(a) On or before December 1, 2007, in order to coordinate the distribution of instructional materials to blind and other print disabled students, the Maryland Library for the Blind and Print Disabled shall convene an Instructional Materials Access Guidelines Committee. (b) The Committee consists of: (1) The Secretary of Higher Education, or the Secretary's designee; (2) The Secretary of Disabilities, or the Secretary's designee; (3) The State Superintendent, or the State Superintendent's designee; and (4) The following 14 members appointed by the Governor: (i) One member representing the Library; (ii) Five members representing publishers of textbooks used in higher education who may include representatives of the Association of American Publishers; (iii) Three members, one representing each of the following institutions of higher education: 1. The University System of Maryland; 2. A community college; and 3. A 4-year private nonprofit institution of higher education; (iv) Two representatives who have knowledge regarding accessible formats for blind and other print disabled individuals; (v) One representative of the student population at institutions of higher education in the State who is blind or print disabled; and (vi) Two members from Maryland organizations representing blind or other persons with print disabilities. (c) At least two of the members of the Committee, in addition to the student member, shall be blind or print disabled. (d) The Governor shall designate the Chair of the Committee. (e) (1) A member of the Committee shall serve for a period of 3 years. (2) The Committee shall expire on December 1, 2010. (f) The Department, the Department of Disabilities, and the Maryland Higher Education Commission shall provide staff for the Committee. (g) (1) The Committee shall: (i) Assist the Library in establishing guidelines to facilitate the delivery of instructional materials to blind and print disabled students at institutions of higher education in the State; (ii) Review the guidelines established under item (i) of this paragraph each year; and (iii) Assist the Library in revising the guidelines as necessary based on changes in technology or any other pertinent factors. (2) The guidelines shall include: (i) A method by which a course instructor, in consultation with the individual at the Library or institution designated to make the request for materials under this subtitle, designates which course materials are considered required or essential to student success; (ii) A determination of the availability of technology for the conversion of mathematics and science materials; (iii) The procedures and standards relating to distribution of files and materials; (iv) Available electronic formats; (v) A list of justifications for which a publisher may reasonably be exempted from complying with the provisions of this subtitle; (vi) Procedures for granting a publisher an exemption when it is determined that a publisher is unable to comply with the requirements of this subtitle for a justifiable reason included in the list required under item (v) of this paragraph; (vii) A requirement that the review of the future recommendations of the Alternative Formats Solutions Initiative of the Association of American Publishers determine whether to recommend the incorporation of these recommendations into the guidelines; and (viii) Any other information the Committee determines to be relevant.
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