| |
| |
| |
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the establishment by the commissioner of education of a |
|
|
computer lending pilot program for public schools. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Chapter 32, Education Code, is amended by adding |
|
|
Subchapter H to read as follows: |
|
|
SUBCHAPTER H. COMPUTER LENDING PILOT PROGRAM |
|
|
Sec. 32.351. ESTABLISHMENT OF PILOT PROGRAM. The |
|
|
commissioner by rule shall establish a computer lending pilot |
|
|
program to provide computers to participating public schools that |
|
|
make computers available for use by students and their parents. |
|
|
Sec. 32.352. PILOT PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION. The |
|
|
commissioner shall establish procedures for the administration of |
|
|
the pilot program, including procedures for distributing to |
|
|
participating public schools: |
|
|
(1) any surplus or salvage data processing equipment |
|
|
available for distribution under the pilot program; or |
|
|
(2) computers donated or purchased for that purpose |
|
|
with funds from any available source, including a foundation, |
|
|
private entity, governmental entity, and institution of higher |
|
|
education. |
|
|
Sec. 32.353. ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS. A public school is eligible |
|
|
to participate in the pilot program if: |
|
|
(1) 50 percent or more of the students enrolled in the |
|
|
school are educationally disadvantaged; and |
|
|
(2) the school operates or agrees to operate a |
|
|
computer lending program that: |
|
|
(A) allows students and parents to borrow a |
|
|
computer; |
|
|
(B) includes an option for students and parents |
|
|
to work toward owning a computer initially borrowed under the |
|
|
school's lending program, subject to any applicable legal |
|
|
restrictions regarding disposition of the computer involved; |
|
|
(C) provides computer training for students and |
|
|
parents; and |
|
|
(D) operates outside regular school hours, |
|
|
including operation until at least 7 p.m. on at least three days |
|
|
each week. |
|
|
Sec. 32.354. ANNUAL REPORT. Not later than January 1 of |
|
|
each year, the commissioner shall submit a report to the |
|
|
legislature regarding the computer lending pilot program |
|
|
established under this subchapter. |
|
|
Sec. 32.355. EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires September |
|
|
1, 2014. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Section 2175.128, Government Code, is amended by |
|
|
adding Subsections (a-1) and (b-1) to read as follows: |
|
|
(a-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), if a disposition of a |
|
|
state agency's surplus or salvage data processing equipment is not |
|
|
made under Section 2175.125 or 2175.184, the state agency shall |
|
|
make the equipment available to the commissioner of education for |
|
|
use in the computer lending pilot program established under |
|
|
Subchapter H, Chapter 32, Education Code. If the commissioner of |
|
|
education declines to take the equipment, the state agency shall |
|
|
transfer the equipment in accordance with Subsection (a). The |
|
|
state agency may not collect a fee or other reimbursement from the |
|
|
commissioner of education for the equipment made available under |
|
|
this subsection. This subsection expires September 1, 2014. |
|
|
(b-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), if a disposition of |
|
|
the surplus or salvage data processing equipment of a state |
|
|
eleemosynary institution or an institution or agency of higher |
|
|
education is not made under other law, the institution or agency |
|
|
shall make the equipment available to the commissioner of education |
|
|
for use in the computer lending pilot program established under |
|
|
Subchapter H, Chapter 32, Education Code. If the commissioner of |
|
|
education declines to take the equipment, the institution or agency |
|
|
shall transfer the equipment in accordance with Subsection (b). |
|
|
The state eleemosynary institution or institution or agency of |
|
|
higher education may not collect a fee or other reimbursement from |
|
|
the commissioner of education for the equipment made available |
|
|
under this subsection. This subsection expires September 1, 2014. |
|
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
______________________________ |
______________________________ |
| |
President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
| |
|
|
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2178 passed the Senate on |
|
|
May 5, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
|
|
|
| |
| |
______________________________ |
| |
Secretary of the Senate |
| |
|
|
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2178 passed the House on |
|
|
May 26, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 142, Nays 1, two |
|
|
present not voting. |
|
|
|
| |
| |
______________________________ |
| |
Chief Clerk of the House |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Approved: |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Date |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Governor |