By Van de Putte                                       S.B. No. 1741
         77R7661 KKA-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to a committee to develop a homework curriculum for use by
 1-3     public school students through the Internet.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is
 1-6     amended by adding Section 28.007 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 28.007.  COMMITTEE ON HOMEWORK CURRICULUM FOR HOMEWORK
 1-8     SERVICE. (a)  In this section, "homework service" means the
 1-9     interactive homework service operated through the Internet by The
1-10     University of Texas at Austin.
1-11           (b)  The commissioner shall form a committee composed
1-12     primarily of  teachers to develop a homework curriculum for use in
1-13     connection with the homework service.  The curriculum must:
1-14                 (1)  include sample questions for inclusion in the
1-15     homework assignments available through the homework service; and
1-16                 (2)  reflect the essential knowledge and skills of the
1-17     appropriate subjects of the foundation and enrichment curriculum.
1-18           (c)  The committee shall also make recommendations to the
1-19     commissioner regarding:
1-20                 (1)  promoting use of the homework service by teachers
1-21     and students; and
1-22                 (2)  using student performance on homework curriculum
1-23     provided through the homework service to evaluate student
1-24     achievement and district performance.
 2-1           (d)  A member of the committee may not receive compensation
 2-2     for service on the committee and may not be reimbursed for travel
 2-3     expenses incurred while conducting the business of the committee.
 2-4           (e)  The agency shall provide administrative support to the
 2-5     committee.
 2-6           SECTION 2. The commissioner of education shall form the
 2-7     committee required under Section 28.007, Education Code, as added
 2-8     by this Act, not later than October 1, 2001.
 2-9           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
2-10     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-11     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
2-12     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-13     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.