California Assembly Bill AB2437 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 2437AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 23, 2014 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Hagman  (   Coauthor:   Assembly Member   Maienschein   )  FEBRUARY 21, 2014 An act to add  Section 60644.5 to   Article 15 (commencing with Section 17079.35) to Chapter 12.5 of Part 10 of Division 1 of Title 1 of  the Education Code, relating to  pupil assessment,   school infrastructure,  and making an appropriation therefor. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2437, as amended, Hagman.  Pupil assessment: school   School infrastructure:  network infrastructure.  Existing law establishes various programs to measure and assess the academic performance of pupils.   Existing law authorizes the California School Financing Authority to revenue bonds in an amount not to exceed $400 million repaid from a dedicated portions of funds allocated to school districts from the California State Lottery Education Fund for the purposes of establishing computer-based networks and telecommunications systems for instructional purposes, including the procurement and installation of computer hardware and software, multimedia audio, video, and data transfer equipment, and wiring, cabling, and other equipment necessary to establish network connectivity, and any planning and installation costs associated with establishing and installing the networks.  This bill would require the State Department of Education to establish a competitive grant program to provide grants for the construction of network infrastructure for schools with kindergarten and grades 1 to 12,  inclusive, to enable the schools to administer adequately digital assessments of pupils that are required pursuant to state or federal law.   inclusive.  The bill would require the department to award grants based on the needs of the local education agencies and would require, as a condition of the grant, that the local education agency provide matching funds of 50% of the project costs. The bill would, for the 2014-15 fiscal year, appropriate $500,000,000 from the General Fund to the department for the grant program. Vote:  2/3   majority  . Appropriation: yes. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:  SECTION 1.   Article 15 (commencing with Section 17079.35) is added to Chapter 12.5 of Part 10 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the   Education Code   , to read:   Article 15. Network Infrastructure 17079.35. (a) The department shall establish a competitive grant program to provide grants for the construction of network infrastructure for schools with kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive. (b) In administering the program, the department shall evaluate an application and award the grants based on the need of the local education agencies. (c) The department shall, as a condition of a grant, require the local education agency to provide matching funds in an amount of 50 percent of the project costs. (d) (1) For the 2014-15 fiscal year, the sum of five hundred million dollars ($500,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the department for the purposes of this section. (2) The department may expend not more than ____ percent of the amount appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) for its administrative costs in implementing this article.   SECTION 1.   Section 60644.5 is added to the Education Code, to read: 60644.5. (a) The department shall establish a competitive grant program to provide grants for the construction of network infrastructure for schools with kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, to enable the schools to administer adequately digital assessments of pupils that are required by state or federal law. (b) In administering the program, the department shall evaluate an application and award the grants based on the need of the local education agencies. (c) The department shall, as a condition of a grant, require the local education agency to provide matching funds in an amount of 50 percent of the project costs. (d) For the 2014-15 fiscal year, the sum of five hundred million dollars ($500,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the department for the purposes of this section.