TLA TEXLINE NO. 189
Posted: April 18, 2005
LEGISLATIVE ISSUES NETWORK
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In this issue:
The House Public Education Committee is expected to conduct a hearing on HB 661 (Branch), the bill which would allow school libraries to participate in joint purchasing agreements with the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, April 19.
CALL TO ACTION
If your representative serves of the House Public Education Committee, please contact that representative and urge support of HB 661. For additional information, go to: http://www.txla.org/html/legis/School%20Databases.pdf. Describe the importance of library online resources to your students and teachers. This bill is one of two needed mechanisms to fund school library database access through the state library.
To Contact Members of the Public Education Committees:
House Bill 463 has been referred to the Public Education Committee. This bill includes school library programs as one of the components that TEA must evaluate when assessing a school district.
CALL TO ACTION
In order for this bill to progress, it must be set for a hearing in the Public Education Committee. Library supporters are urged to contact Chairman Kent Grusendorf to request that the bill be put scheduled for a hearing. Describe the importance of library programs and the value of having HB 463 move forward.
Chairman Kent Grusendorf: kent.grusendorf@house.state.tx.us; (p) 512-463-0624; (f) 512-463-1398
The full House is expected to consider HB 4 (Grusendorf). This bill broadens the definition of textbooks to instructional materials (including library materials required for coursework). The bill also makes library and other research tools as eligible for technology grants. The bill is designed to increase the use of educational technology in schools.
CALL TO ACTION
Please contact your representative and ask for support of HB 4. Briefly describe the value of school library digital resources and the need for state support of educational technologies, including resources provided through school libraries.
To find out who represents you and how to contact them, go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/fyi/fyi.htm.
The House and Senate have appointed the budget Conference Committee to finalize the state’s biennial budget. We need funding of $4.3 million per year for school database access. This item is included in the House version of the Appropriations bill as an auxiliary request (in Article XI) to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission budget. This funding can be enacted if enabling legislation (HB 661/ SB 483) passes and if the budget committee determines to appropriate funds for the program.
This item would allow the State Library to fund database access at school libraries. Currently, the State Library cannot pay for this additional access. The funds will be used to provide K-12 students with database (TexShare) access at their school libraries. Please note that HB 661 (SB 483) only gives the State Library statutory authority to negotiate database access for school libraries. The request for the $4.3 million/year is the mechanism which would provide the funding for the State Library to pay for school database access.
CALL TO ACTION
Contact members of the Conference Committee and ask them to appropriate the $4.3 million per year request for school database access. Be sure to describe the need for statewide school library databases.
The Conference Committee members are:
For additional information, see Texline 188.
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.