BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	S.B. 78
	By: Nelson
	Business & Commerce
	6/1/2017
	Enrolled

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

S.B. 78 adds Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) to the list of state entities eligible to receive used computers from the State of Texas. These computers will be available as a resource at CASA foster and group homes.

 

Access to computers for children involved with CASA:

 

�         allows foster children to connect to all kinds of information and to become empowered and engaged;

 

�         provides the opportunity for learning, bridging the digital divide, and giving children in foster care STEM learning opportunities through technology;

 

�         helps foster children and youth stay on par with their classmates who have access to computers in their homes;

 

�         and helps provide a sense of normalcy. (Original Author's / Sponsor's Statement of Intent)

 

S.B. 78 amends current law relating to the disposition of state surplus or salvage data processing equipment by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Section 497.012(b), Government Code, as follows:

 

(b) Requires the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to sell the repaired or refurbished data processing equipment, in the following order of preference, to:

 

(1) a school district;

 

(2) a state agency;

 

(3) a political subdivision of the state; or

 

(4) a statewide organization described by Section 264.603(a) (relating to the Health and Human Services Commission contracting with a statewide organization that meets certain criteria to provide assistance to certain local volunteer advocate programs), Family Code, or a local volunteer advocate program, as defined by Section 264.601 (Definitions), Family Code, for use by children or youth in foster care.

 

Makes nonsubstantive changes.

 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2017.