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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment by the commissioner of education of a |
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computer lending pilot program for public schools. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. 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 members of the local community. |
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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, parents, and other area |
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residents to borrow a computer; |
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(B) includes an option for students, parents, and |
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other area residents to work toward owning a computer initially |
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borrowed under the school's lending program, subject to any |
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applicable legal restrictions regarding disposition of the |
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computer involved; |
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(C) provides computer training for students, |
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parents, and other area residents; 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 each |
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year, the commissioner shall submit a report to the legislature |
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regarding the computer lending pilot program established under this |
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subchapter. |
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Sec. 32.355. EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires September |
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1, 2014. |
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SECTION 2. 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 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |