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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation and funding of the Texas student |
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connectivity account; imposing a fee. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter G, Chapter 48, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 48.304 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 48.304. TEXAS STUDENT CONNECTIVITY ACCOUNT. (a) In |
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this section: |
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(1) "Account" means the Texas student connectivity |
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account. |
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(2) "Wireless service provider" and "wireless |
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telecommunications connection" have the meanings assigned by |
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Section 771.001, Health and Safety Code. |
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(b) The Texas student connectivity account is an account in |
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the general revenue fund administered by the agency. |
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(c) The account consists of: |
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(1) money deposited to the credit of the account as |
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provided by this section or other law; and |
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(2) gifts, grants, and donations to the account. |
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(d) A Texas student connectivity fee of $2 is imposed on |
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each wireless telecommunications connection each month. A wireless |
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service provider shall: |
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(1) collect the fee from the provider's subscribers; |
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and |
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(2) not later than the 30th day after the last day of |
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the month during which the fee is collected except as otherwise |
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provided under Subsection (e), remit the collected fee to the |
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comptroller, accompanied by a report in a form the comptroller |
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determines that contains the total amount collected from the |
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provider's subscribers and remitted by the provider for the report |
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month. |
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(e) The comptroller by rule may establish alternative dates |
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for the remittance of a fee and report under Subsection (d). |
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(f) The comptroller shall deposit a fee remitted under this |
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section to the credit of the account. Money in the account may be |
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appropriated only to the agency to: |
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(1) provide matching funds necessary to obtain federal |
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money available to school districts to expand or upgrade broadband |
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Internet infrastructure, including federal money available under |
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the Schools and Libraries Program ("E-rate program") as provided by |
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47 C.F.R. Part 54, Subpart F; and |
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(2) reimburse school districts with a high percentage |
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of economically disadvantaged students for the cost of providing |
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Internet connectivity or technology to students for educational |
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purposes. |
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(g) The commissioner and comptroller may adopt rules to |
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administer this section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |