BILL ANALYSIS
SB 1774
Page 1
Date of Hearing: July 5, 2000
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Kerry Mazzoni, Chair
SB 1774 (Bowen) - As Proposed to be Amended: May 16, 2000
SENATE VOTE : 28-6
SUBJECT : Computer Access.
SUMMARY : 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. Specifically,
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)Defines "public access computer technology centers" as a
non-profit community based center located in a low-income
neighborhood that provides access to technology and the
Internet and technology skills training to underserved
populations including youth.
3)Requires the State Department of Education (SDE) 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 and public access computer
centers that have Internet access to extend hours and days
during which access is available to the public.
4)Requires that grants cover the additional costs incurred by a
school district, public access computer center, or library as
well as provide for the cost of technical assistance at a
level determined by the SDE.
5)Requires, as a condition of receiving a grant, a school
district to implement a program that enlists pupil volunteers
to provide technical support.
6)Requires the grant program to establish preferences, as
specified.
SB 1774
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7)Requires grantees to hire staff and recruit volunteers with
appropriate levels of computer knowledge and expertise.
8)Provides that no grant shall exceed $100,000.
9)Appropriates an unspecified sum from the General Fund to the
SDE, to be allocated through the After School and Safe
Neighborhood Partnership Act for the purposes of the grant
program.
EXISTING 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.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown. This bill makes an unspecified
appropriation for its purposes.
COMMENTS :
This bill is one bill of a two-bill package (SB 1634 (Bowen) 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.
After School and Safe Neighborhood Partnership Act . The purpose
of this program is to create incentives for establishing locally
driven after school enrichment programs that partner schools and
communities to provide academic and literacy support and safe,
constructive alternatives for youth.
The After School Learning and Safe Neighborhoods Partnerships
Program serves pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 9 at
participating elementary, middle, junior high, and charter
school sites. The program consist s of two components. The
first includes an educational and literacy component where
tutoring or homework assistance is provided in the following
areas: language arts, mathematics, history and social science,
or science. The second includes a component where educational
enrichment including recreation and prevention activities are
provided.
SB 1774
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Priority for funding this program is given to schools where a
minimum of 50 percent of the pupils in elementary schools and 50
percent of the pupils in middle and junior high schools are
eligible for free or reduced-cost meals through the school lunch
program.
Arguments in support . According to 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."
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION : (as of 6/30/00)
Support
American Electronics Association
Break Away Technologies
Casa Familiar
The Children's Partnership
Community Partners
CompuMentor
Computers In Our Future
Intel Corporation
Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network
Project Blast
TechNet
University of California, Riverside
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : Margaret Merritt / ED. / (916) 319-2087