10-R375
2010 -- S 2822
Enacted 06/25/10
J O I N T R E S
O L U T I O N
CREATING A
SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE PURCHASE AND USE OF TEXTBOOKS IN
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Introduced
By: Senators E O`Neill, Gallo,
Date Introduced: April 29, 2010
WHEREAS, The purchase of textbooks is a cost which has been rapidly
accelerating; and
WHEREAS, The increased use and accessibility of computers suggest
that a paperless/no
textbook school may be a possibility in the foreseeable
future; and
WHEREAS, It will be important to determine in what disciplines and in
what ways this
trend should be encouraged; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED,
That a special legislative commission to be known as
the “Special
Legislative Commission to
Study the Purchase and Use of Textbooks in Public Schools,” be and
the same is hereby created consisting of fifteen (15)
members: three (3) of whom shall be
members of the House of Representatives, not more than two
(2) from the same political party, to
be appointed by the Speaker of the House; three (3) of
whom shall be members of the Senate, not
more than two (2) from the same political party, to be
appointed by the President of the Senate;
one of whom shall be the Commissioner of Elementary and
Secondary Education, or designee;
one of whom shall be the President of the RI Association
of School Superintendents, or designee;
one of whom shall be the President of the RI Association
of School Committees, or designee; one
of whom shall be the President of the National Education
Association (RI), or designee; one of
whom shall be the President of the American Federation of Teachers
(RI), or designee; and four
(4) of
whom shall be citizens of
of the House, and two (2) of whom shall be appointed by
the President of the Senate.
In
lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory
commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission
created by a General Assembly
resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the
general public to serve in lieu
of a legislator, provided that the majority leader or
the minority leader of the political party which
is entitled to the appointment consent to the member of
the general public.
The
purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study of the use of
textbooks in the public schools, and in particular the
following:
(1)
The use and exploitation of electronic media in the classroom, and specifically
to
explore the possible advantages and disadvantages of the
“paperless classroom”, so-called, and
the possible cost savings arising therefrom.
(2)
The list of textbooks in use in the public schools as published by the
commissioner of
education, and whether that list should be expanded to cover
all subjects and should specify a
limited number of options per grade.
(3)
The procurement process, and whether the procurement and distribution of
textbooks
should be a centralized function under the department of
education.
Forthwith
upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at
the call of the Speaker of the House and organize and
shall select a chairperson from among the
legislators. Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like
manner as the original
appointment.
The
membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.
All
departments and agencies of the state, shall furnish such advice and
information,
documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as
is deemed necessary or
desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this
resolution.
The
Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to
provide
suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That the commission shall report its findings and
recommendations to the
General Assembly no later
than March 5, 2011, and said commission shall expire on May 5,
2011.
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LC02410
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