BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	S.B. 1483
85R12458 SRS-F	By: Taylor, Larry
	Education
	4/4/2017
	As Filed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

The 82nd Texas Legislature in S.B. 6, Section 32.201, established a program to fund district technology lending program grants. The grant program was created to award funds to school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to implement or enhance an existing technology lending program to loan students the equipment necessary to access and use electronic instructional materials. The goal of the program is to ensure all students, including economically disadvantaged students, can take advantage of technology outside the school as well as inside the school by providing them with the tools to learn in a digital environment. And while the first implementation of the program was very successful in addressing these goals, the need for the technology lending program grants still exists for many districts.

 

S.B. 1483 would address those needs by reauthorizing the technology lending program under the existing constitutional authority of the commissioner of the Texas Education Agency to utilize instructional materials allotment funds for this program. To insure accountability and effective use of these funds S.B. 1483 would only provide grants to districts that have in place a technology plan which adequately articulates their need and vision for meeting that need.

 

By extending this program the legislature will allow districts to move forward with the procurement of electronic instructional materials while ensuring access for students through loaned equipment for learning at school and at home, which will lead to better student outcomes and a stronger Texas.

 

As proposed, S.B. 1483 amends current law relating to the creation of the Technology Lending Program to provide grants to school districts and open-enrollment charter schools.

 

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 Chapter 32, Education Code, by adding Subchapter G, as follows:

 

SUBCHAPTER G. TECHNOLOGY LENDING PROGRAM GRANTS

 

Sec. 32.301. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM. (a) Authorizes the commissioner of education (commissioner) to establish a grant program under which grants are awarded to school districts (districts) and open-enrollment charter schools (schools) to implement a technology lending program to provide students access to equipment necessary to access and use electronic instructional materials.

 

(b) Authorizes a district or school to apply to the commissioner to participate in the grant program. Requires the commissioner, in awarding grants under this subchapter for each school year, to consider:

 

(1) the availability of existing equipment to students in the district or school;

 

(2) other funding available to the district or school; and

 

(3) the district's or school's technology plan.

 

(c) Authorizes the commissioner to determine the terms of a grant awarded under this section, including limits on the grant amount and approved uses of grant funds.

 

(d) Authorizes the commissioner to recover funds not used in accordance with the terms of a grant by withholding amounts from any state funds otherwise due to the district or school.

 

Sec. 32.302. FUNDING. (a) Prohibits the commissioner from using more than $25 million from the state instructional materials fund under Section 31.021 (State Instructional Materials Fund) each state fiscal biennium or a different amount determined by appropriation to administer a grant program established under this subchapter.

 

(b) Requires the cost of administering a grant program to be paid from funds described by Subsection (a).

 

Sec. 32.303. USE OF GRANT FUNDS. (a) Authorizes a district or school with a grant awarded under Section 32.301 or other local funds to purchase, maintain, and insure equipment for a technology lending program.

 

(b) Provides that equipment purchased by a district or school with a grant awarded under Section 32.301 is the property of the district or school.

 

Sec. 32.304. REVIEW OF PROGRAM. Requires the commissioner, not later than January 1, 2019, to review the grant program established under this subchapter and submit a report to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and the presiding officers of the standing committees in the senate and house primarily responsible for public education. Provides that this section expires September 1, 2019.

 

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2017.