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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a technology grant to be awarded to public school |
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districts that have received certain performance ratings. |
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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. TECHNOLOGY GRANT PROGRAM |
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Sec. 32.351. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM. (a) The |
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commissioner shall establish a grant program under which a grant is |
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awarded to a school district that has received a performance rating |
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of D or F, as provided by Section 39.054, for the preceding school |
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year. |
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(b) A school district may apply to the commissioner to |
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participate in the grant program. In awarding grants under this |
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subchapter for each school year, the commissioner shall consider |
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the availability of existing technological equipment to students in |
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the district. |
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(c) The commissioner may determine the terms of a grant |
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awarded under this subchapter, including limits on the grant amount |
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and the approved uses of grant funds. |
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Sec. 32.352. FUNDING. The commissioner shall award grants |
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under this subchapter using funds appropriated for that purpose. |
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Sec. 32.353. USE OF GRANT FUNDS. A school district may use |
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a grant awarded under Section 32.351 to expand access to |
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technologies that are necessary to improve access to high quality |
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digital learning at campuses in the district, including: |
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(1) purchasing and maintaining technological |
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equipment; |
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(2) providing instruction on the use of technological |
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equipment; and |
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(3) increasing the technological literacy of |
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students. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |