All state agencies appeared before the full House Appropriations Committee in the first week of February to present an overview of their budgets. Other detailed agency budget hearings are expected to conclude early in March. The Senate Finance Committee and House Appropriations Committee will spend most of the month hammering out initial drafts of the 2004 and 2005 biennial budget, as well as a revised budget for 2003. Though the House has set an initial deadline for having an initial 2004-2005 budget ready by early April, the timing for the state biennial budget remains uncertain. Additionally, no emergency appropriations measure for fiscal year 2003 has yet been filed.

See Texline 141, 144, and 145 for details.

March will be a key month for library advocates to communicate with their elected officials (especially if they serve on the Finance or Appropriations Committees), since initial funding levels will be determined this month. Every agency is facing budget cuts and only persistent communication with lawmakers will keep library programs in the forefront of funding discussions.

Remember, the best case we can make is to focus on the impact of library programs on your community or students. See information at the end of this Texline to find out how to contact your legislators.

1. Funding for the TexShare databases
   Recommended Legislative Actions:
   • Fund the TexShare databases in the Texas State Library and Archives Commission budget in the amount of $10.5 million a year.
2. Funding for the Texas Library Connection databases
   Recommended Legislative Action:
   • Fund the Texas Education Agency's total $8 million biennial request (part of Rider 21) for the Texas Library Connection.
3. Funding for School Library Materials
   Recommended Legislative Actions:
   • Appropriate Rider 62 funding to the Texas Education Agency in the amount of 30 cents per student ($1.2 million/year).
   • Fund Rider 62 with general revenue.
4. 2003 Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund (TIF) Grant Money
   Recommended Legislative Actions:
   • Expedite the review of 2003 TIF funding and release funds in support of TexShare ($7.4 million) and other high priority programs, such as funding for school libraries.
   • Release 2003 funds to support the needs of schools, institutions of higher education, and libraries.

ADDITIONAL TALKING POINTS:

• Releasing 2003 TIF funds: <http://www.txla.org/html/legis/issues_TIFrelease.html>.
• Funding TexShare: <http://www.txla.org/html/legis/TexShare.pdf>
• Funding the Texas Library Connection: <http://www.txla.org/html/legis/TLC.pdf>
• Funding School Library Materials: <http://www.txla.org/html/legis/School%20Library%20Materials.pdf>

• In the House, write to Your Legislator, Capitol Station, P.O. Box 2910, Austin, TX 78768, or go to <http://www.whattifhasdone.org/Representatives.htm> for additional information. See list of House Appropriations Committee members below.
• In the Senate, write Your Senator, Capitol Station, P.O. Box 12068, Austin, Texas 78711, or go to <http://www.whattifhasdone.org/Senators.htm> for additional information. See list of Senate Finance Committee members below