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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to establishing a select committee to review the manner in |
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which textbooks for use in public schools are funded, adopted, and |
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purchased. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 31, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 31.004 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 31.004. EXPIRATION. This chapter expires December 31, |
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2011. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 31, Education Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter G to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER G. SELECT COMMITTEE ON TEXTBOOK FUNDING, ADOPTION, AND |
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PURCHASE |
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Sec. 31.301. SELECT COMMITTEE ON TEXTBOOK FUNDING, |
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ADOPTION, AND PURCHASE. (a) The Select Committee on Textbook |
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Funding, Adoption, and Purchase is established to conduct a |
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comprehensive review of the manner in which textbooks are funded, |
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adopted, and purchased. |
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(b) The committee is composed of nine members appointed as |
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follows: |
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(1) the presiding officers of the standing committees |
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of each house of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over |
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public education; |
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(2) the presiding officer of the senate committee with |
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primary jurisdiction over finance, or the member of the senate |
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designated by that presiding officer; |
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(3) the presiding officer of the house of |
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representatives committee with primary jurisdiction over |
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appropriations, or the member of the house of representatives |
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designated by that presiding officer; |
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(4) one member of the house of representatives |
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appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; |
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(5) one member of the senate appointed by the |
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lieutenant governor; |
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(6) one public member appointed by the speaker of the |
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house of representatives; |
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(7) one public member appointed by the lieutenant |
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governor; and |
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(8) one public member appointed by the governor. |
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(c) Committee members appointed under Subsections |
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(b)(6)-(8) must have knowledge of the public education system and |
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the textbook funding, adoption, and purchase process. |
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Sec. 31.302. CO-CHAIRS; COMMITTEE MEETINGS. (a) The |
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presiding officers described by Section 31.301(b)(1) serve as |
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co-chairs of the committee. |
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(b) Committee meetings shall be held at the call of the |
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co-chairs. |
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Sec. 31.303. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT. (a) A member |
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of the committee is entitled to reimbursement for actual and |
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necessary expenses incurred in performing committee duties. |
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(b) A legislative member of the committee is entitled to |
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reimbursement from the appropriate fund of the house of the |
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legislature in which the member serves. |
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(c) A member other than a legislative member is entitled to |
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reimbursement from funds appropriated to the committee. |
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Sec. 31.304. COMMITTEE STAFF. Staff members of the |
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standing committees described by Section 31.301(b)(1) shall serve |
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as the staff of the committee. |
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Sec. 31.305. OBJECTIVES OF REVIEW. (a) The committee |
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shall conduct a comprehensive review of the textbook funding, |
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adoption, and purchase process. |
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(b) A review under this section must include a thorough |
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study of: |
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(1) each element of the textbook funding, adoption, |
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and purchase process prescribed by this chapter; |
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(2) the extent to which relevant materials are aligned |
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with curriculum requirements adopted by the State Board of |
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Education; |
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(3) the methods available for providing instructional |
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materials and content in traditional print format and digital |
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format; and |
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(4) the methods available to improve funding, |
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including alternative methods for funding technology for the |
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delivery of instructional content. |
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(c) The committee shall conduct public hearings throughout |
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the state and solicit testimony about the textbook funding, |
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adoption, and purchase process from parents of public school |
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students and other interested persons. At least one public hearing |
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must be held at a public school during a time that public school |
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students are able to attend the hearing. |
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(d) The commissioner shall ensure that the committee has |
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access to any documentation and agency personnel the committee |
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requests. |
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(e) The Legislative Budget Board, comptroller, state |
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auditor, and any other state agency, official, or personnel shall |
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cooperate with the committee in carrying out its duties under this |
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subchapter. |
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(f) The committee may coordinate the review under this |
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subchapter with any other legislative review or study, as |
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appropriate. |
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Sec. 31.306. REPORT. (a) Not later than December 1, 2010, |
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the committee shall provide a report that: |
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(1) states the findings of the review conducted under |
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this subchapter; and |
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(2) includes any recommendations for statutory |
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changes. |
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(b) The report must be approved by a majority of the |
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committee members. A member who disagrees with any part of the |
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report may attach a dissenting statement to the report. |
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SECTION 3. (a) Officers required to make appointments to |
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the Select Committee on Textbook Funding, Adoption, and Purchase, |
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as established under Subchapter G, Chapter 31, Education Code, as |
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added by this Act, shall make appointments to that committee as soon |
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as possible after the effective date of this Act. |
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(b) The Select Committee on Textbook Funding, Adoption, and |
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Purchase shall hold an organizational meeting not later than |
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October 1, 2009. |
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SECTION 4. 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. |