SLS 18RS-638 ENGROSSED
2018 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 349
BY SENATOR APPEL
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. Creates the Technology Strategy Task Force. (8/1/18)
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 17:3921.3, relative to the statewide educational technology plan; to require the
3 Department of Education to establish the Technology Strategy Task Force to review
4 the statewide plan; and to provide for related matters.
5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 17:3921.3 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
7 ยง3921.3. Technology Strategy Task Force; creation, membership, duties
8 A. There is hereby created the Technology Strategy Task Force,
9 hereafter referred to as the "task force", for the purpose of undertaking a
10 thorough review and analysis of the statewide technology plan provided for in
11 this Part and the status of the technological abilities and projected needs of
12 public elementary and secondary schools.
13 B. The task force shall be composed of fourteen members as follows:
14 (1) One member appointed by the state superintendent of education.
15 (2) One member appointed by the Louisiana Schools Boards Association.
16 (3) One member appointed by the Louisiana Association of School
17 Superintendents.
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words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 349
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1 (4) One member appointed by the Louisiana Association of Computer
2 Using Educators.
3 (5) One university faculty member with expertise in technology,
4 appointed by the Conference of Louisiana Colleges and Universities.
5 (6) One member appointed by the Louisiana Internet and Televison
6 Association.
7 (7) Four members with expertise in technology, one appointed by the
8 Louisiana Publishers Association, one appointed by Greater New Orleans, Inc.,
9 one appointed by the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, and one appointed by the
10 Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.
11 (8) One member appointed by the president of the State Board of
12 Elementary and Secondary Education.
13 (9) One member appointed by the governor.
14 (10) One member appointed by the president of the Senate.
15 (11) One member appointed by the speaker of the House of
16 Representatives.
17 C. Members shall serve without compensation, but may receive any per
18 diem or reimbursement as allowed by the appointing authority.
19 D. Vacancies shall be filled in the manner of original appointment.
20 E. The state superintendent shall convene the first meeting of the task
21 force not later than September 1, 2018, and shall designate state Department of
22 Education staff to assist the task force in performing its duties and
23 responsibilities. The chairman of the task force shall be selected at the first
24 meeting from among the membership of the task force.
25 F. At a minimum, the task force shall:
26 (1) Thoroughly review the statewide educational technology plan as it
27 relates to current capabilities and projected future needs for internet services,
28 facility hardware, individual devices, software applications, and training needs.
29 (2) Examine current capabilities and future needs for technology.
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1 (3) Identify any technology gaps that exist and examine whether the gaps
2 are due to the school's location or the relative wealth of the public school
3 governing authority.
4 (4) Determine whether Louisiana Optical Network Infrastructure is a
5 potential cost-effective partner for providing technology to schools.
6 (5) Determine the impact of technology mandates and state and local
7 funding mechanisms.
8 (6) Define strategic funding needs.
9 (7) Determine a strategy to secure available outside funding to assist in
10 meeting the technology needs of students and schools.
11 (8) Develop a long-term strategy to assist the state Department of
12 Education and public school governing authorities to plan for and meet current
13 and future technology needs.
14 G. The task force shall submit a written report of its findings and any
15 recommendations to the Senate Committee on Education and the House
16 Committee on Education not later than December 1, 2019.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Cheryl Serrett.
DIGEST
SB 349 Engrossed 2018 Regular Session Appel
Present law provides for the development of instructional technology by the office of
instructional technology within the Department of Education. Present law requires the
department to create and implement a statewide educational technology plan.
Proposed law retains present law.
Proposed law creates the Technology Strategy Task Force to review the technology plan, the
current technology capabilities of schools in the state, and projected technology needs, and
develop a strategy whereby all schools can meet the technology needs of their students.
Proposed law provides that the task force shall be composed of fourteen members as follows:
(1)One member appointed by the state superintendent of education.
(2)One member appointed by the Louisiana School Boards Association.
(3)One member appointed by the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents.
(4)One member appointed by the Louisiana Association of Computer Using Educators.
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 349
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(5)One university faculty member with expertise in technology, appointed by the
Conference of Louisiana Colleges and Universities.
(6)One member appointed by the Louisiana Internet and Television Association.
(7)Four members with expertise in technology, one appointed by the Louisiana
Publishers Association, one appointed by the Greater New Orleans, Inc., one
appointed by the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, and one appointed by the Louisiana
Association of Business and Industry.
(8)One member appointed by the president of the State Board of Elementary and
Secondary Education.
(9)One member appointed by the governor.
(10)One member appointed by the president of the Senate.
(11)One member appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives.
Effective August 1, 2018.
(Adds R.S. 17:3921.3)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Education to the
original bill
1. Changes membership of the task force.
2. Makes technical changes.
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.