HBA-TBM H.B. 992 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 992
By: Hochberg
Public Education
3/5/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law states that any textbook publisher or manufacturer furnishing
books to Texas schools must have a book depository within the state, a
requirement meant to ensure a ready supply of textbooks for the state. In
some cases the distance between the publisher and the depository is greater
than that between the publisher and many districts.  Since close proximity
to textbooks is the basis of the depository requirement, exempting
publishers that have home offices near Texas can achieve the same result.
House Bill 992 authorizes a publisher or manufacturer of textbooks whose
home office is within 300 miles of the state border to sell textbooks
without a book depository within the state.   

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 992 amends the Education Code to require a publisher or
manufacturer of textbooks to maintain a depository in this state or arrange
with a depository in this state to receive and fill orders for books only
if the publisher's or manufacturer's home office is located more than 300
miles from a border of this state. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.