By: Maldonado, Strama H.B. No. 1332
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to responsibility for public school textbooks and
technological equipment and to failure by students to return
textbooks or technological equipment.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 31.104(d), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(d) Each student, or the student's parent or guardian, is
responsible for each textbook, including an electronic textbook,
and all technological equipment not returned in an acceptable
condition by the student. A student who fails to return in an
acceptable condition all textbooks, including electronic
textbooks, and technological equipment forfeits the right to free
textbooks, including electronic textbooks, and technological
equipment until each textbook, including an electronic textbook,
and all technological equipment previously issued but not returned
in an acceptable condition is paid for by the student, parent, or
guardian. As provided by policy of the board of trustees or
governing body, a school district or open-enrollment charter school
may waive or reduce the payment requirement if the student is from a
low-income family. The district or school shall allow the student
to use textbooks, including electronic textbooks, and
technological equipment at school during each school day. If a
textbook, including an electronic textbook, or technological
equipment is not returned in an acceptable condition or paid for,
the district or school may withhold the student's records. A
district or school may not, under this subsection, prevent a
student from graduating, participating in a graduation ceremony, or
receiving a diploma. The commissioner by rule shall adopt criteria
for determining whether a textbook, including an electronic
textbook, and technological equipment are returned in an acceptable
condition.
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2009-2010
school year.
SECTION 3. 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, 2009.