C.S.H.B. 1447 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


C.S.H.B. 1447
By: Howard
Public Education
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND

Public input and scrutiny of the textbook adoption process has been
limited to the final months of the process. Often, publishers have unclear
requirements due to the fact that while the Texas Essential Knowledge and
Skills dictate the curriculum required in the textbooks, the content of
the textbooks is often called into question at the end of the process.
There have been circumstances where a book  complies with the Texas
Essential Knowledge and Skills  standards, but the content and
effectiveness of the book are unsuitable. Textbooks are often incomplete
from a  real-world educational perspective, or contain  viewpoint
discrimination and bias. 
 

PURPOSE 

The purpose of C.S.H.B. 1447 is to clarify that the State Board of
Education is authorized to determine the content of textbooks.  
    

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly
granted to the State Board of Education in SECTION 1 (Section 31.023,
Education Code) of this bill. 


ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1447 amends the Education Code by requiring that each textbook on
a conforming or nonconforming list must be free from errors of commission
or omission related to viewpoint discrimination or special interest
advocacy on major issues, as determined by the State Board of Education
(board). The bill requires the board to adopt guidelines that define
general textbook content standards. The bill authorizes the board to
determine textbook content, notwithstanding any other provision of law.
The bill authorizes the board to reject any textbook that does not comply
with the adopted textbook content guidelines or that contains factual or
other errors. 

These provisions apply only to textbooks adopted by the State Board of
Education on or after September 1, 2004. 
  

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003.


COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 1447 modifies the original version by adding provisions that
grant sole and unlimited authority to the State Board of Education to
determine textbook content, notwithstanding any other provision of law.
C.S.H.B. 1447 modifies the original version by authorizing rather than
requiring the board to reject any textbook that contains factual or other
errors or that does not comply with the adopted textbook content
guidelines.