H.B. No. 136
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to providing notification to parents of eligible children
  of the availability of prekindergarten programs.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter E, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 29.1534 to read as follows:
         Sec. 29.1534.  NOTIFICATION OF PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS.  
  (a)  In this section, "prekindergarten program" includes
  prekindergarten programs provided by a private entity through a
  partnership with the school district.
         (b)  The agency shall develop joint strategies with other
  state agencies regarding methods to increase community awareness of
  prekindergarten programs through programs that provide information
  relating to public assistance programs.
         (c)  The agency may develop outreach materials for use by
  school districts to increase community awareness of
  prekindergarten programs.
         (d)  Each school district shall report annually to the agency
  the strategies implemented by the school district to increase
  community awareness of prekindergarten programs offered by the
  district. The district shall report the information on a form
  prescribed by the commissioner.  A report required by this
  subsection may be combined, at the discretion of the commissioner,
  with another report that the district submits to the agency.  Not
  later than the 90th day after the date the agency receives a report
  from a school district as required by this subsection, the agency
  shall post the report on the agency's Internet website.  This
  subsection expires September 1, 2013.
         (e)  The agency shall provide information to school
  districts regarding effective methods to communicate to the parent
  of an eligible child the availability of prekindergarten programs,
  including information regarding prekindergarten programs through
  public, private, and nonprofit institutions that provide
  assistance and support to families with children eligible for
  prekindergarten programs.
         (f)  Not later than December 1, 2010, the agency shall
  prepare and deliver to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the
  house of representatives, and the presiding officer of each
  legislative standing committee with primary jurisdiction over
  primary and secondary education a report detailing strategies
  developed under Subsection (b) to increase community awareness of
  prekindergarten programs. This subsection expires January 1, 2011.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 136 was passed by the House on May 7,
  2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 78, Nays 63, 1 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 136 on May 29, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 93, Nays 50, 2
  present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 136 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 27, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays
  0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor