BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	H.B. 3889
87R11089 BDP-D	By: Morales Shaw et al. (Powell)
	Education
	5/19/2021
	Engrossed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

The governor has prioritized broadband development this legislative session and the commissioner of education has indicated that the Texas Education Agency (TEA) is in the process of building new systems and negotiating with Internet service providers to deliver at-home broadband to more than one million students who currently lack access. H.B. 3889 ensures that if TEA creates a program to provide broadband access to school districts, TEA will ensure that students who qualify for free and reduced lunch programs also receive broadband internet access at no cost.

 

H.B. 3889 amends current law relating to the cost for certain public school students of a broadband Internet access program offered by the Texas Education Agency.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Education Agency in SECTION 2 (Section 32.037 , Education Code) of this bill.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Section 32.004, Education Code, to create an exception as provided by Section 32.037, to the authorization for the State Board of Education, on the commissioner of education's recommendation, to establish a reasonable fee for services provided under Chapter 32 (Computers, Computer-Related Equipment, and Student Information Protection).

 

SECTION 2. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Education Code, by adding Section 32.037, as follows:

 

Sec. 32.037.� BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS PROGRAM.� (a) Prohibits the Texas Education Agency (TEA), if TEA establishes a program that provides broadband Internet access to public school students, from requiring a student who is educationally disadvantaged to pay any fees or costs for the program.

 

(b)� Require TEA to adopt rules as necessary to implement this section.

 

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2021.