73R10040 E
By Price H.B. No. 1843
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1843:
By Rangel C.S.H.B. No. 1843
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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.