TITLE: Relating to establishing a statewide reading enrichment program.

SUMMARY: Relating to establishing a statewide reading enrichment program.

FULL TEXT:
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.