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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of a task force to evaluate redistribution |
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of surplus textbooks owned by the State of Texas. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITION. In this Act, "task force" means the |
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surplus textbook redistribution task force created under Section 2 |
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of this Act. |
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SECTION 2. SURPLUS TEXTBOOK REDISTRIBUTION TASK FORCE. (a) |
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the Commissioner of Education shall select members of the surplus |
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textbook redistribution task force to represent the following |
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entities and interest groups from applicants recommended by the |
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following entities and interest groups: |
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(1) Texas Education Agency Division of Instructional |
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Materials and Educational Technology; |
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(2) State Auditors Office; |
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(3) the State Department of Information Resources; |
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(4) business officers of school districts and |
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open-enrollment charter schools; |
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(5) textbook publishers; |
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(6) educational material depositories; and |
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(7) professional organizations representing textbook |
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coordinators for school districts or open enrollment charter |
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schools. |
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(b) The Commissioner of Education or the Commissioner's |
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designee is the presiding officer of the task force. |
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SECTION 3. DUTIES OF TASK FORCE. The task force shall |
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review, evaluate, and recommend methods for efficient |
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redistribution of surplus instructional materials among school |
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districts and open enrollment schools, including: |
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(a) determining best management practices to meet the goal |
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of maximizing use of surplus textbooks as a method to reduce the |
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state's cost for textbooks while speeding delivery of instructional |
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materials to students; |
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(b) evaluating benefits of creation of a central textbook |
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surplus redistribution center or regional centers; |
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(c) identifying changes in law or regulations to facilitate |
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the goal expressed in subsection (a). |
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SECTION 4. ASSISTANCE OF STATE AGENCIES. The task force may |
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request the assistance of state agencies, departments, or offices |
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to carry out its duties, including necessary staff support. |
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SECTION 5. PUBLIC MEETINGS. The task force may hold public |
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meetings as needed to fulfill its duties under this Act. |
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SECTION 6. REPORT. Not later than November 1, 2008, the task |
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force shall make a final report to the lieutenant governor, the |
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speaker of the house of representatives, and the legislature |
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evaluating the issues described in Section 3 of this Act. |
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SECTION 7. EXPIRATION OF ACT AND ABOLITION OF TASK FORCE. |
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This Act expires and the task force is abolished on January 1, 2009. |
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SECTION 8. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |