BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 1774|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 1774
Author: Bowen (D)
Amended: 5/16/00
Vote: 27
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE : 11-0, 5/10/00
AYES: Alpert, McPherson, Alarcon, Chesbro, Dunn, Hayden,
Hughes, O'Connell, Ortiz, Sher, Vasconcellos
NOT VOTING: Haynes, Knight, Monteith
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 10-1, 5/25/00
AYES: Johnston, Alpert, Bowen, Burton, Escutia, Karnette,
Kelley, McPherson, Perata, Vasconcellos
NOES: Mountjoy
NOT VOTING: Johnson, Leslie
SUBJECT : Computer access
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill establishes a grant program to
encourage schools and public libraries to make their
computer facilities available to the public on evenings and
weekends.
ANALYSIS : Current law allows, but does not require,
school districts to make their facilities and grounds
available to the public, subject to terms and conditions
the governing board of the district deems proper. The
school district may charge a fee for the use of its
facilities, not to exceed the direct costs.
CONTINUED
SB 1774
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This bill:
1.Makes a number of findings and declarations regarding the
critical nature of computer skills and the disparate
access to computers and the internet, known as the
"digital divide".
2.Requires the State Department of Education to establish a
grant program to:
A. Encourage schools to keep their computer facilities
open and available to the public on evenings and
weekends;
B. Encourage public libraries that have internet
access to extend hours and days during which access is
available to the public.
3.Requires that grants cover the additional costs incurred
by a school district or library as well as provide for
the cost of technical assistance at a level determined by
the State Department of Education.
4.Requires, as a condition of receiving a grant, a school
district to implement a program that enlists pupil
volunteers to provide technical support.
5.Requires the grant program to establish preferences, as
specified.
6.Requires grantees to hire staff and recruit volunteers
with appropriate levels of computer knowledge and
expertise.
7.Provides that no grant shall exceed $100,000.
8.Appropriates an unspecified sum from the General Fund to
the State Department of Education for the purposes of the
grant program.
Comments
Purpose of the bill . This bill is one bill of a two-bill
SB 1774
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package (SB 1634 is the other bill) that resulted from
recent hearings held by the Senate Energy, Utilities and
Communications Committee on the "digital divide" issue.
The final hearing was a joint hearing with the Senate
Education Committee. According to information provided by
the author's office, "One of the observations resulting
from the hearing was that it seemed like a waste of
resources for the school and library computer facilities to
be opened for such limited hours." The purpose of the
grant program is to offer incentives to libraries and
schools to keep their computer facilities open longer
hours.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: Yes Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
The actual costs of this bill are unknown and depend upon
the amount appropriated. Assuming a minimum of six grants
statewide, the costs of this bill would be $150,000.
SUPPORT : (Verified 5/26/00)
Center for Virtual Research, UC Riverside
Compu Mentor
Computers in Our Future
LA's Best
The Children's Partnership
NC:kb 5/26/00 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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