Textbook purchases; permits local school boards to enter into contracts with publishers. (SB356)

Introduced By

Sen. John Watkins (R-Midlothian)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Textbook purchasing contracts. Permits local school boards to enter into contracts with publishers for the purchase of textbooks. The bill expands the definition of textbook to include print, electronic, online, and other manipulatives-based programs. The bill reorganizes the textbook purchasing process and repeals several sections of outdated code. Also provides that if consumable materials are sold to students, the local school board must provide those materials at a reduced price, or free of charge, to students who are unable to afford them. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Passed

History

DateAction
01/08/2008Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/09/08 085662348
01/08/2008Referred to Committee on Education and Health
01/16/2008Assigned Education sub: Public Education
01/21/2008Impact statement from DPB (SB356)
01/24/2008Reported from Education and Health with substitute (15-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
01/24/2008Committee substitute printed 084085348-S1
01/25/2008Constitutional reading dispensed (37-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
01/28/2008Read second time
01/28/2008Reading of substitute waived
01/28/2008Committee substitute agreed to 084085348-S1
01/28/2008Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB356S1
01/29/2008Impact statement from DPB (SB356S1)
01/29/2008Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
01/29/2008Communicated to House
02/12/2008Placed on Calendar
02/12/2008Read first time
02/12/2008Referred to Committee on Education
02/25/2008Reported from Education with amendments (21-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/26/2008Read second time
02/27/2008Read third time
02/27/2008Committee amendments agreed to
02/27/2008Engrossed by House as amended
02/27/2008Passed House with amendments BLOCK VOTE (97-Y 0-N)
02/27/2008VOTE: BLOCK VOTE PASSAGE (97-Y 0-N)
02/29/2008Passed by for the day
03/03/2008House amendments agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N)
03/04/2008Enrolled
03/04/2008Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB356ER)
03/05/2008Impact statement from DPB (SB356ER)
03/05/2008Signed by Speaker
03/06/2008Signed by President
03/12/2008G Approved by Governor-Chapter 615 (effective 7/1/08)
03/18/2008G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0615)

Duplicate Bills

The following bills are identical to this one: HB137.

Comments

Marsha Maines writes:

any 'why' don't we just provide $100 laptops in the classroom with 'downloadable' courses from various publishers to better educate the kids like other states? besides, TEXTBOOKS depend on cutting down trees, processing tons of paper, marketing, distribution, and then are outdated within a couple of years - UNLESS it's a mathematics book, or history book - all the others change all the time, costing a Fortune that does NOT need to be spent.
There's a better way to educate - and it's ALOT cheaper and encourages learning...it's called a laptop and internet access for everything 'other' than the 3 R's.

Mark Burnet writes:

Good point Marsha, This bill is a step in that direction, allowing for the first time an all electronic version of the book to be purchased with textbook funds. Other steps will include purchasing of courses and vetted content materials to supplement instruction. My question is: Why does the VEA oppose this bill?

Marsha Maines writes:

'why' the VEA opposes - probably because they dissapprove of the 'limitless' education one could receive by utilizing their own brain instead of depending on some educrat's opinion of 'what material' is deemed worthy to allow a student to see. Just my guess..I can probably put a sentence together better than most 'MBA's' - because I CHOOSE to educate myself and not buy into the elitist's who "govern education" in this country..

robert legge writes:

VEA no longer opposes this bill, one of their guys in head office tells me.

Virginia ITSP Association, tracking this bill in Photosynthesis, notes:

Supports the GRTC Position on e-Government - Permits local school boards to enter into contracts with publishers for the purchase of textbooks. The bill expands the definition of textbook to include print, electronic, online, and other manipulatives-based programs.

robert legge writes:

So has this bill been changed to HB137H1? But where can one find the text of that bill. Doesn't show up on a RS search.

Waldo Jaquith writes:

The full text is under the "View Full Text" link. Though the bill number of the text of the bill changes with each amendment, the number under which the legislator tracks the bill stays the same.