2014 -- H 7832

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - TEXTBOOKS

     Introduced By: Representatives Tanzi, Finn, Walsh, and Ajello

     Date Introduced: March 04, 2014

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 16-23-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-23 entitled "Textbooks"

is hereby amended to read as follows:

     16-23-2. Loan of textbooks. -- (a) The school committee of every community as it is

defined in section 16-7-16 shall furnish upon request, at the expense of the community, textbooks

to all public school students in grades K-12 in the fields of mathematics, science, modern foreign

languages, English/language arts and history/social studies, appearing on the list of textbooks

published by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education as provided in section 16-

23-3, to all public school pupils of elementary and secondary school grades resident in the

community, the textbooks to be loaned to the pupils free of charge, subject to any rules and

regulations as to care and custody that the school committee may prescribe. For loan purposes,

non-public schools may not change a textbook assignment in a field more often than once in a

three (3) year period as required of public schools in accordance with the provisions of section

16-23-1. Nothing in this section shall be construed as forbidding non-public schools from

requiring the use of any textbook, consistent with the provisions of this chapter, that does not

adhere to said limitation, provided that the textbook is furnished to the student through a means

other than the school committee of the student's city or town of residence.

     (b) The school committee of every community, as defined in § 16-7-16 shall furnish upon

request, at the expense of the community, textbooks to all private school students in grades K-12

in the fields of mathematics, science, world languages, English/language arts, and history/social

studies, in accordance with § 16-23-3 to all elementary and secondary pupil residents of the

community.

     (1) Private schools shall pay for and receive all books directly and may seek

reimbursement from the public school district with accompanying proof of enrollment.

     (2) As of September 15 of each school year, each private school shall present the public

school district of each student of residence a bill for payment for reimbursement for textbooks

purchased and shall be reimbursed at a rate no more than a per pupil expenditure rate of fifty

dollars ($50.00).

      (b)(c) Every school committee shall also furnish at the expense of the community all

other textbooks and school supplies used in the public schools of the community, the other

textbooks and supplies to be loaned to the pupils of the public schools free of charge, subject to

any rules and regulations as to care and custody that the school committee may prescribe. School

books removed from school use may be distributed to pupils, and any textbook may become the

property of a pupil who has completed the use of it in school, subject to rules and regulations

prescribed by the school committee.

      (c)(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to forbid requiring or accepting from a

pupil a deposit of a reasonable amount of money as a guaranty for the return of school property

other than the books and supplies required in this section to be loaned free of charge, provided

that the school committee shall make suitable rules and regulations for the safekeeping and return

of deposits; and, provided, further, that in establishing schedules for deposits, the school

committee should include provision for waiver of deposit due to financial hardship.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - TEXTBOOKS

***

     This act would require private schools to purchase and pay for books directly, and to seek

reimbursement from the school committee in an amount up to fifty dollars ($50.00) per pupil.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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