Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, January 23, 1993 TAG: 9301250240
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ELIZABETH THIEL STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
FREE-BOOK BILL ADVANCES
A bill that would force the state's school systems to offer their students free textbooks by 1994 squeaked by the House Appropriations Committee Friday, 11-8.Committee Chairman Robert Ball, D-Richmond, said the vote would "send a message that we want children to have free textbooks" instead of having to rent them from their schools.
But the measure is expected to face tough going on the House floor.
Some legislators are concerned that the mandate, which may require localities to bear some of the $2.4 million cost of providing free textbooks everywhere, would pose a financial hardship for the state's poor school systems. Lawmakers also worry that the spending requirement would worsen disparities between rich and poor districts.
But Ball said that if the measure passes, legislators drawing up a new state budget next year would consider having the state pick up most or all of the tab.
"The [students] who can't afford it get free textbooks now," he said. "We're trying to get free textbooks for all the kids."
As of the beginning of this school year, 29 of the state's 138 school systems, including Virginia Beach, offered free textbooks to all students. Sixteen districts provide free books to some grades. Among them were Norfolk, which asks no book fee for kindergarten through eighth grade, and Portsmouth, which provides free texts for kindergarteners.
\ AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FRIDAY\ \ GUN PACKAGE The House gave preliminary approval to a bill that would prohibit gun purchases until age 29 of juveniles convicted of a crime that would have been a felony had they been adults.\ \ LOCAL GOVERNMENT The Senate passed a bill to permit Newport News to require that the heads of local government departments live within the city.\ \ RESCUE SQUADS The Senate passed a bill to allow the city of Virginia Beach and local rescue squads to charge a person up to $1,000 for rescue services if he caused a car, boat, train, watercraft or aircraft accident while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.\ \ CAMPAIGN FINANCE The Senate passed a bill that would require political party organizations in Virginia's larger cities and counties to report contributions and expenditures exceeding $100. Only state party organizations are now required to report.
The Senate passed bills to stiffen campaign finance disclosure requirements for all contributions of more than $100.
\ ABORTION Both houses heard speeches by legislators on both sides of the abortion issue on the 20th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion.
Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1993