88R14446 AMF-D     By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 2300       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.