Bill Text: OR HB2649 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to school libraries; declaring an emergency.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)

Status: (Failed) 2011-06-30 - In committee upon adjournment. [HB2649 Detail]

Download: Oregon-2011-HB2649-Introduced.html

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     76th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2011 Regular Session

NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .

LC 2100

                         House Bill 2649

Sponsored by Representative BUCKLEY; Representatives COWAN,
  THOMPSON (Presession filed.)

                             SUMMARY

The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.

  Establishes Task Force on School Libraries. Charges task force
with making evaluations and developing recommendations to provide
quality school libraries.
  Sunsets task force on February 4, 2013.
  Declares emergency, effective on passage.

                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to school libraries; and declaring an emergency.
  Whereas the Seventy-fifth Legislative Assembly recognized the
importance of improving our school libraries by passing House
Bill 2586 during the 2009 legislative session; and
  Whereas data illustrates that strong reading skills are
critical to a successful education and that library instruction
is vital to strong reading skills; and
  Whereas students have rapidly decreasing opportunities for
library and information literacy instruction due to a lack of
funding; and
  Whereas the legislature recognizes the educational deficit
students face as a result of the critical decline in professional
school library programming and the crisis that our school
libraries are facing and is striving for creative solutions to
improve this situation through the creation of a school library
task force; now, therefore,
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1.  { + (1) The Task Force on School Libraries is
established.
  (2) The task force consists of 12 members appointed as follows:
  (a) The President of the Senate shall appoint two members from
among members of the Senate.
  (b) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint
two members from among members of the House of Representatives.
  (c) The Governor shall appoint eight members as follows:
  (A) The State Librarian;
  (B) One member who represents the Oregon University System;
  (C) One member who represents the Department of Education;
  (D) Three members who are selected from a list of nominees
submitted by the Oregon Association of School Libraries and who
represent diverse schools and geographic areas; and

  (E) Two members who are selected from a list of nominees
submitted by the Oregon Library Association and one of whom
represents a public library.
  (3) The task force shall:
  (a) Evaluate the current status of school libraries and library
programs, including staffing, instruction provided and available
materials and equipment;
  (b) Evaluate the best practices for library instruction and
programming based on staffing, funding and available materials
and equipment;
  (c) Develop recommendations to improve school libraries and
library programs based on available resources; and
  (d) Recommend any voluntary strategies designed to increase and
improve school libraries and library programs.
  (4) A majority of the voting members of the task force
constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.
  (5) Official action by the task force requires the approval of
a majority of the voting members of the task force.
  (6) The task force shall elect one of its members to serve as
chairperson and one of its members to serve as secretary.
  (7) If there is a vacancy for any cause, the appointing
authority shall make an appointment to become immediately
effective.
  (8) The task force shall meet at times and places specified by
the call of the chairperson or of a majority of the voting
members of the task force.
  (9) The task force may adopt rules necessary for the operation
of the task force.
  (10) The task force shall submit a report, and may include
recommendations for legislation, to the interim committees of the
Legislative Assembly related to education no later than October
1, 2012.
  (11) The Department of Education shall provide staff support to
the task force.
  (12) Notwithstanding ORS 171.072, members of the task force who
are members of the Legislative Assembly are not entitled to
mileage expenses or a per diem and serve as volunteers on the
task force. Other members of the task force are not entitled to
compensation or reimbursement for expenses and serve as
volunteers on the task force.
  (13) All agencies of state government, as defined in ORS
174.111, are directed to assist the task force in the performance
of its duties and, to the extent permitted by laws relating to
confidentiality, to furnish such information and advice as the
members of the task force consider necessary to perform their
duties. + }
  SECTION 2.  { + Section 1 of this 2011 Act is repealed on
February 4, 2013. + }
  SECTION 3.  { + This 2011 Act being necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency
is declared to exist, and this 2011 Act takes effect on its
passage. + }
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