By: Price H.B. No. 1843
73R6235 MLR-F
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 CERTAIN PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
1-18 (a) A public library that serves an area with a population of
1-19 100,000 or more, according to the most recent federal decennial
1-20 census, shall, to make its services and collections more
1-21 accessible, make a print access aid available for use by a person
1-22 who cannot clearly read printed material because of a visual
1-23 disability.
1-24 (b) If funds are appropriated for that purpose, the state
2-1 library shall acquire and lend at no cost print access aids to
2-2 public libraries that are required by Subsection (a) to provide the
2-3 aids. The state library is not required to provide a print access
2-4 aid to a public library if the state library:
2-5 (1) does not have sufficient funds to acquire a print
2-6 access aid; or
2-7 (2) the public library:
2-8 (A) demonstrates that persons with disabilities
2-9 in the community receive full access to the library's facility and
2-10 services without the need of a print access aid; or
2-11 (B) demonstrates that the community need for a
2-12 print access aid does not warrant the placing of a print access aid
2-13 at the library.
2-14 SECTION 3. STATE LIBRARY ASSISTANCE. (a) If funds are
2-15 appropriated for that purpose, the state library may, on request,
2-16 acquire and lend a print access aid to a public library that serves
2-17 an area with a population of less than 100,000, according to the
2-18 most recent federal decennial census.
2-19 (b) To be eligible to receive a print access aid under
2-20 Subsection (a) of this section, the requesting library must
2-21 demonstrate a community need for the aid.
2-22 SECTION 4. TRAINING AND INFORMATION. The state library
2-23 shall provide to a library requesting or receiving a print access
2-24 aid under this Act technical assistance, including assistance in:
2-25 (1) explaining to library employees the function of a
2-26 print access aid;
2-27 (2) assessing local needs for use of a print access
3-1 aid;
3-2 (3) providing to library employees training and
3-3 information in the use of a print access aid;
3-4 (4) preparing and distributing public information
3-5 regarding the availability and location of a print access aid; and
3-6 (5) providing assistance in developing policies and
3-7 guidelines for use of an aid.
3-8 SECTION 5. MAINTENANCE OF EQUIPMENT. From funds
3-9 appropriated for the purpose, the state library shall pay the
3-10 maintenance or repair cost of a print access aid supplied to a
3-11 library under this Act. If the state library cannot pay the
3-12 maintenance or repair cost of an aid, the library receiving the aid
3-13 may pay the maintenance or repair cost or return the aid to the
3-14 state library.
3-15 SECTION 6. RELOCATION. The state library shall review each
3-16 library provided a print access aid under this Act once every two
3-17 years to determine whether to relocate an aid provided to that
3-18 library. The state library shall make a relocation decision based
3-19 on population shifts, the use of the equipment, and community need.
3-20 SECTION 7. FUNDING. The requirements of this Act for the
3-21 provision and placement of print access aids by the state library
3-22 are contingent on adequate appropriations to the state library for
3-23 the purchase, maintenance, and repair of print access aids. If
3-24 appropriations made to the state library are not sufficient to
3-25 place and maintain print access aids in each library required to
3-26 have an aid under Section 2 of this Act, the state library shall
3-27 make a placement decision for the aid based on demonstrated
4-1 community need and local support provided by a library.
4-2 SECTION 8. REPEAL. Subchapter H, Chapter 441, Government
4-3 Code, is repealed.
4-4 SECTION 9. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September
4-5 1, 1993.
4-6 SECTION 10. Emergency. The importance of this legislation
4-7 and the crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
4-8 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
4-9 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
4-10 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.