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