GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1993

S	1 

SENATE BILL 1577

Short Title:  School Textbook Law Changes/Funds.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Senator Winner of Mecklenburg.
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Referred to:  Education/Higher Education.
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May 25, 1994

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAWS REGARDING TEXTBOOKS AND OTHER INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS ADOPTED BY THE STATE FOR USE IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THE EVALUATION OF TEXTBOOKS BY THE TEXTBOOK COMMISSION.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  G.S. 115C-85 reads as rewritten:
"§ 115C-85.  Textbook needs are determined by course of study.
When the State Board of Education has adopted, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, a standard course of study at each instructional level in the elementary school and the secondary school, setting forth what subjects shall be taught at each level, it shall proceed to select and adopt textbooks.
As used in this part, 'textbook' means systematically organized material comprehensive enough to cover the primary objectives outlined in the standard course of study for a grade or course.  Formats for textbooks may be print or nonprint, including hardbound books, softbound books, activity-oriented programs, classroom kits, and technology-based programs that require the use of electronic equipment in order to be used in the learning process.
Textbooks adopted in accordance with the provisions of this Part shall be used by the public schools of the State."
Sec. 2.  G.S. 115C-88 reads as rewritten:
"§ 115C-88.  Commission to evaluate textbooks offered for adoption.
The members of the Commission who are teachers, principals or the parent of students shall evaluate all  textbooks offered for adoption.
Each member shall examine carefully and file a written evaluation of each textbook offered for adoption.
The evaluation report shall give special consideration to the suitability of the textbook to the instructional level for which it is offered, the content or subject matter, and other criteria prescribed by the Board.
Each evaluation report shall be signed by the member making the report and filed with the Board not later than a day fixed by the Board when the call for adoption is made."
Sec. 3.  G.S. 115C-99 reads as rewritten:
"§ 115C-99.  Legal custodians of textbooks furnished by State.
Local boards of education are the custodians of all textbooks purchased by the local boards with State funds. They shall provide adequate and safe storage facilities for the proper care of these textbooks and emphasize to all students the necessity for proper care of textbooks."
Sec. 4.  G.S. 115C-100 reads as rewritten:
"§ 115C-100.  Rental fees for textbooks prohibited; damage fees authorized.
No local board of education may charge any pupil a rental fee for the use of textbooks. A pupil's parents or legal guardians may be charged damage fees for abuse or loss of textbooks under rules adopted by the State Board of Education. All money collected from the sale of textbooks purchased with State funds under the provisions of this Part shall be paid annually as collected to the State Board of Education."
Sec. 5. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction the sum of ninety-seven thousand seven hundred ten dollars ($97,710) for the 1994-95 fiscal year for the evaluation of textbooks by the Textbook Commission.
Sec. 6.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1994.