By:  Sibley, Shapleigh                        S.B. No. 294

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

                                       AN ACT

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

 1-2     in public schools.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Education Code, is

 1-5     amended by adding Section 32.037 to read as follows:

 1-6           Sec. 32.037.  COMPUTER NETWORK STUDY PROJECT.  (a)  The

 1-7     agency shall develop a study project to determine the costs and

 1-8     benefits of using computer networks, including the Internet, in

 1-9     public schools.

1-10           (b)(1)  An advisory committee shall be appointed to outline

1-11     the central issues to be studied.  Those issues must include the

1-12     possibility of delivering, through a computer network, updated

1-13     supplements to textbooks adopted under Chapter 31.

1-14                 (2)  The commissioner shall appoint to the advisory

1-15     committee agency personnel, textbook publishers, educators,

1-16     students, and technology experts.

1-17                 (3)  The presiding officers of the senate and the house

1-18     of representatives shall each appoint two members of the

1-19     legislature to serve on the advisory committee.

1-20           (c)  The study must be:

1-21                 (1)  conducted using a group of school districts

1-22     selected by the agency to provide a geographically,

1-23     demographically, and economically balanced sample;

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

 2-2     applications; and

 2-3                 (3)  coordinated with the State Board of Education's

 2-4     long-range technology plan adopted under Section 32.001, including

 2-5     standards for computer literacy adopted under Section 32.001(a)(3).

 2-6           (d)  The agency shall report the results of the study project

 2-7     to the 76th Legislature not later than February 1, 1999.

 2-8           (e)  This section expires September 1, 1999.

 2-9           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

2-10     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

2-11     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

2-12     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

2-13     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

2-14     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

2-15     passage, and it is so enacted.