By:  Bivins                                           S.C.R. No. 95

         97S1436/3                           

                            SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-1           WHEREAS, The 74th Legislature has created the

 1-2     Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund (TIF) to create a world

 1-3     class education technology infrastructure for Texas schools; and

 1-4           WHEREAS, This fund will make grants of $1.5 billion over the

 1-5     next decade for the acquisition and use of information technology

 1-6     in the Texas education system; and

 1-7           WHEREAS, These resources place Texas in a position to become

 1-8     the national leader in education technology infrastructure; and

 1-9           WHEREAS, Texas will become the national leader only if it can

1-10     develop a unified plan for bringing information technology and

1-11     services to education in a way that integrates and coordinates the

1-12     differing needs of its schools, bridges the gaps between state

1-13     agencies having responsibilities over education technology, and

1-14     coordinates the leveraging of private and federal resources; and

1-15           WHEREAS, Texas must create the Texas Education

1-16     Telecommunications Coordinating Committee to ensure our state

1-17     agencies are working together to wisely invest funds on education

1-18     technology; now, therefore, be it

1-19           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

1-20     authorize the creation of the Texas Education Telecommunications

1-21     Coordinating Committee; and, be it further

1-22           RESOLVED, That this advisory committee be charged with the

1-23     responsibility of developing goals for the advancement,

 2-1     acquisition, and use of telecommunications technology in the state

 2-2     education system, coordinating education technology efforts among

 2-3     state agencies, encouraging maximum use of TIF by rewarding

 2-4     collaborative efforts through the grant process, and making, by

 2-5     September 1, 1998, any legislative recommendations for the regular

 2-6     session of the 76th Legislature; and, be it further

 2-7           RESOLVED, That the committee membership be composed of one

 2-8     representative from the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund

 2-9     Board, one representative from the State Board of Education, one

2-10     representative from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board,

2-11     one representative from the General Services Commission, one

2-12     representative from the Department of Information Resources, one

2-13     member to be appointed by the governor, one member to be appointed

2-14     by the lieutenant governor, and one member to be appointed by the

2-15     speaker of the house of representatives, and that the gubernatorial

2-16     appointee chair the committee.