Senate Bill No. 386–Senators Porter, Carlton,
O’Donnell and Washington

 

March 19, 2001

____________

 

Referred to Committee on Finance

 

SUMMARY—Requires certain school districts to use electronic textbooks to extent practicable. (BDR 34‑1099)

 

FISCAL NOTE:            Effect on Local Government: No.

                                    Effect on the State: Contains Appropriation not included in Executive Budget.

 

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

 

AN ACT relating to education; requiring certain school districts to use electronic textbooks to the extent practicable; making an appropriation; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

1-1    Section 1. Chapter 390 of NRS is hereby amended by adding thereto a

1-2  new section to read as follows:

1-3    1.  The board of trustees of a school district in a county whose

1-4  population is 400,000 or more shall, to the extent practicable, cause

1-5  electronic textbooks to be used in the public schools of that school

1-6  district, excluding charter schools.

1-7    2.  In carrying out the provisions of subsection 1, the board of

1-8  trustees shall ensure that electronic textbooks are made available to the

1-9  public schools of the school district, excluding charter schools, in a

1-10  manner that is equitable.

1-11    Sec. 2.  NRS 390.005 is hereby amended to read as follows:

1-12    390.005  As used in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise:

1-13    1.  “Basic textbook” or “textbook” means any medium or manual of

1-14  instruction, including, without limitation, [software for computers,

1-15  containing] electronic textbooks, that contains a presentation of the

1-16  principles of a subject and is used as a basis of instruction.

1-17    2.  “Electronic textbook” means any electronic medium pursuant to

1-18  which information is conveyed to a pupil or that otherwise contributes to

1-19  the learning process, including, without limitation:

1-20    (a) Computers, whether stationary or portable, and the hardware and

1-21  software necessary for the operation of those computers;

2-1    (b) Interactive videodiscs or other optical discs;

2-2    (c) Magnetic media, including, without limitation, computer discs,

2-3  audiotape and videotape; and

2-4    (d) Services pursuant to which a subscriber may access the Internet or

2-5  use an electronic mail address, or both.

2-6    3.  “Supplemental textbook” means any medium or material, including,

2-7  without limitation, [software for computers,] electronic textbooks, used to

2-8  reinforce or extend a basic program of instruction.

2-9    [3.] 4.  A basic or supplemental textbook , other than an electronic

2-10  textbook, becomes “unserviceable” when 4 years have elapsed since its

2-11  removal from the adopted list.

2-12    Sec. 3.  1.  There is hereby appropriated from the state general fund

2-13  to the Clark County School District the sum of $200,000 for costs related

2-14  to implementing a pilot project to carry out the provisions of this act.

2-15    2.  Any remaining balance of the appropriation made by subsection 1

2-16  must not be committed for expenditure after June 30, 2003, and reverts to

2-17  the state general fund as soon as all payments of money committed have

2-18  been made.

2-19    Sec. 4.  This act becomes effective upon passage and approval.

 

2-20  H