Amend CSHB 1632 on page 5, between lines 22 and 23, by 
inserting the following new SECTION and renumbering the subsequent 
SECTIONS accordingly:
	SECTION _____.  (a) The Commission on Online Learning is 
established to develop a plan to provide all public school students 
and teachers in Texas with access to essential educational content 
and best pedagogical practices to ensure the general diffusion of 
knowledge promised in Section 1, Article VII, Texas Constitution.
	(b)  The commission is composed of:                                            
		(1)  two members of the senate, appointed by the 
lieutenant governor;       
		(2)  three members of the house of representatives, 
appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
		(3)  two members of the State Board of Education, 
appointed by the chair of the State Board of Education;
		(4)  one person employed by the Texas Education Agency, 
appointed by the commissioner of education;
		(5)  two persons employed as the superintendent of a 
school district, appointed by the governor;
		(6)  two persons employed as the district technology 
director or coordinator of a school district, appointed by the 
governor;
		(7)  two members employed as the principal of a public 
school campus or the director of an open-enrollment charter school, 
appointed by the governor;
		(8)  three members employed as a teacher by a public 
school campus or open-enrollment charter school, appointed by the 
governor;
		(9)  three members who are business leaders in the 
high-tech industry, appointed by the governor; and
		(10)  one member who is a national expert on education 
technology research, appointed by the governor.
	(c)  The chair of the Commission on Online Learning shall be 
selected by the members of the commission.
	(d)  The Commission on Online Learning shall conduct a study 
that includes consideration of the following issues:
		(1)  accessibility on a state-approved Internet 
website or another online source of the elements of the essential 
knowledge and skills identified by the State Board of Education 
under Section 28.002, Education Code;
		(2)  curriculum enhancement materials that can be used 
as stand-alone lessons or teaching aids;
		(3)  electronic student assessment tools;                                     
		(4)  test preparation resource tools;                                         
		(5)  library and other research tools;                                        
		(6)  electronic professional development tools for 
teachers;                
		(7)  state budget requirements necessary to achieve the 
commission's recommendations;
		(8)  current state policies on online learning;                               
		(9)  research-based best practices in online learning 
from other states and from other countries;
		(10)  any modifications of state policies that may be 
needed to achieve the commission's recommendations;
		(11)  possible partners that could assist the state in 
enhancing online learning, including other states, the federal 
government, school districts in Texas, philanthropic foundations, 
nonprofit organizations, and private companies;  and
		(12)  a specific plan of action for the legislature and 
the Texas Education Agency to implement the most cost-effective 
strategy to integrate online learning into the Texas public 
education system to the benefit of students, teachers, and parents.
	(e)  The commissioner of education shall enter into an 
interagency contract with The University of Texas System and shall, 
to the extent permitted under federal law, transfer to the system, 
from the state's allotment for educational technology under Title 
II, Part D, No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (20 U.S.C. Sec. 6751 et 
seq.), the amount of $252,671 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 
2008, and the amount of $212,670 for the fiscal year ending August 
31, 2009. The University of Texas System shall use the transferred 
funds to pay for the necessary and reasonable expenses of the 
Commission on Online Learning, including the compensation of any 
staff necessary to conduct the work of the commission.
	(f)  A member, committee, or agency of the legislature may 
provide staff support and other resources to the Commission on 
Online Learning. The commission may request assistance and 
information, other than confidential information, from any state 
agency, and agencies shall provide the assistance and information 
requested.
	(g)  Not later than December 1, 2008, the Commission on 
Online Learning shall submit a report, including findings, 
recommendations, and possible legislation, to the governor, the 
lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of 
representatives.
	(h)  The Commission on Online Learning is abolished January 
1, 2009.