SLS 19RS-205 ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 52
BY SENATOR MORRISH
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
BESE. Provides relative to the review of textbooks and other instructional materials.
(gov sig)
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 17:351.1(C)(3)(a) and to enact R.S. 17:351.1(F), relative to
3 textbooks and other instructional materials; to provide relative to the review of
4 textbooks and other instructional materials; to provide relative to eligibility of
5 reviewed textbooks and other instructional materials for certain funding; and to
6 provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 17:351.1(C)(3)(a) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S.
9 17:351.1(F) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
10 ยง351.1. Textbooks and other instructional materials; review; adoption;
11 procurement; distribution
12 A. * * *
13 C.(1) * * *
14 (3)(a) For the adoption of textbooks and other instructional materials that
15 have not been reviewed by the state Department of Education pursuant to this
16 Section, such policies and regulations shall provide for the establishment of review:
17 (i) Review committees composed of classroom teachers and other educators,
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 52
SLS 19RS-205 ORIGINAL
1 all of whom shall be employees of Louisiana public schools, parents of students
2 enrolled in Louisiana public schools, and other educational stakeholders in Louisiana
3 who have interest in or knowledge of curriculum and the subject matter under
4 consideration.
5 (ii) Evaluation criteria and procedures by which review committees shall
6 determine the extent to which textbooks and other instructional materials
7 submitted for review align with state content standards.
8 * * *
9 F. Textbooks and other instructional materials that have not been
10 reviewed by the state department pursuant to the provisions of this Section but
11 have been reviewed by a public school governing authority and determined to
12 be aligned with state content standards shall be given equal weight by the
13 department in all matters, including determination of eligibility for federal or
14 state funding.
15 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
16 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
17 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
18 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
19 effective on the day following such approval.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Cheryl Serrett.
DIGEST
SB 52 Original 2019 Regular Session Morrish
Present law requires the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) to
prescribe a process for the review, adoption, procurement, and distribution of free textbooks
and other instructional materials used at the elementary and secondary level. Further requires
BESE to establish a process whereby the state Department of Education (DOE) shall review
textbooks and other instructional materials in the core subject areas and determine the degree
to which each aligns with state content standards.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law requires each public school governing authority to adopt policies and regulations
for the adoption and use of textbooks and other instructional materials and the establishment
of review committees to review textbooks and other instructional materials that have not
been reviewed by DOE.
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 52
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Proposed law retains present law and additionally requires that the policies and regulations
adopted by a public school governing authority establish evaluation criteria and procedures
by which the review committees shall determine the extent to which textbooks and other
instructional materials submitted for review align with state content standards.
Proposed law requires textbooks and other instructional materials that have not been
reviewed by DOE but have been reviewed by a public school governing authority and
deemed aligned with state content standards be given equal weight by DOE in all matters,
including determination of eligibility for federal or state funding.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 17:351.1(C)(3)(a); adds R.S. 17: 351.1(F))
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.