TLA TEXLINE NO.98
Posted: February 15, 2001
LEGISLATIVE ISSUES NETWORK
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In this issue:
I. Loan Star Libraries: Direct Aid
The House Appropriations General Government Subcommittee met earlier this week to begin mark up of state agency budgets. The subcommittee has recommended that Loan Star Libraries be included in the list of programs to be considered for funding. Once the Legislature has appropriated funding for the agencies’ base budgets, they will turn attention to those programs officially recommended by the subcommittee. This means that direct aid is on the table for consideration but will still have to compete against other interests to be funded.
CALL TO ACTION
Library supporters must continue to contact their legislators, especially those of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees. The library community must continue the pressure to fund this program, which is an exceptional item in the Texas State Library and Archives Commission budget. It is particularly important for library supporters to tell legislators how far the potential funding of this program will go in local communities. Lawmakers are now considering how much funding should go to programs. Librarians and library supporters must be able to show legislators that the full amount requested ($20 million each year of the biennium) is necessary to meet critical needs at the local level. Any reductions in the requested allocation will mean less funding for local communities.
See Texline 95 and 96 for background information. Also, please review TLA's background papers.
The next two weeks are critical in the funding process. Please contact your legislators, especially if your legislator is in either of the Appropriations or Finance committees, and all library supporters should contact the chairs of both of those committees. See list at end of Texline.
II. School Library Materials
Rep. Helen Giddings has agreed to sponsor the school library materials rider (#68 in the Texas Education Agency budget). Rep. Giddings has long championed reading initiatives and funding for schools and libraries. She, along with the other four members of the Education Subcommittee (of the Appropriations Committee), will be reviewing the TEA budget over the next two weeks. Library supporters are urged to contact the remaining members of the subcommittee (Representatives Delisi, Hochberg, Gutierrez, and Mowery). See the list at the end of Texline for contact information.
CALL TO ACTION
Library supporters should tell legislators about the need for updated and current information for school library materials. The funding that was appropriated in 1999 has made a tremendous impact already and has benefited students throughout the state. The winter issue of the Texas Library Journal featured a story about the impact of this funding on Texas students. An electronic version of the article is available on TLA's government affairs website.
See Texline 95 and 96 for background information.
The next two weeks are critical in the funding process. Please contact your legislators, especially if your legislator is in either of the Appropriations or Finance committees, and all library supporters should contact the chairs of both of those committees. See list at end of Texline.
III. Opposing UCITA
Yesterday, Senator John Carona introduced S.B. 709 (the Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act). TLA has also learned that Rep. Sylvester Turner has decided NOT to introduce UCITA in the House.
CALL TO ACTION
It is time for library supporters to contact their legislators to let them know of their opposition to UCITA. This legislation can materially affect all types of libraries. For many, UCITA is a complex piece of legislation that sounds "pro high tech" and is therefore a piece of legislation that will be good for Texas. This is absolutely contrary to real effects UCITA will permit. Legislators must hear from constituents that UCITA is controversial and that many groups oppose it. UCITA permits software manufactures to erode many consumer protections and federal copyright protections. Businesses, consumers, and libraries agree: UCITA is bad for Texas. See Texline 97 for background information and talking points.
IV. List of members of Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committees
Appropriations Committee with fax numbers (all begin with the 512 area code)
To contact all legislators:
State Representatives State Senators Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768-2910FAX: 512/463-5896
email: first.last@house.state.tx.usBox 12068
Austin, TX 78711-2068FAX: 512/463-0326
| email: first.last@senate.state.tx.us
A full discussion of TLA's legislative platform is available on the Government Affairs site.
TLA-Texline is an irregular publication of the Texas Library Association mailed directly to members interested in legislative and governmental issues affecting libraries. To subscribe--or to offer comments or suggestions-- contact Gloria Meraz, Director of Communications, Texas Library Association. Previous issues of Texline are archived on the TLA website.