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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to certain studies and reports by the Texas Higher |
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Education Coordinating Board regarding achievable cost-saving |
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measures and the use and availability of electronic textbooks at |
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institutions of higher education. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 61.0664 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.0664. STUDY OF ACHIEVABLE COST-SAVING MEASURES; |
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REPORT. (a) The board shall conduct a study to identify achievable |
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cost-saving measures in the management and operation of |
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institutions of higher education. |
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(b) Not later than January 31, 2011, the board shall report |
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the results of the study required by Subsection (a) to the governor, |
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lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and |
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presiding officer for each legislative standing committee with |
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primary jurisdiction over higher education. The report must |
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include: |
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(1) the board's recommendations concerning |
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cost-saving measures that are achievable at institutions of higher |
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education; and |
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(2) an estimate of the amount of money that would be |
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saved during a five-year period through the implementation of each |
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recommendation. |
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(c) This section expires January 31, 2011. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 61.0665 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.0665. STUDY ON USE AND AVAILABILITY OF ELECTRONIC |
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TEXTBOOKS. (a) The board shall conduct a study and recommend |
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policies regarding the use and availability of electronic textbooks |
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in higher education in this state and in other states. The study |
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and policy recommendations must include a specific focus on the |
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results of the pilot program implemented by The University of Texas |
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at Austin with respect to the use of electronic textbooks and must |
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address methods for encouraging the use of electronic textbooks at |
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public or private institutions of higher education in this state. |
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(b) Each student regent serving under Section 51.355 or |
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51.356 shall assist the board in performing the board's duties |
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under Subsection (a). The board shall establish procedures to |
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assist a student regent in complying with this subsection. |
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(c) The board may solicit and accept gifts and grants from |
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any public or private source to conduct the study and develop policy |
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recommendations under this section. |
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(d) Not later than December 1, 2010, the board shall make an |
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initial report and recommendations based on the study to the |
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governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of |
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representatives, and presiding officer of each legislative |
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standing committee with primary jurisdiction over higher |
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education. This subsection expires January 31, 2011. |
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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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