reading enrichment program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle B, Title 3, Human Resources Code, is
  amended by adding Chapter 74 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 74. STATEWIDE READING ENRICHMENT PROGRAM
         Sec. 74.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Commission" means the Texas Workforce
  Commission.
               (2)  "Program" means the statewide reading enrichment
  program established under this chapter.
         Sec. 74.002.  STATEWIDE READING ENRICHMENT PROGRAM. (a)  
  The commission, in collaboration with the Texas Education Agency,
  shall establish a statewide reading enrichment program to encourage
  early childhood literacy and support the future educational and
  economic success of children in this state by mailing
  age-appropriate books on a monthly basis to children six years of
  age or younger who register for the program.
         (b)  The commission, after consulting with the Texas
  Education Agency, shall:
               (1)  develop a list of high-quality, age-appropriate
  books encompassing diverse subjects and genres to be distributed to
  children in the program;
               (2)  publish on the commission's Internet website
  information about the program; and
               (3)  develop, coordinate, and promote a statewide
  public awareness campaign to inform the public regarding the
  program, including how to register eligible children into the
  program.
         Sec. 74.003.  FUNDING. The commission shall actively seek
  and apply for any available federal funding to assist in financing
  the program, including funding available under the Child Care and
  Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Section 9858 et
  seq.).
         Sec. 74.004.  RULES. The commission may adopt rules as
  necessary to implement this section.
         SECTION 2.  The Texas Workforce Commission shall, as soon as
  practicable after the effective date of this Act, apply for any
  available federal money to assist in financing the statewide
  reading enrichment program under Chapter 74, Human Resources Code,
  as added by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.