| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to a study and report regarding the use of open-source |
|
|
instructional materials at public institutions of higher |
|
|
education. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Section 61.0666 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 61.0666. STUDY ON USE OF OPEN-SOURCE INSTRUCTIONAL |
|
|
MATERIALS. (a) In this section, "open-source instructional |
|
|
material" means electronic instructional material that is |
|
|
available for downloading from the Internet at no charge to a |
|
|
student and without requiring the purchase of an unlock code, |
|
|
membership, or other access or use charge, except for a charge to |
|
|
order an optional printed copy of all or part of the instructional |
|
|
material. |
|
|
(b) The board shall conduct a study regarding the use of |
|
|
open-source instructional materials at institutions of higher |
|
|
education. The study must include: |
|
|
(1) an analysis of any impact that the use of |
|
|
open-source instructional materials has on the cost of other |
|
|
instructional materials; |
|
|
(2) any difference in the quality of content or effect |
|
|
on the learning process between open-source instructional |
|
|
materials and other instructional materials; and |
|
|
(3) an evaluation of information from other states |
|
|
that have implemented the use of open-source instructional |
|
|
materials at similar institutions regarding: |
|
|
(A) the benefits realized and costs incurred from |
|
|
the use of those materials; and |
|
|
(B) best practices for the use of those |
|
|
materials. |
|
|
(c) Not later than September 1, 2016, the board shall submit |
|
|
to each legislative standing committee with primary jurisdiction |
|
|
over higher education the results of its study under this section |
|
|
and recommendations for legislative or other action. |
|
|
(d) This section expires September 1, 2017. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
|
|
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
|
|
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
|
|
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|
|
Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |