2018 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE BILL NO. 349
BY SENATORS APPEL, THOMPSON AND WALSWORTH
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 17:3921.3 and R.S. 36:651(G)(6) and to repeal R.S. 17:3921.3 and R.S.
3 36:651(G)(6), relative to the statewide educational technology plan; to create the
4 Technology Strategy Task Force within the Department of Education to review the
5 statewide plan; and to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 17:3921.3 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
8 §3921.3. Technology Strategy Task Force; creation, membership, duties
9 A. There is hereby created the Technology Strategy Task Force,
10 hereafter referred to as the "task force", for the purpose of undertaking a
11 thorough review and analysis of the statewide technology plan provided for in
12 this Part and the status of the technological abilities and projected needs of
13 public elementary and secondary schools.
14 B. The task force shall be composed of sixteen members as follows:
15 (1) One member appointed by the state superintendent of education.
16 (2) One member appointed by the Louisiana School Boards Association.
17 (3) One member appointed by the Louisiana Association of School
18 Superintendents.
19 (4) One member appointed by the Louisiana Association of Computer
20 Using Educators.
21 (5) One university faculty member with expertise in technology,
22 appointed by the Conference of Louisiana Colleges and Universities.
23 (6) One member appointed by the Louisiana Internet and Televison
24 Association.
25 (7) Six members with expertise in technology, one appointed by the
26 Louisiana Publishers Association, one appointed by Greater New Orleans, Inc.,
27 one appointed by the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, one appointed by the
ACT No. 381
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1 Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, one appointed by the Academic
2 Division of the Cyber Innovation Center, and one appointed by CenturyLink,
3 Inc.
4 (8) One member appointed by the president of the State Board of
5 Elementary and Secondary Education.
6 (9) One member appointed by the governor.
7 (10) One member appointed by the president of the Senate.
8 (11) One member appointed by the speaker of the House of
9 Representatives.
10 C. Members shall serve without compensation, but may receive any per
11 diem or reimbursement as allowed by the appointing authority.
12 D. Vacancies shall be filled in the manner of original appointment.
13 E. The state superintendent shall convene the first meeting of the task
14 force not later than September 1, 2018, and shall designate state Department of
15 Education staff to assist the task force in performing its duties and
16 responsibilities. The chairman of the task force shall be selected at the first
17 meeting from among the membership of the task force.
18 F. At a minimum, the task force shall:
19 (1) Thoroughly review the statewide educational technology plan as it
20 relates to current capabilities and projected future needs for internet services,
21 facility hardware, individual devices, software applications, and training needs.
22 (2) Examine current capabilities and future needs for technology.
23 (3) Identify any technology gaps that exist and examine whether the gaps
24 are due to the school's location or the relative wealth of the public school
25 governing authority.
26 (4) Determine whether Louisiana Optical Network Infrastructure is a
27 potential cost-effective partner for providing technology to schools.
28 (5) Determine the impact of technology mandates and state and local
29 funding mechanisms.
30 (6) Define strategic funding needs.
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1 (7) Determine a strategy to secure available outside funding to assist in
2 meeting the technology needs of students and schools.
3 (8) Develop a long-term strategy to assist the state Department of
4 Education and public school governing authorities to plan for and meet current
5 and future technology needs.
6 G. The task force shall submit a written report of its findings and any
7 recommendations to the Senate Committee on Education and the House
8 Committee on Education not later than December 1, 2019.
9 Section 2. R.S. 36:651(G)(6) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
10 §651. Transfer of boards, commissions, departments, and agencies to Department
11 of Education; boards, commissions, and agencies within Department
12 of Education
13 * * *
14 G. The following agencies, as defined by R.S. 36:3, are transferred to and
15 hereafter shall be within the Department of Education as provided in Part III of
16 Chapter 22 of this Title:
17 * * *
18 (6) The Technology Strategy Task Force (R.S. 17:3921.3).
19 * * *
20 Section 3. R.S. 17:3921.3 and R.S. 36:651(G)(6) are hereby repealed in their
21 entirety.
22 Section 4. Section 3 of this Act shall become effective on December 31, 2019.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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