By Maxey                                         H.B. No. 436

      75R2866 ESH-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to a study project involving the use of computer networks

 1-3     in public schools.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Education Code, is

 1-6     amended by adding Section 32.037 to read as follows:

 1-7           Sec. 32.037.   COMPUTER NETWORK STUDY PROJECT.  (a)  The

 1-8     agency shall develop a study project to determine the costs and

 1-9     benefits of using computer networks, including the Internet, in

1-10     public schools.

1-11           (b)  The commissioner shall appoint an advisory committee

1-12     composed of agency personnel, textbook publishers, educators,

1-13     students, members of the legislature, and technology experts to

1-14     outline the central issues to be studied.  Those issues must

1-15     include the possibility of delivering, through a computer network,

1-16     updated supplements to textbooks adopted under Chapter 31.

1-17           (c)  The study must be:

1-18                 (1)  conducted using a group of school districts

1-19     selected by the agency to provide a geographically,

1-20     demographically, and economically balanced sample;

1-21                 (2)  designed to yield results with statewide

1-22     applications; and

1-23                 (3)  coordinated with the State Board of Education's

1-24     long-range technology plan adopted under Section 32.001, including

 2-1     standards for computer literacy adopted under Section 32.001(a)(3).

 2-2           (d)  The agency shall report the results of the study project

 2-3     to the 76th Legislature not later than February 1, 1999.

 2-4           (e)  This section expires September 1, 1999.

 2-5           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-6     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-7     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-8     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-9     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

2-10     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

2-11     passage, and it is so enacted.