HB212 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Barbara Bigsby BoydRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Public Schools, K-12, textbooks, education department required to provide textbooks that are less than five years old, Sec. 16-36-70 am'd

Summary

HB212 would require the State Department of Education to provide public K–12 textbooks that are no more than five years old to students within the first 10 days of each semester, beginning with the 2013-2014 school year.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the bill would require the Department to ensure all public school students receive adequate, current textbooks (less than five years old) within the first 10 days of every semester. It also requires textbooks to be in suitable condition, and when issued under existing rules, students would have their own copy of the correct edition and may take it home for home study. The bill notes that while it would involve local funding, it is exempt from local-approval and 2/3 voting requirements because it falls under constitutional exceptions, and expenditures would be made by school boards.

Who It Affects

• Public K-12 students and their families in Alabama would receive up-to-date textbooks within 10 days of each semester, have a personal copy, and be responsible for caring for the books.
• School districts, the State Department of Education, and local education entities would be responsible for providing current textbooks and instructional materials, and local funding would be involved but approval requirements are bypassed under the constitutional exceptions.

Key Provisions

• Requires the Department to provide within the first 10 days of a semester textbooks that are less than 5 years old, starting with the 2013-2014 school year.
• If textbooks are issued under Section 16-36-69, each student shall have their own copy of the issued textbook of the correct edition and may take it home for the entire school year or portion thereof.
• Textbooks and other instructional materials (including library books, science equipment, furniture, audiovisual equipment, etc.) must be provided in adequate form and quantity, so teachers do not have to pay out of pocket.
• The bill acknowledges a local-funding impact but states it is exempt from Amendment 621 requirements because expenditures are by a school board, and Section 2 confirms this exemption.
• Effective date: the act becomes law on the first day of the third month after its passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education