By Sibley S.B. No. 294 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.