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AN ACT
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relating to the technology demonstration sites project and to a |
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computer lending pilot program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Subchapter D, Chapter 32, |
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Education Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER D. TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION SITES [IMMERSION PILOT] |
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PROJECT |
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SECTION 2. Sections 32.151, 32.152, 32.153, and 32.154, |
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Education Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 32.151. ESTABLISHMENT OF [PILOT] PROJECT. (a) The |
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agency may by rule establish the technology demonstration sites |
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[immersion pilot] project to: |
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(1) demonstrate the use of technology for improving |
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teaching and learning; |
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(2) use digital tools and resources to extend learning |
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opportunities from school to home; and |
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(3) exemplify instructional practices and lessons |
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that support academic learning in the classroom and at home. |
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(b) The project shall use existing home electronic devices |
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or provide access through electronic [a wireless mobile computing] |
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device checkout options to extend learning at home. The project |
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shall make electronic devices available to each student in a |
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participating school to allow students, at school and at home, to |
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[and implement the] use [of] software, on-line courses, and other |
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appropriate learning technologies that have been shown to improve |
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academic achievement and the progress measures listed in Section |
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32.155(e). |
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Sec. 32.152. [PILOT] PROJECT ADMINISTRATION. If the agency |
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establishes the [pilot] project under Section 32.151, the agency |
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shall establish a procedure and develop criteria for the |
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administration of the [pilot] project. In administering the |
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[pilot] project, the agency shall: |
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(1) select participating school districts or schools; |
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(2) define the conditions for the distribution and use |
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of electronic devices not currently available to all students |
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[computer equipment and other technologies]; |
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(3) develop guidelines for a distribution and checkout |
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plan for home use of electronic devices [purchase and distribute
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computer equipment and other technologies]; |
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(4) [enter into contracts as necessary to implement
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the pilot project;
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[(5)] monitor local [pilot] project implementation; |
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and |
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(5) review the progress made through each |
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demonstration site included in the project |
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[(6) conduct a final evaluation of the pilot project]. |
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Sec. 32.153. [PILOT] PROJECT FUNDING. (a) To implement |
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the [pilot] project, the agency may use any gift, grant, or donation |
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given for the [pilot] project. The agency may solicit and accept a |
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gift, grant, or donation of any kind from any source, including from |
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a foundation, private entity, governmental entity, and institution |
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of higher education, for the implementation of the [pilot] |
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project. The agency may use only undedicated and unobligated money |
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from the general revenue fund for purposes of the [pilot] project. |
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(b) Funds for the [pilot] project may not be used for the |
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construction of a building or other facility. |
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(c) The participating school districts and schools [agency] |
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shall use [pilot] project funds for: |
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(1) the purchase of electronic [wireless mobile
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computing] devices so that each student in a participating |
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classroom has an electronic [a wireless mobile computing] device |
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for use at school and at home; |
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(2) the purchase of other equipment, including |
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[additional] computer hardware and software; |
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(3) the hiring of pedagogical and technical support |
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staff for school districts or schools participating in the [pilot] |
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project; and |
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(4) the purchase of technology-based learning |
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materials and resources. |
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(e) The [pilot] project may be implemented only if |
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sufficient funds are available under this section for that purpose. |
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Sec. 32.154. DISTRICT OR SCHOOL SELECTION. (a) A school |
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district may apply to the agency for the establishment of a |
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technology demonstration sites [immersion pilot] project for the |
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entire district or for a particular school or group of schools in |
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the district. |
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(b) The agency shall select the participating districts and |
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schools for the [pilot] project based on each district's or school's |
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need and technological readiness for the [pilot] project. [In
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selecting participants, the agency shall consider the following
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criteria:
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[(1)
whether the district or school has limited access
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to educational resources that could be improved through the use of
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wireless mobile computing devices and other technologies;
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[(2)
whether the district or school has the following
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problems and whether those problems can be mitigated through the
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use of wireless mobile computing devices and other technologies:
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[(A)
documented teacher shortages in critical
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areas;
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[(B)
limited access to advanced placement
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courses;
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[(C)
low rates of satisfactory performance on
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assessment instruments under Subchapter B, Chapter 39; and
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[(D) high dropout rates;
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[(3)
the district's or school's readiness to
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incorporate technology into its classrooms;
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[(4)
the possibility of obtaining a trained technology
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support staff and high-speed Internet services for the district or
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school; and
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[(5)
the methods the district or school will use to
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measure the progress of the pilot project in the district or school
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in accordance with Section 32.155(e).] |
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(c) The agency shall [if possible] select at least five |
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school districts [schools] to participate in the [pilot] project. |
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At least one demonstration site included in the [pilot] project |
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should include students in grades 6-12. The agency may select at |
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least one [entire] school district in which each school in the |
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district participates [and at least one entire school in a second
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district to participate] in the [pilot] project. |
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SECTION 3. Sections 32.155(a), (c), (d), and (e), Education |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Each participating school district or school shall |
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establish a community educational pipeline progress team to assist |
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in developing and implementing the technology demonstration sites |
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[immersion pilot] project. |
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(c) The team shall develop an academic improvement plan that |
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details how the [pilot] project should be implemented in the |
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participating district or school. In developing the academic |
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improvement plan, the team shall consider: |
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(1) the educational problems in the district or school |
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that could be mitigated through the implementation of the [pilot] |
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project; and |
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(2) the technological and nontechnological resources |
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that are necessary to ensure the successful implementation of the |
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[pilot] project. |
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(d) The team shall recommend to the board of trustees how |
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the [pilot] project funds should be used to implement the academic |
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improvement plan developed under Subsection (c). The team may |
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recommend annually any necessary changes in the academic |
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improvement plan to the board. The agency must approve the academic |
