By: Taylor S.B. No. 1453
 
  (Ashby)
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the use of calculator applications in place of graphing
  calculators in public schools.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 25, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 25.904 to read as follows:
         Sec. 25.904.  USE OF CALCULATOR APPLICATION IN PLACE OF
  GRAPHING CALCULATOR. (a)  A school district shall permit a student
  enrolled in a course that requires the student to use a graphing
  calculator to use a calculator application on a computing device,
  including a personal, laptop, or tablet computer, that provides the
  same functionality, unless the district makes available to the
  student a graphing calculator at no cost to the student.
         (b)  A school district may adopt policies related to student
  use of a computing device under this section.
         (c)  To the extent this section conflicts with Section
  37.082, this section prevails.
         SECTION 2.  The Texas Education Agency is required to
  implement a provision of this Act only if the legislature
  appropriates money specifically for that purpose.  If the
  legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that
  purpose, the Texas Education Agency may, but is not required to,
  implement a provision of this Act using other appropriations
  available for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act applies beginning with the 2019-2020
  school year.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2019.