Bill Text: TX HB3586 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the creation of the Accessible Learning Materials Council.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-03-20 - Referred to Public Education [HB3586 Detail]
Download: Texas-2013-HB3586-Introduced.html
83R10120 JSL-F | ||
By: Strama | H.B. No. 3586 |
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relating to the creation of the Accessible Learning Materials | ||
Council. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subtitle F, Title 2, Education Code, is amended | ||
by adding Chapter 31A to read as follows: | ||
CHAPTER 31A. ACCESSIBLE LEARNING MATERIALS COUNCIL | ||
Sec. 31A.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: | ||
(1) "Accessible learning materials" means educational | ||
materials for instruction and testing that are designed or | ||
converted in a way that makes them usable across the widest range of | ||
student variability in various formats, including print, digital, | ||
graphic, audio, and video materials. | ||
(2) "Council" means the Accessible Learning Materials | ||
Council. | ||
Sec. 31A.002. ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSES. The Accessible | ||
Learning Materials Council is established to: | ||
(1) study issues related to improving the academic | ||
success of students with disabilities using accessible learning | ||
materials for instruction and accommodations on an assessment | ||
instrument that will allow use of assistive technology devices or | ||
software; | ||
(2) make recommendations to change existing | ||
requirements, law, rules, or policies to require that assistive | ||
technology and accessible learning materials be available for | ||
instruction and use in the administration of assessment | ||
instruments; | ||
(3) produce biennial reports on the status of | ||
providing accessible learning materials for public school students | ||
with disabilities, including accommodations used in the | ||
administration of assessment instruments; and | ||
(4) establish accessibility and procurement standards | ||
to provide accessible learning materials for students with | ||
disabilities that are as effective as materials and assessment | ||
instruments provided to students without disabilities. | ||
Sec. 31A.003. SUNSET PROVISION. The council is subject to | ||
Chapter 325, Government Code. Unless continued in existence as | ||
provided by that chapter, the council is abolished and this chapter | ||
expires September 1, 2017. | ||
Sec. 31A.004. COMPOSITION. The council is composed of 15 | ||
members appointed by the commissioner as follows: | ||
(1) one agency representative responsible for council | ||
duties related to assessment instruments; | ||
(2) one agency representative responsible for council | ||
duties related to curriculum; | ||
(3) one agency representative responsible for council | ||
duties related to special education services; | ||
(4) one member of the State Board of Education; | ||
(5) two teachers from rural school districts who: | ||
(A) have experience teaching students with | ||
disabilities; and | ||
(B) are certified under Subchapter B, Chapter 21, | ||
in special education or hold a technology applications certificate | ||
issued under Subchapter B, Chapter 21; | ||
(6) two teachers from urban school districts who: | ||
(A) have experience teaching students with | ||
disabilities; and | ||
(B) are certified under Subchapter B, Chapter 21, | ||
in special education or hold a technology applications certificate | ||
issued under Subchapter B, Chapter 21; | ||
(7) the statewide accessibility coordinator of the | ||
Department of Information Resources; | ||
(8) one member of a nonprofit organization whose | ||
primary mission relates to accessible electronic information | ||
resources; | ||
(9) two parents of students with disabilities who have | ||
experience relating to the use of accessible learning materials; | ||
(10) one assistive technology professional who is | ||
certified by the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive | ||
Technology Society of North America; | ||
(11) one electronic information resources | ||
accessibility specialist who is proficient in current technology | ||
and current accessible design standards; and | ||
(12) one curriculum specialist from a public school | ||
who has knowledge of universal design for learning. | ||
Sec. 31A.005. MEETINGS. (a) The council shall meet in | ||
person at least three times each year and may hold additional | ||
meetings by conference call as necessary. | ||
(b) Section 551.125, Government Code, applies to a meeting | ||
held by conference call under this section, except that Section | ||
551.125(b) does not apply. | ||
Sec. 31A.006. COMPENSATION. A member of the council may not | ||
receive compensation for service on the council. | ||
Sec. 31A.007. DUTIES. (a) The council shall: | ||
(1) study issues related to the procurement and | ||
delivery of equally effective accessible learning materials and | ||
assessment instruments for public school students; | ||
(2) study current research and best practices related | ||
to accessible learning materials and assessment instruments for | ||
public school students; | ||
(3) analyze the availability of accessible learning | ||
materials and assessment instruments and the unmet needs of | ||
students with disabilities; and | ||
(4) perform other duties consistent with this chapter. | ||
(b) In carrying out the council's duties under this section, | ||
the council may request reports and other information related to | ||
accessible learning materials and assessment instruments from the | ||
agency and any other state agency. | ||
Sec. 31A.008. STATEWIDE ACCESSIBLE LEARNING MATERIALS | ||
PLAN; REPORT. (a) The council shall develop a comprehensive | ||
statewide action plan for the provision of equally effective | ||
accessible learning materials and assessment instruments for | ||
public school students in this state, including a timeline for | ||
implementation of the plan. | ||
(b) Not later than November 1 of each even-numbered year, | ||
the council shall submit to each house of the legislature, the | ||
governor, and the agency a written report concerning: | ||
(1) the status of the development or implementation of | ||
the council's statewide plan, as applicable; | ||
(2) any action taken toward further development or | ||
implementation of the plan; | ||
(3) any area that needs improvement in implementing | ||
the plan; | ||
(4) any recommended change to the plan; and | ||
(5) programs and services that address accessible | ||
learning materials and assessment instruments. | ||
Sec. 31A.009. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. The agency may | ||
accept on behalf of the council a gift, grant, or donation from any | ||
source to carry out the purpose of this chapter. | ||
SECTION 2. Not later than December 31, 2013, the | ||
commissioner of education shall appoint the members of the | ||
Accessible Learning Materials Council in accordance with Section | ||
31A.004, Education Code, as added by this Act. | ||
SECTION 3. Not later than November 1, 2014, the Accessible | ||
Learning Materials Council shall submit the initial report required | ||
under Section 31A.008, Education Code, as added by this Act. | ||
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives | ||
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as | ||
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this | ||
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this | ||
Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |