| 1 | 1 | | 87R11971 MLH-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: West S.B. No. 1799 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to the creation of a broadband Internet connectivity and |
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| 8 | 8 | | broadband access grant program to facilitate instruction and |
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| 9 | 9 | | learning for public school students. |
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| 10 | 10 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 11 | 11 | | SECTION 1. Chapter 32, Education Code, is amended by adding |
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| 12 | 12 | | Subchapter H to read as follows: |
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| 13 | 13 | | SUBCHAPTER H. BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS GRANT PROGRAM |
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| 14 | 14 | | Sec. 32.321. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM. (a) The agency |
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| 15 | 15 | | shall establish a broadband Internet access grant program to |
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| 16 | 16 | | provide grants to school districts for the purpose of incentivizing |
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| 17 | 17 | | districts to develop unique or inventive methods for increasing |
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| 18 | 18 | | broadband Internet access to facilitate instruction and learning |
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| 19 | 19 | | for district students. |
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| 20 | 20 | | (b) A school district may apply to the commissioner to |
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| 21 | 21 | | participate in the grant program. The commissioner shall develop |
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| 22 | 22 | | eligibility criteria for school districts to receive grants under |
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| 23 | 23 | | the program. |
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| 24 | 24 | | (c) The commissioner may determine the terms of a grant |
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| 25 | 25 | | awarded under this section, including limits on the amount of a |
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| 26 | 26 | | grant and the approved uses of grant funds. |
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| 27 | 27 | | Sec. 32.322. FUNDING. (a) The commissioner shall use funds |
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| 28 | 28 | | appropriated or other funds available for the purpose of the grant |
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| 29 | 29 | | program authorized under this subchapter. |
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| 30 | 30 | | (b) The commissioner may solicit and accept gifts, grants, |
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| 31 | 31 | | and donations from any public or private source, including the |
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| 32 | 32 | | federal government. |
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| 33 | 33 | | Sec. 32.323. RULES. The commissioner may adopt rules as |
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| 34 | 34 | | necessary to implement this subchapter. |
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| 35 | 35 | | SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2021-2022 |
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| 36 | 36 | | school year. |
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| 37 | 37 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 38 | 38 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 39 | 39 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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| 40 | 40 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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| 41 | 41 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |
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