AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
State law currently requires textbook publishers to provide districts with sample copies of adopted textbooks upon request for review (Section 31.027 (Information to School Districts; Sample Copies), Education Code). Textbook publishers send hardcopy samples of textbooks to school districts for their review committees. The printing and binding of these draft books is expensive and it is difficult for publishers and districts to maintain security. Since these textbooks are drafts still containing errors, they are never used. Publishers pass on the costs of doing the print run, shipping, and delivery to the state. This bill would require textbook publishers to send an electronic copy of the sample textbook to districts for their review, in order to lower the cost of creating and distributing textbooks.
S.B. 391 amends current law relating to the provision of electronic samples of a textbook adopted by the State Board of Education.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 31.022, Education Code, by adding Subsection (d-1), as follows:
(d-1) Requires that a notice published under Subsection (d) (relating to the requirement to publish textbook and adoption cycle notices) state that a publisher of an adopted textbook for a grade level other than prekindergarten must submit an electronic sample copy of the textbook as required by Sections 31.027(a) and (b) and may not submit a print sample copy.
SECTION 2. Amends the heading to Section 31.027, Education Code, to read as follows:
Sec. 31.027. INFORMATION TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS; ELECTRONIC SAMPLE.
SECTION 3. Amends Sections 31.027(a) and (b), Education Code, as follows:
(a) Requires a publisher, on request of a school district, to provide an electronic sample copy of an adopted textbook.
(b) Requires a publisher to provide an electronic sample, rather than requiring a publisher to provide at least two sample copies, of each adopted textbook to be maintained at each regional education service center.
SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2011.