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AN ACT
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relating to responsibility for public school textbooks and |
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technological equipment and to failure by students to return |
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textbooks or technological equipment. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 31.104(d), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(d) Each student, or the student's parent or guardian, is |
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responsible for each textbook, including an electronic textbook, |
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and all technological equipment not returned in an acceptable |
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condition by the student. A student who fails to return in an |
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acceptable condition all textbooks, including electronic |
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textbooks, and technological equipment forfeits the right to free |
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textbooks, including electronic textbooks, and technological |
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equipment until each textbook, including an electronic textbook, |
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and all technological equipment previously issued but not returned |
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in an acceptable condition is paid for by the student, parent, or |
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guardian. As provided by policy of the board of trustees or |
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governing body, a school district or open-enrollment charter school |
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may waive or reduce the payment requirement if the student is from a |
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low-income family. The district or school shall allow the student |
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to use textbooks, including electronic textbooks, and |
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technological equipment at school during each school day. If a |
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textbook, including an electronic textbook, or technological |
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equipment is not returned in an acceptable condition or paid for, |
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the district or school may withhold the student's records. A |
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district or school may not, under this subsection, prevent a |
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student from graduating, participating in a graduation ceremony, or |
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receiving a diploma. The commissioner by rule shall adopt criteria |
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for determining whether a textbook, including an electronic |
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textbook, and technological equipment are returned in an acceptable |
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condition. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2009-2010 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 3. 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, 2009. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 1332 was passed by the House on April |
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2, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 145, Nays 0, 1 present, not |
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voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 1332 was passed by the Senate on May |
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21, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: _____________________ |
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Date |
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_____________________ |
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Governor |