Bill Text: MO HB559 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Changes the laws regarding accessible electronic text material use in elementary and secondary schools
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-02-24 - Referred: Elementary and Secondary Education (H) [HB559 Detail]
Download: Missouri-2011-HB559-Introduced.html
FIRST REGULAR SESSION
96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE GRISAMORE.
0618L.01I D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To repeal section 170.132, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to electronic texts.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Section 170.132, RSMo, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 170.132, to read as follows:
170.132. 1. As used in this section, the following terms mean:
(1) "Accessible electronic text", digital text that can be read with text-to-speech systems; modified with regard to font size; navigated by chapter, section, and page number; that includes alternative text and long descriptions for images when appropriate; and has content order, levels, and headings determined by publisher tagging;
(2) "Missouri assistive technology advisory council", the body which directs the Missouri assistive technology program under sections 191.850 to 191.867;
(3) "Print instructional materials", printed textbooks and related printed core materials that are written and published primarily for use in elementary, secondary, or post-secondary instruction and are required by the purchasing school for use by students in the classroom;
(4) "Specialized formats", Braille, large print, digital audio, and accessible electronic text when used by students with disabilities who are unable to use standard print;
(5) "Undue burden", significant difficulty or expense.
2. All public elementary[,] and secondary [and postsecondary] schools shall [preferentially] procure [educational] print instructional materials[, including textbooks and collateral materials,] from vendors who make the materials available [in either Braille format or electronic format which is computer-readable in a form approved by the department of elementary and secondary education, or both, at no greater cost than for regular materials] for purchase in accessible electronic text when the materials meet curricular needs and an undue burden is not imposed.
3. All public elementary, secondary, and post-secondary schools have the right to transcribe, render, reproduce, and distribute print instructional materials in specialized formats solely for use by students with disabilities who are entitled to such formats under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (20 U.S.C. 794).
4. The Missouri assistive technology council shall no less than annually:
(1) Identify and approve currently available accessible electronic text formats;
(2) Identify vendors who make print instructional materials available for purchase in accessible electronic format and other specialized formats; and
(3) Disseminate information about such vendors to public elementary and secondary schools to support purchasing decisions.
5. Nothing in this section relieves a school of any applicable requirement of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act with regard to access to or purchase of print instructional materials.
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