, 1899-03-04
20.
House Bill No. 3S.
FREE TEXT BOOKS.

i'ouse Dill AN !. DC.
FREE TEXT BOOKS.
An Act to enable District School Boards to provide free text books
for pupils in the public schools of their respective districts.
Be it Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
Section 1. Boards of School Directors in City or Coun-
ty are hereby empowered, and it is made their duty, to pur-
chase all text books necessary for the schools of such City,
Town or District; and they are further authorized to enter
into contract, as hereinafter provided, with the publishers
of such books for a term of years, not to exceed five o.; Pro
vided, that the contract prices for such books shall not ex-
coed the lowest price then granted to any dealer, State,
County, Township, School District, or other individual or
corporation in the United States, to be determined as here
matter provided; And provided further, that such contract
shall guarantee to such districts any futher reduction that
may be granted elsewhere during the life of such contract.
Sec. 2. Before any publisher of school books shall be
under the provisions of this Act he shall file with the State
superintendent of Public Instruction, to be approved by
him, a good and sufficient bond in the sum of two thousand
$4,000 to twenty thousand $2O,OOO) dollars, which amount
shall be fixed by the State Superintendent of Public Instruc-
ton, for the faithful performance of the conditions of such
contracts, and the observance of the requirements of this
Act; and such publisher shall also file with the State Super
intendent of Public Instruction a sworn statement of the
lowest prices for which his series of text books are sold
any where in the United States; and a failure to file such
bond and sworn statement of prices shall be a good and
valid defense on the part of the District against payment
for any books that may be sold by such publisher prior to
the date of filing such bond and sworn statement of prices;
and all such contracts to which such publisher is a party
made subsequent to the passage of this Act and prior to al.
ing such bond and sworn statement of prices shall be null
and void.
Sec. 3. For the purpose of paying for school books the
NShOoi DiotilCl ~ uluN uId al u " Ii IL DlStElCl
Treasurer for the amount of school books ordered.
Sec. 4. The District Treasurer shall pay orders drawn
by School District officers for the purpose of school books
out OF any funds in his hands belonging to the District, ex-
cept the money belonging to the teachers fund.
Sec. 5. Any contract entered into under the provisions
of this. Act with any publisher who shall hereafter become
a party to any combination or trust for the purpose of rails.
ing the price of school text books shall, at the wish of the
School Board of the District using such books, become null
and void.
Sec. 6. The State superintendent t of Public Instruction
shall, within thirty (3O) days after the filing of the hereinbe.
fore mentioned sworn statement of DricpS Of fpyt hooks
have the same printed and forward a sufficient number of
certified copies of the same to each of the County Superin-
tendents of the State to furnish all the School Districts of
such County with one copy each; and the County Superin-
tendent shall Immediately after receiving said certified cop
les of prices of books send or deliver one of such certified
copies to the Directors or Secretary of each School District
or Board of Education in such County, to be filed as a part
of the records of such District; and he shall also file one of
said certified copies OF prices in his office as a part of the
records of said Office.
Sec. Z. 1t shall be the duty of the State Superintendent
of Public Instruction to prepare and have printed a form OF
contract between District Boards and publishers of school
books, and to furnish the SAME, through the County Super
intendent, to the several District Boards of the State; and
no other form of contract shall be used by such District
Boards and publishers in carrying out the provisions of this
Act.
Sec. 8. Upon the filing of a written complaint with the
State. superintendent of Public Instruction by the officers
of any District Board, charging any publisher with violating
the conditions of such contract as hereinbefore mentioned,
the Attorney General is hereby instructed, and it shall be
his duty, to investigate the same and if he finds probable
cause for action he shall Immediately begin proceedings in
the name OF the State to enforce the liability on the bond
herenbefore mentioned.
Sec. D. All books purchased by District Boards, as
hereinbefOre mentioned, shall be held as the property of the
District and loaned to pupils of the school while pursuing a
course of study therein, free Of charge; but the District
Boards shall hold such pupils responsible for any damage
to, loss of, or failure to return such books at the time and to
the person that may be designated by the Board of such
District.
Sec. 10. The provisions of this Act shall include all
school supplies; Provided, that nothing in this Act shall be
construed to prohibit any pupil or parent from purchasing
from the Board such books as may be necessary, at cost to
the District; Provided further, that the Board may desig-
nate some local dealer to handle books for the District with
such an increase above contract price to pay cost Of trans.
portation and handling, as may be agreed upon between said
Board and said dealer.
Sec. II. The books to be purchased under the provis-
ions of this Act shall be paid for by the Directors of the diff
ferent School Districts of the State out of the Public School
Land Income Fund when the same shall be distributed to
such Districts annually, under the provisions of Chapter SO
Of the Session Laws Of 1895.
Sec. r. This Act shall take effect and be in force from
and after its passage.
Approved February 1sth, "A. D. 1899.