BILL NUMBER: SB 1774	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE   MAY 16, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   APRIL 24, 2000

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Bowen

                        FEBRUARY 23, 2000

   An act to add Section 10910.2, to the Education Code, relating to
computer access, and making an appropriation therefor.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1774, as amended, Bowen.   Computer access.
   Existing law authorizes school districts to organize, promote, and
conduct programs of community recreation as well as contribute to
the attainment of general educational and recreational objectives for
children and adults of the state.  Existing law declares that it is
in the interest of the people and of the state that there be a
general diffusion of knowledge and intelligence through the
establishment and operation of public libraries.
   This bill would require the State Department of Education to
establish a grant program to encourage schools to keep their computer
facilities open and available to the public on evenings and weekends
and to encourage public libraries that have Internet access to
extend the hours and days during which access is available to the
public.  The bill would provide grant funds to cover the additional
costs incurred by the schools and libraries, as well as provide for
the cost of technical assistance at a level determined by the State
Department of Education.   The bill would require the grant
program to establish preferences, as specified.  The bill would
require that a grant made under the program not exceed $100,000.
 The bill would require  grantees to hire staff and recruit
volunteers with appropriate levels of computer knowledge and
expertise and would require  a school to implement a program
that enlists pupil volunteers to provide technical support as a
condition to receiving the grant.
   The bill would appropriate an unspecified sum from the General
Fund to the State Department of Education, according to a specified
schedule, to fund the grant programs.
   Vote:  2/3.  Appropriation:  yes.  Fiscal committee:   yes.
State-mandated local program:  no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) The ability to use a computer and the Internet are becoming
critical skills that are necessary for full participation in modern
society.
   (b) The disparate access to computers and the Internet is known as
the "digital divide" and is related to an individual's income,
ethnicity, and geographic location.  The digital divide disadvantages
people by denying them an equal opportunity to educate themselves,
avail themselves of economic opportunities, participate in electronic
commerce, and access information.
   (c) A cost-effective way of helping to bridge the digital divide
is to provide educational and training opportunities to pupils as
well as provide general access to the public through the extended use
of schools, libraries, and other public access computer centers.
  SEC. 2.  Section 10910.2 is added to the Education Code, to read:
   10910.2.   (a) The State Department of Education shall
establish a grant program to encourage schools to keep their computer
facilities open and available to the public on evenings and
weekends, and to encourage public libraries that have Internet access
to extend the hours and days during which access is available to the
public.  The grants shall cover the additional costs  ,
excluding costs for the construction or lease of the facilities,
 incurred by a school or library as well as provide for the cost
of technical assistance at a level determined by the State
Department of Education.  As a condition to receiving a grant, a
school must implement a program that enlists pupil volunteers to
provide technical support.  
   (b) The grant program established pursuant to this section shall
establish preferences for the following:
   (1) Schools and libraries with substantial local and private
sector support.
   (2) Schools and libraries located in areas with poor computer
access, such as rural and low-income areas.
   (c) Grantees shall hire staff and recruit volunteers with
appropriate levels of computer knowledge and expertise.
   (d) No grant awarded under the program shall exceed one hundred
thousand dollars ($100,000). 
  SEC. 3.  The sum of _____ ($____) is hereby appropriated from the
General Fund to the State Department of Education to be allocated
according to the following schedule:
   (a) The sum of ____ dollars ($____) to encourage schools to keep
their computer facilities open and available to the public on
evenings and weekends by providing grant funds to cover the
additional costs incurred by a school as well as provide for the cost
of technical assistance at a level determined by the State
Department of Education.
   (b) The sum of ____ ($____) to encourage public libraries that
have Internet access to extend the hours and days during which access
is available to the public by providing grant funding to cover
additional costs incurred by the library as well as provide for the
cost of technical assistance at a level determined by the State
Department of Education.