1872                                      JOINT RESOLUTIONS

WHEREAS, The General Assembly of Maryland in 1966 established a program
of Educational Television, the major intent and thrust of which was for the
purpose of providing instruction through this media in the classrooms of the
elementary and secondary schools of the State.

In keeping with this intent, the law was codified as Section 161 of Article 77,
the Article that deals exclusively with elementary and secondary education.

Local school systems throughout the State have invested considerable public
funds in wiring and equipping their schools for the reception and utilization of
instructional programs prepared and broadcast by the Division of Instructional
Television of the State Department of Education.

The Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission sponsors two basic programs:
(1) instructional educational television for which the State Board of Education has
sole responsibility and control, and (2) programs for the general public for which
the Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission has full responsibility and control,
subject to the provisions established for instructional television in the schools.

Notwithstanding that Section 161 of Article 77 specifically states that the State
Board of Education shall have priority as to scheduling of television and radio
programs during school hours, the administrative leadership of the Maryland
Public Broadcasting Commission has relegated instructional television to a low
priority in the total operations of the Commission and is further attempting to
limit its scheduling to a total time less than intended and established in the law.

Such a scheduling limitation will restrict the utilization of instructional
television programs in many elementary and secondary schools in the State, a
program that has been guaranteed by both the intent and provisions of Section 161
of Article 77; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the
Legislative Council request the Joint Budget and Audit Committee to review the
provisions of Section 161 of Article 77 of the Public School Laws (Public
Broadcasting Commission) and the joint operations and relationships of the
Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission with the Division of Instructional
Television of the Maryland State Department of Education, with respect to, but
not limited to, such problems as areas of responsibility, production responsibilities,
scheduling responsibilities, budgeting, staffing, and utilization of personnel; and
that the Joint Budget and Audit Committee be requested to report its findings and
recommendations to the Legislative Council, for transmittal to the General
Assembly, by October 1, 1973; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be sent to the members of the
Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission and the Maryland State Board of
Education and to the Secretary of the Legislative Council.

Approved May 21, 1973.