H.B. No. 1843 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the placement of print access aids in libraries for use 1-3 by persons who are visually disabled. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: 1-6 (1) "Print access aid" means an item, piece of 1-7 equipment, or product system that improves or facilitates access to 1-8 standard print by enlarging or magnifying print, or by 1-9 electronically converting print to spoken, recorded, or tactile 1-10 format. 1-11 (2) "Public library" has the meaning assigned by 1-12 Section 441.122, Government Code, and its subsequent amendments. 1-13 (3) "Standard print" means text that appears on paper, 1-14 microfilm, microfiche, or other microformat, or in machine-readable 1-15 form, in a type size smaller than 14 points. 1-16 (4) "State library" means the Texas State Library. 1-17 SECTION 2. PRINT ACCESS AIDS IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES. (a) A 1-18 public library may, to make its services and collections more 1-19 accessible, make a print access aid available for use by a person 1-20 who cannot clearly read printed material because of a visual 1-21 disability. 1-22 (b) If funds from gifts or grants are available for that 1-23 purpose, the state library may acquire and lend at no cost print 1-24 access aids to public libraries. 2-1 (c) To be eligible to receive a print access aid under 2-2 Subsection (b) of this section, there must be a community need for 2-3 the aid. 2-4 SECTION 3. TRAINING AND INFORMATION. The state library may 2-5 provide to a library requesting or receiving a print access aid 2-6 under this Act technical assistance, including assistance in: 2-7 (1) explaining to library employees the function of a 2-8 print access aid; 2-9 (2) assessing local needs for use of a print access 2-10 aid; 2-11 (3) providing to library employees training and 2-12 information in the use of a print access aid; 2-13 (4) preparing and distributing public information 2-14 regarding the availability and location of a print access aid; and 2-15 (5) providing assistance in developing policies and 2-16 guidelines for use of an aid. 2-17 SECTION 4. MAINTENANCE OF EQUIPMENT. The state library may 2-18 pay the maintenance or repair cost of a print access aid supplied 2-19 to a library under this Act out of funds available to the library 2-20 from gifts or grants for that purpose. If the state library cannot 2-21 pay the maintenance or repair cost of an aid, the library receiving 2-22 the aid may pay the maintenance or repair cost or return the aid to 2-23 the state library. 2-24 SECTION 5. RELOCATION. The state library shall review each 2-25 library that receives a print access aid under this Act once every 2-26 two years to determine whether to relocate an aid provided to that 2-27 library. The state library shall make a relocation decision based 3-1 on population shifts, the use of the equipment, and community need. 3-2 SECTION 6. FUNDING. (a) The requirements of this Act for 3-3 the provision and placement of print access aids by the state 3-4 library are contingent on the receipt of gifts or grants for the 3-5 state library to purchase, maintain, and repair the print access 3-6 aids. If the state library's funds are not sufficient to place and 3-7 maintain a print access aid in a library that may need an aid, the 3-8 state library shall make a placement decision for any available aid 3-9 based on demonstrated community need and local support provided by 3-10 a library. 3-11 (b) Money from the general revenue fund may not be 3-12 appropriated to implement this Act. 3-13 SECTION 7. REPEAL. Subchapter H, Chapter 441, Government 3-14 Code, is repealed. 3-15 SECTION 8. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September 3-16 1, 1993. 3-17 SECTION 9. Emergency. The importance of this legislation 3-18 and the crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 3-19 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 3-20 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 3-21 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.