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improvement plan, or any changes in the academic improvement plan, |
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before disbursing [pilot] project funds to the board. |
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(e) The board of trustees of each district participating in |
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the [pilot] project shall send an annual progress report to the |
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agency not later than August 1 of each year that the district is |
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participating in the [pilot] project. The report must state in |
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detail the type of plan being used in the district or school and the |
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effect of the [pilot] project on the district or school, including: |
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(1) the academic progress of students who are |
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participating in a [pilot] project, as measured by performance on |
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assessment instruments; |
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(2) if applicable, a comparison of student progress in |
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a school or classroom that is participating in the [pilot] project |
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as compared with student progress in the schools or classrooms in |
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the district that are not participating in the [pilot] project; |
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(3) any elements of the [pilot] project that |
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contribute to improved student performance on assessment |
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instruments administered under Section 39.023 or any other |
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assessment instrument required by the agency; |
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(4) any cost savings and improved efficiency relating |
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to school personnel and the maintenance of facilities; |
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(5) any effect on student dropout and attendance |
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rates; |
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(6) any effect on student enrollment in higher |
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education; |
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(7) any effect on teacher performance and retention; |
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(8) any improvement in communications among students, |
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teachers, parents, and administrators; |
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(9) any improvement in parent involvement in the |
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education of the parent's child; |
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(10) any effect on community involvement and support |
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for the district or school; and |
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(11) any increased student proficiency in |
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technologies that will help prepare the student for becoming a |
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member of the workforce. |
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SECTION 4. Sections 32.156 and 32.157, Education Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 32.156. ELECTRONIC DEVICE [COMPUTER] RETENTION. Each |
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student participating in the [pilot] project may retain the |
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electronic [wireless mobile computing] device provided under the |
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[pilot] project as long as the student is enrolled in a school in a |
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participating school district. [The student may retain the
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wireless mobile computing device after the expiration of the pilot
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project.] |
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Sec. 32.157. [PILOT] PROJECT EVALUATION; EXPIRATION. |
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(a) After the expiration of the [pilot] project, the agency may |
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review the [pilot] project based on the annual reports the agency |
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receives from the board of trustees of participating school |
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districts. The agency may include the review of the [pilot] |
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project in the comprehensive annual report required under Section |
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39.182 that covers the 2012-2013 [2010-2011] school year. |
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(b) This subchapter expires August 31, 2013 [2011]. |
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SECTION 5. Chapter 32, Education Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter H to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER H. COMPUTER LENDING PILOT PROGRAM |
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Sec. 32.351. ESTABLISHMENT OF PILOT PROGRAM. The |
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commissioner by rule shall establish a computer lending pilot |
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program to provide computers to participating public schools that |
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make computers available for use by students and their parents. |
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Sec. 32.352. PILOT PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION. The |
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commissioner shall establish procedures for the administration of |
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the pilot program, including procedures for distributing to |
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participating public schools: |
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(1) any surplus or salvage data processing equipment |
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available for distribution under the pilot program; or |
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(2) computers donated or purchased for that purpose |
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with funds from any available source, including a foundation, |
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private entity, governmental entity, and institution of higher |
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education. |
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Sec. 32.353. ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS. A public school is eligible |
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to participate in the pilot program if: |
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(1) 50 percent or more of the students enrolled in the |
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school are educationally disadvantaged; and |
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(2) the school operates or agrees to operate a |
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computer lending program that: |
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(A) allows students and parents to borrow a |
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computer; |
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(B) includes an option for students and parents |
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to work toward owning a computer initially borrowed under the |
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school's lending program, subject to any applicable legal |
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restrictions regarding disposition of the computer involved; |
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(C) provides computer training for students and |
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parents; and |
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(D) operates outside regular school hours, |
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including operation until at least 7 p.m. on at least three days |
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each week. |
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Sec. 32.354. ANNUAL REPORT. Not later than January 1 of |
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each year, the commissioner shall submit a report to the |
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legislature regarding the computer lending pilot program |
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established under this subchapter. |
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Sec. 32.355. EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires September |
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1, 2014. |
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SECTION 6. Section 2175.128, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (a-1) and (b-1) to read as follows: |
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(a-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), if a disposition of a |
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state agency's surplus or salvage data processing equipment is not |
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made under Section 2175.125 or 2175.184, the state agency shall |
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make the equipment available to the commissioner of education for |
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use in the computer lending pilot program established under |
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Subchapter H, Chapter 32, Education Code. If the commissioner of |
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education declines to take the equipment, the state agency shall |
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transfer the equipment in accordance with Subsection (a). The |
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state agency may not collect a fee or other reimbursement from the |
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commissioner of education for the equipment made available under |
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this subsection. This subsection expires September 1, 2014. |
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(b-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), if a disposition of |
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the surplus or salvage data processing equipment of a state |
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eleemosynary institution or an institution or agency of higher |
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education is not made under other law, the institution or agency |
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shall make the equipment available to the commissioner of education |
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for use in the computer lending pilot program established under |
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Subchapter H, Chapter 32, Education Code. If the commissioner of |
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education declines to take the equipment, the institution or agency |
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shall transfer the equipment in accordance with Subsection (b). |
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The state eleemosynary institution or institution or agency of |
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higher education may not collect a fee or other reimbursement from |
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the commissioner of education for the equipment made available |
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under this subsection. This subsection expires September 1, 2014. |
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SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 2893 was passed by the House on April |
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30, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 144, Nays 0, 1 present, not |
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voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. |
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No. 2893 on May 23, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 142, Nays 0, |
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1 present, not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 2893 was passed by the Senate, with |
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amendments, on May 20, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays |
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0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |