TLA TEXLINE NO. 187
Posted: March 20, 2005
LEGISLATIVE ISSUES NETWORK
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In this issue:
I. SB 483 (STAPLES) SET ON SENATE CALENDAR
The bill, which would allow schools to benefit from database group purchasing through the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (SB 483, Staples), has been set for action by the Senate.
If you have not already contacted your senator to express support for this legislation, please do so and urge support of this important legislation. For talking points and additional details, see Texline 184 (go to: http://www.txla.org/pubs/texline/index.html).
II. HB 2697 (PHILLIPS) SET FOR HEARING
Rep. Larry Phillips has filed HB 2697, a measure which would create a Texas Historical Government Records Preservation Account to provide document preservation grants to local government entities. The Fund would be established by adding a fee to the first page of local filed documents. The Texas State Library and Archives Commission would oversee the grant program.
This bill has been set for hearing on Tuesday, March 22 in the State Culture, Recreation, and Tourism Committee.
CALL TO ACTION:
If your representative serves on this committee, please contact your representative and urge support of this bill. Most communities throughout the state cannot afford to preserve their local government records. This bill would provide an important means to insure that an important aspect of Texas history is saved.
Members of the Committee
III. HB 4 (GRUSENDORF) HEARD LAST WEEK
The Public Education Committee heard testimony on Tuesday, March 15, to consider HB 4. This bill requires that the Texas Education Agency review state-funding grant programs and incentives designed to improve student performance including, certain accelerated reading initiative programs, the optional extended year program, the basic skills program for high school students, and the comprehensive high school completion and success program. According to the bill, that review must assess the extent to which these programs are used to provide for electronic diagnostic tools, individual technology devices, and other electronic resources for classrooms AND LIBRARIES that could be accessible to students and teachers at all times. The bill also broadens the term “textbook” to “instructional materials” in certain portions of the code.
Please contact members of the Public Education Committee and urge their support of initiatives that assess school library resources being offered to students. Briefly describe the value of school library digital resources and discuss the problems caused by the demise of a central statewide database program for school libraries.
To Contact Members of the Public Education Committees:
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.