In this issue:
Session Underway; TLA Legislative Day Approaches

I. 80th Legislature Underway
II. TLA Legislative Day Approaches
III. Issues

I. 80th Legislature Underway
The 80th Legislature has convened. While the Senate has completed committee assignments, House Speaker Craddick has yet to finalize House committee rosters. While state budgeters estimate a large surplus, the Legislature passed a measure that would limit state spending increases over the biennium. Much of the budget surplus will be consumed by increases caused by formula funding.

II. TLA Legislative Day Approaches
TLA’s Legislative Day will take place on Tuesday, February 6, 2007 in Austin.  Legislative Day is a critical time for library supporters to visit with elected officials to inform them of library initiatives and to ask for their support.

There is no registration fee and all onsite logistics will be arranged by TLA.  All delegates will receive training on issues on Monday, February 5 at 7 pm or have the option of an abbreviated overview on Tuesday morning at 8 am. Legislative Day will end with a special reception at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, which will once again exhibit some of the state’s most prized archival documents, including the Travis letter from the Alamo and the Texas Declaration of Independence of 1836.  To register, go to http://www.txla.org/html/legis/legday.html.

III. Issues
Some of the issues that TLA will support include the following:

K-12 Statewide Database Access
Given the State’s termination of Texas Library Connection in 2003 and the strong momentum built last session for the State Library to facilitate school database access, school libraries need to move toward state support for database costs. The library community will work toward establishing funding for statewide K-12 databases through TSLAC and/or TEA.

TEXSHARE
Given the growing demands of TexShare users and the need to continually grow the program, TLA will request additional funds.

Direct Aid to Public Libraries
All state agencies were required to submit base budget proposals for the 2008-2009 fiscal years at 90% of their current state funding budget level.  As a result, almost $1.3 million per year was cut from the direct aid program (Loan Star Libraries).  The library community will support TSLAC’s exceptional item request of $11.6 million per year for direct aid.

State Library Sunset
The Texas Sunset Advisory Commission staff has recommended the reauthorization of the agency. It also recommended action concerning the Systems formula, competitive grants, county librarian certification, and digitization projects. TLA will support the reauthorization of the agency and monitor reauthorization bill.

Public Library District Legislation
Sales tax-based library districts and property-tax based district representatives are seeking clarification to current statutes. TLA will monitor and support improvements to library district legislation.