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HR 490 108th Congress House

Instructional Materials Accessibility Act of 2003

Official title: To improve access to printed instructional materials used by blind or other persons with print disabilities in elementary and secondary schools, and for other purposes.

Introduced: January 29, 2003 See on congress.gov
Education Administrative procedureArts, Culture, ReligionBlindCommerce
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This bill died when the 108th Congress ended
It never became law before the 108th Congress (2003–2004) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 21, 2003
Referred to the Subcommittee on Education Reform.
Jan 29, 2003
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Jan 29, 2003
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E109)
Jan 29, 2003
Introduced in House
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 Latest action February 21, 2003

Referred to the Subcommittee on Education Reform.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
Instructional Materials Accessibility Act of 2003 - Directs Secretary of Education to: (1) develop and publish instructional materials accessibility standards for the national electronic file format to be used by publishers of instructional materials in the preparation of electronic files suitable for efficient conversion into specialized formats; (2) establish a National Instructional Materials Accessibility Advisory Committee to provide technical expertise and guidance in creating such national electronic file format; (3) periodically review and amend such standards to reflect technological advances or changes; and (4) establish a National Instructional Materials Access Center.

Requires State educational agencies, as a condition for receiving Federal financial assistance under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, to develop and implement statewide plans and make contracts with publishers to ensure that instructional materials for classroom use in elementary and secondary schools are made available in specialized formats to individuals who are blind or have other print disabilities at the same time such materials are provided to individuals without such disabilities.

Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to eligible entities to provide or improve their capacity to prepare or obtain instructional materials in specialized formats, including the national electronic format.

Provides for enforcement of rights of children and parents under this Act.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 32
All 32 Democratic 17 Republican 2
D
Sherman, Brad
California · Sep 9, 2004
Vitter, David
· Feb 4, 2004
Majette, Denise
· Apr 11, 2003
BOYD, ALLEN
· Mar 11, 2003
HOEFFEL, JOSEPH
· Mar 11, 2003
 D
Nadler, Jerrold
New York · Mar 11, 2003
 D
McCollum, Betty
Minnesota · Mar 4, 2003
MCCARTHY, KAREN
· Feb 25, 2003
 D
McGovern, James P.
Massachusetts · Feb 25, 2003
 D
Neal, Richard E.
Massachusetts · Feb 25, 2003
 D
Schakowsky, Janice D.
Illinois · Feb 25, 2003
 D
Clyburn, James E.
South Carolina · Feb 13, 2003
 R
Boozman, John
Arkansas · Feb 12, 2003
LIPINSKI, WILLIAM
· Feb 12, 2003
BEREUTER, DOUGLAS
· Feb 11, 2003
FROST, MARTIN
· Feb 11, 2003
Janklow, William
· Feb 11, 2003
NETHERCUTT, GEORGE
· Feb 11, 2003
SANDLIN, MAX
· Feb 11, 2003
 D
Schiff, Adam B.
California · Feb 11, 2003
 D
Case, Ed
Hawaii · Feb 5, 2003
 D
Davis, Danny K.
Illinois · Feb 5, 2003
 D
DeLauro, Rosa L.
Connecticut · Feb 5, 2003
 D
Kaptur, Marcy
Ohio · Feb 5, 2003
 D
Lynch, Stephen F.
Massachusetts · Feb 5, 2003
 D
Markey, Edward J.
Massachusetts · Feb 5, 2003
Bordallo, Madeleine
· Jan 29, 2003
GREENWOOD, JAMES
· Jan 29, 2003
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Jan 29, 2003
 D
Pallone, Frank
New Jersey · Jan 29, 2003
 D
Smith, Adam
Washington · Jan 29, 2003
 R
Wilson, Joe
South Carolina · Jan 29, 2003
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 490: Instructional Materials Accessibility Act of 2003. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-490/
MLA
"H.R. 490: Instructional Materials Accessibility Act of 2003." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-490/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 490, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-490/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 490: Instructional Materials Accessibility Act of 2003](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-490/)
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