1-1     By:  Bivins                                           S.C.R. No. 95

 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed May 15, 1997; May 17, 1997, read first

 1-3     time and referred to Committee on Education; May 18, 1997, reported

 1-4     favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 10, Nays 0; May 18, 1997,

 1-5     sent to printer.)

 1-6                        SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-7           WHEREAS, The 74th Legislature has created the

 1-8     Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund (TIF) to create a world

 1-9     class education technology infrastructure for Texas schools; and

1-10           WHEREAS, This fund will make grants of $1.5 billion over the

1-11     next decade for the acquisition and use of information technology

1-12     in the Texas education system; and

1-13           WHEREAS, These resources place Texas in a position to become

1-14     the national leader in education technology infrastructure; and

1-15           WHEREAS, Texas will become the national leader only if it can

1-16     develop a unified plan for bringing information technology and

1-17     services to education in a way that integrates and coordinates the

1-18     differing needs of its schools, bridges the gaps between state

1-19     agencies having responsibilities over education technology, and

1-20     coordinates the leveraging of private and federal resources; and

1-21           WHEREAS, Texas must create the Texas Education

1-22     Telecommunications Coordinating Committee to ensure our state

1-23     agencies are working together to wisely invest funds on education

1-24     technology; now, therefore, be it

1-25           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

1-26     authorize the creation of the Texas Education Telecommunications

1-27     Coordinating Committee; and, be it further

1-28           RESOLVED, That this advisory committee be charged with the

1-29     responsibility of developing goals for the advancement,

1-30     acquisition, and use of telecommunications technology in the state

1-31     education system, coordinating education technology efforts among

1-32     state agencies, encouraging maximum use of TIF by rewarding

1-33     collaborative efforts through the grant process, and making, by

1-34     September 1, 1998, any legislative recommendations for the regular

1-35     session of the 76th Legislature; and, be it further

1-36           RESOLVED, That the committee membership be composed of one

1-37     representative from the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund

1-38     Board, one representative from the State Board of Education, one

1-39     representative from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board,

1-40     one representative from the General Services Commission, one

1-41     representative from the Department of Information Resources, one

1-42     member to be appointed by the governor, one member to be appointed

1-43     by the lieutenant governor, and one member to be appointed by the

1-44     speaker of the house of representatives, and that the gubernatorial

1-45     appointee chair the committee.

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