By Finnell H.B. No. 708
74R2074 ESH-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the creation of a distance learning clearinghouse in
1-3 the Central Education Agency.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Chapter 14, Education Code, is amended by adding
1-6 Subchapter E to read as follows:
1-7 SUBCHAPTER E. DISTANCE LEARNING CLEARINGHOUSE
1-8 Sec. 14.101. 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) "Department" means the Department of Information
1-13 Resources.
1-14 (4) "Distance learning" means the transmission of
1-15 educational information and interaction of geographically dispersed
1-16 persons through a single medium or a combination of audio, video,
1-17 and data.
1-18 Sec. 14.102. DISTANCE LEARNING CLEARINGHOUSE. With the
1-19 department's advice, the agency shall establish a distance learning
1-20 clearinghouse to:
1-21 (1) develop statewide distance learning programs and
1-22 applications; and
1-23 (2) assist the agency in providing technical
1-24 assistance to potential distance learning providers.
2-1 Sec. 14.103. ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) The distance learning
2-2 advisory committee consists of 14 members appointed by the
2-3 commissioner of education as follows:
2-4 (1) one member must represent regional education
2-5 service centers;
2-6 (2) one member must be a practicing public school
2-7 administrator, selected from a list submitted by a statewide
2-8 organization of school administrators;
2-9 (3) three members must represent businesses in this
2-10 state and be experienced in technology applications;
2-11 (4) one member must be a practicing public school
2-12 teacher, selected from a list submitted by a statewide organization
2-13 of teachers;
2-14 (5) one member must be a library media specialist,
2-15 selected from a list submitted by a statewide organization of
2-16 library media specialists;
2-17 (6) one member must represent the public;
2-18 (7) one member must be a faculty member of an
2-19 institution of higher education;
2-20 (8) one member must be a public secondary school
2-21 teacher and represent educators who use technology;
2-22 (9) one member must be a practicing public elementary
2-23 school teacher;
2-24 (10) one member must be a practicing public school
2-25 educator specializing in curriculum development;
2-26 (11) one member must be experienced in
2-27 telecommunications regulation; and
3-1 (12) one member must represent consumers.
3-2 (b) A private business entity, school district, or statewide
3-3 organization may not have more than one officer or employee serve
3-4 on the advisory committee.
3-5 (c) A member must be knowledgeable about application of
3-6 technology for learning experiences and be selected based on
3-7 documentation of that knowledge.
3-8 (d) The advisory committee shall advise the distance
3-9 learning clearinghouse in the development of the distance learning
3-10 policy as provided by Section 14.104.
3-11 (e) A member is not entitled to compensation for serving on
3-12 the advisory committee but is entitled to reimbursement for
3-13 expenses as provided by Section 11.953.
3-14 (f) The commissioner of education shall appoint the initial
3-15 members of the advisory committee not later than November 1, 1995.
3-16 In the event of a vacancy on the advisory committee, the
3-17 commissioner of education shall appoint a replacement who meets the
3-18 qualifications of the vacated position.
3-19 (g) This section expires and the advisory committee is
3-20 abolished August 31, 1997.
3-21 Sec. 14.104. DISTANCE LEARNING POLICY. The clearinghouse
3-22 shall adopt a comprehensive long-term distance learning policy
3-23 that:
3-24 (1) identifies existing available resources for
3-25 distance learning;
3-26 (2) identifies the distance learning educational and
3-27 professional development needs of various educational, community,
4-1 and business organizations;
4-2 (3) identifies the role of the state in implementing
4-3 the policy and in including distance learning in the state and
4-4 local curricula;
4-5 (4) encourages the development of local and regional
4-6 distance learning applications;
4-7 (5) encourages active participation in the full
4-8 development and use of the distance learning infrastructure and
4-9 technology; and
4-10 (6) encourages interaction between public and private
4-11 nonprofit distance learning providers and users.
4-12 Sec. 14.105. ADDITIONAL DUTIES OF CLEARINGHOUSE. (a) The
4-13 clearinghouse shall work jointly with department staff to compile
4-14 and maintain a database of information and research relating to
4-15 distance learning programs and applications. The clearinghouse
4-16 shall make the database available to the public, state agencies,
4-17 and local governments in electronic form.
4-18 (b) The clearinghouse may develop methods of:
4-19 (1) providing technical assistance to entities that
4-20 are developing distance learning programs; and
4-21 (2) assisting those entities in assessing distance
4-22 learning needs.
4-23 (c) The clearinghouse may advise a school district of ways
4-24 in which the district may save money when using distance learning
4-25 programs.
4-26 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the
4-27 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
5-1 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
5-2 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
5-3 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
5-4 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
5-5 passage, and it is so enacted.