BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 1774|
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UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Bill No: SB 1774
Author: Bowen (D)
Amended: 8/25/00
Vote: 27
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE : 11-0, 5/10/00
AYES: Alpert, McPherson, Alarcon, Chesbro, Dunn, Hayden,
Hughes, O'Connell, Ortiz, Sher, Vasconcellos
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 10-1, 5/25/00
AYES: Johnston, Alpert, Bowen, Burton, Escutia, Karnette,
Kelley, McPherson, Perata, Vasconcellos
NOES: Mountjoy
SENATE FLOOR : 28-6, 5/30/00
AYES: Alarcon, Alpert, Bowen, Brulte, Burton, Chesbro,
Costa, Dunn, Escutia, Figueroa, Hayden, Hughes, Johnston,
Karnette, Kelley, McPherson, Monteith, Murray, O'Connell,
Ortiz, Rainey, Schiff, Sher, Solis, Soto, Speier,
Vasconcellos, Wright
NOES: Haynes, Johnson, Knight, Lewis, Morrow, Mountjoy
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 73-5, 8/28/00 - See last page for vote
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
CONTINUED
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weekends.
Assembly Amendments make numerous changes without altering
the intent. They provide that the grant program would be
established by the State Librarian, instead of the State
Department of Education, and add an appropriation of
$1,343,000.
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.
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 Librarian to establish a grant program
to 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 public access computer center, or library, as well
as provide for the cost of technical assistance at a
level determined by the State Librarian.
5.Requires the grant program to establish preferences, as
specified.
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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 $1,343,000 from the General Fund, to be
allocated as follows:
A. $250,000 to the State Department of Education for
the Clearing House for Specialized Media and
Technology.
B. $93,000 to the Little Hoover Commission for
operational support.
C. $1 million to the State Librarian to encourage
public access computer centers.
Comments
Purpose of the bill . This bill is one bill of a two-bill
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
Appropriates $1,343,000 from the General Fund.
SUPPORT : (Verified 8/30/00)
Center for Virtual Research, UC Riverside
Compu Mentor
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Computers in Our Future
LA's Best
The Children's Partnership
TechNET
Intel
Joint Venture, Silicon Valley
American Electronics Association
California Library Association
MCI
ASSEMBLY FLOOR
AYES: Ackerman, Alquist, Aroner, Ashburn, Bates, Battin,
Baugh, Bock, Brewer, Briggs, Calderon, Campbell,
Cardenas, Cardoza, Cedillo, Corbett, Correa, Cox,
Cunneen, Davis, Dickerson, Ducheny, Dutra, Firebaugh,
Florez, Floyd, Gallegos, Granlund, Havice, Honda, House,
Jackson, Keeley, Knox, Kuehl, Leach, Lempert, Leonard,
Longville, Lowenthal, Machado, Maddox, Maldonado,
Margett, Mazzoni, Migden, Nakano, Olberg, Oller, Robert
Pacheco, Rod Pacheco, Papan, Pescetti, Reyes, Romero,
Runner, Scott, Shelley, Steinberg, Strickland,
Strom-Martin, Thomson, Torlakson, Villaraigosa, Vincent,
Washington, Wayne, Wesson, Wiggins, Wildman, Wright,
Zettel, Hertzberg
NOES: Aanestad, Baldwin, Kaloogian, McClintock, Thompson
NC:kb 8/30/00 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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