As Amended
SEC. 37-23-201. Advisory committee.
(1) Before August 1, 1995, the State Board of Education shall appoint an advisory committee to expedite the implementation of this article. The committee shall be composed of no more than twelve (12) persons nominated by the State Superintendent of Education from within or outside of the state, including, but not limited to, representatives of the following groups:
(a) The National Federation of the Blind;
(b) The Mississippi Council of the Blind;
(c) A parent or guardian of a blind student;
(d) The Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities;
(e) Producers of Braille textbooks;
(f) Specialists in Braille education;
(g) Employees of the State Department of Education;
(h) Publishers of elementary and high school textbooks; and
(i) Consumers, or an advocate of consumers, of Braille materials.
(2) The State Superintendent of Education shall appoint a chairperson from among the members of the committee. The committee shall meet upon the call of the Superintendent, and its functions shall be purely advisory in nature and effect. Members of the committee shall receive no compensation or per diem, but each member shall be entitled to reimbursement for all actual and necessary expenses incurred by his participation in the committee's activities.
(3) The committee shall perform the following duties:
(a) Consult with textbook publishers on the development of processes for converting formatted text files to ASCII text files needed for the production of Braille textbooks with translation software;
(b) Survey ongoing efforts in Mississippi and elsewhere to develop computer software needed for automated conversion of publisher text files to the ASCII format and recommend additional software development projects, if needed. If additional development efforts are needed, the committee shall consult with publishers and software developers to prioritize typesetting system conversion efforts;
(c) Study the feasibility of implementing a process by which textbook publishers can transmit computerized textbook ASCII data files through modem communication directly to the computers of organizations producing Braille textbook masters; and
(d) Study any other issues that the committee determines are relevant and necessary to the implementation of the act.
(4) Before January 5, 1996, the State Superintendent of Education and the State Board of Education shall report the committee's findings and a summary of its activities to the Legislature regarding the procedures for printing Braille textbooks, the development of competencies for teachers and student assessment. After the report is submitted, the committee shall be dissolved.
SOURCES: Laws, 1995, ch. 571, Sec. 6, eff from and after July 1, 1995