BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

                                                                                                                                              S.B. 483

                                                                                                                                          By: Staples

                                                                                                                                 Public Education

                                                                                                       Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

This bill is designed to allow certain public school libraries to participate in group purchasing agreements of the TexShare Library Consortium.  The Consortium currently includes the libraries of higher education institutions, public libraries, and libraries of nonprofit organizations. The Consortium makes available collections of electronic resources (journals, magazines and newspapers) through public and academic libraries.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

 

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission in SECTION 3 of this bill. 

 

ANALYSIS

 

This bill creates a framework by which public school libraries may benefit from the existing TexShare Library Consortium. It states that the Legislature is interested in helping public school libraries provide increased learning opportunities for Texas students. Accordingly, it provides that public school libraries may participate in the volume purchasing arrangements of the Consortium so long as the inclusion of such libraries does not interfere with the level of service provided to the Consortium's member institutions.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.