HOUSE BILL NO. 603
INTRODUCED BY V. SMALL-EASTMAN
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT CREATING THE COMMUNITY-BASED FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAM; PROVIDING LITERACY LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND PARENTS BELOW 150 PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL WITH STATE GENERAL FUND MONEY; REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO PRIORITIZE FUNDING FOR AREAS WITH SCHOOLS IDENTIFIED FOR RESTRUCTURING AND TO PROVIDE INTERACTIVE, INTERGENERATIONAL LITERACY ACTIVITIES; PROVIDING AN APPROPRIATION; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE."
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
NEW SECTION. Section 1. Community-based family literacy program. (1) There is a state-funded community-based family literacy program. The program is intended to provide literacy programs to children and parents below 150% of the federal poverty level.
(2) The department shall provide funding to new or existing programs through a request for proposals with a priority to fund programs in communities with schools identified for restructuring under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, 20 U.S.C. 6316(b)(8). The department shall establish performance standards to be used in the awarding of grants to schools or community-based organizations applying for funds from the state-funded community-based family literacy program.
(3) In order to be eligible for funding, a program:
(a) must offer half-day or full-day services appropriate to a child's developmental level through educationally relevant programs;
(b) must provide interactive and intergenerational literacy activities in which parents or legal guardians actively participate in facilitating the acquisition of prereading skills by their children through home visits and group activities that focus on shared reading, learning the alphabet, basic vocabulary development, and other culturally appropriate family learning activities that foster language and reading development; and
(c) may not be sectarian in purpose.
NEW SECTION. Section 2. Appropriation. There is appropriated $2 million from the general fund to the department of public health and human services for the fiscal years 2008 and 2009 to fund a state-funded community-based family literacy program as provided for in [section 1].
NEW SECTION. Section 3. Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 52, chapter 2, part 7, and the provisions of Title 52, chapter 2, part 7, apply to [section 1].
NEW SECTION. Section 4. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2007.
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Latest Version of HB 603 (HB0603.01)
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