By Finnell H.B. No. 707
74R448 ESH-F
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the creation of a distance learning clearinghouse in
1-3 the Department of Information Resources.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Chapter 2054, Government Code, is amended by
1-6 adding Subchapter G to read as follows:
1-7 SUBCHAPTER G. DISTANCE LEARNING CLEARINGHOUSE
1-8 Sec. 2054.151. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
1-9 (1) "Agency" means the Central Education Agency.
1-10 (2) "Clearinghouse" means the distance learning
1-11 clearinghouse.
1-12 (3) "Distance learning" means the transmission of
1-13 educational information and interaction of geographically dispersed
1-14 persons through a single medium or a combination of audio, video,
1-15 and data.
1-16 Sec. 2054.152. DISTANCE LEARNING CLEARINGHOUSE. With the
1-17 agency's advice, the department shall establish a distance learning
1-18 clearinghouse to:
1-19 (1) develop statewide distance learning programs and
1-20 applications; and
1-21 (2) assist the agency in providing technical
1-22 assistance to potential distance learning providers.
1-23 Sec. 2054.153. ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) The distance
1-24 learning advisory committee consists of 14 members appointed by the
2-1 executive director as follows:
2-2 (1) one member must represent regional education
2-3 service centers;
2-4 (2) one member must be a practicing public school
2-5 administrator, selected from a list submitted by a statewide
2-6 organization of school administrators;
2-7 (3) three members must represent businesses in this
2-8 state and be experienced in technology applications;
2-9 (4) one member must be a practicing public school
2-10 teacher, selected from a list submitted by a statewide organization
2-11 of teachers;
2-12 (5) one member must be a library media specialist,
2-13 selected from a list submitted by a statewide organization of
2-14 library media specialists;
2-15 (6) one member must represent the public;
2-16 (7) one member must be a faculty member of an
2-17 institution of higher education;
2-18 (8) one member must be a public secondary school
2-19 teacher and represent educators who use technology;
2-20 (9) one member must be a practicing public elementary
2-21 school teacher;
2-22 (10) one member must be a practicing public school
2-23 educator specializing in curriculum development;
2-24 (11) one member must be experienced in
2-25 telecommunications regulation; and
2-26 (12) one member must represent consumers.
2-27 (b) A private business entity, school district, or statewide
3-1 organization may not have more than one officer or employee serve
3-2 on the advisory committee.
3-3 (c) A member must be knowledgeable about application of
3-4 technology for learning experiences and be selected based on
3-5 documentation of that knowledge.
3-6 (d) The advisory committee shall advise the distance
3-7 learning clearinghouse in the development of the distance learning
3-8 policy as provided by Section 2054.154.
3-9 (e) A member is not entitled to compensation for serving on
3-10 the advisory committee but is entitled to reimbursement for
3-11 expenses as provided by Article 6252-33, Revised Statutes.
3-12 (f) The executive director shall appoint the initial members
3-13 of the advisory committee not later than November 1, 1995. In the
3-14 event of a vacancy on the advisory committee, the executive
3-15 director shall appoint a replacement who meets the qualifications
3-16 of the vacated position.
3-17 (g) This section expires and the advisory committee is
3-18 abolished August 31, 1997.
3-19 Sec. 2054.154. DISTANCE LEARNING POLICY. The clearinghouse
3-20 shall adopt a comprehensive long-term distance learning policy
3-21 that:
3-22 (1) identifies existing available resources for
3-23 distance learning;
3-24 (2) identifies the distance learning educational and
3-25 professional development needs of various educational, community,
3-26 and business organizations;
3-27 (3) identifies the role of the state in implementing
4-1 the policy and in including distance learning in the state and
4-2 local curricula;
4-3 (4) encourages the development of local and regional
4-4 distance learning applications;
4-5 (5) encourages active participation in the full
4-6 development and use of the distance learning infrastructure and
4-7 technology; and
4-8 (6) encourages interaction between public and private
4-9 nonprofit distance learning providers and users.
4-10 Sec. 2054.155. ADDITIONAL DUTIES OF CLEARINGHOUSE. (a) The
4-11 clearinghouse shall work jointly with agency staff to compile and
4-12 maintain a database of information and research relating to
4-13 distance learning programs and applications. The clearinghouse
4-14 shall make the database available to the public, state agencies,
4-15 and local governments in electronic form.
4-16 (b) The clearinghouse may provide to the agency information
4-17 regarding methods of:
4-18 (1) providing technical assistance to entities that
4-19 are developing distance learning programs; and
4-20 (2) assisting those entities in assessing distance
4-21 learning needs.
4-22 (c) The clearinghouse may advise a school district of ways
4-23 in which the district may save money when using distance learning
4-24 programs.
4-25 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the
4-26 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
4-27 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
5-1 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
5-2 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.