S.B. 70

1

COMPUTERS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
2 AMENDMENTS
3 1999 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Sponsor: Howard A. Stephenson
6 AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC EDUCATION; PROVIDING THAT THE COMPUTERS
7 FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS PILOT PROGRAM MAY INCLUDE A COMPONENT TO BUILD
8 NEW COMPUTERS; PHASING OUT THE STATE APPROPRIATION; PROVIDING THAT
9 CHARGES TO DISTRICTS FOR PURCHASING COMPUTERS UNDER THE PROGRAM
10 REFLECT THE NEED TO KEEP THE PROGRAM ECONOMICALLY VIABLE AS THE
11 STATE APPROPRIATION IS BEING PHASED OUT; MODIFYING THE
12 DECISION-MAKING PROCESS; PROVIDING FOR A DISTRIBUTION PROCESS; AND
13 MAKING CERTAIN TECHNICAL CHANGES.
14 This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
15 AMENDS:
16 53A-1-707, as enacted by Chapter 228, Laws of Utah 1998
17 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
18 Section 1. Section 53A-1-707 is amended to read:
19 53A-1-707. Pilot program for acquisition of computers -- Appropriation --
20 Administration of program -- Training and refurbishing facility -- Security procedures.
21 (1) (a) In order to enhance the educational technology initiative programs authorized under
22 this chapter, there is established a pilot program for the acquisition and refurbishing of donated
23 computers to be used in the state's public schools.
24 (b) If economically feasible, the program may also include a component for the building
25 of new computers.
26 [(b)] (c) (i) The Legislature shall provide an appropriation in Title 53A, Chapter 17a,
27 Minimum School Program Act, for the pilot program to the State Board of Education for the

28 purpose of [acquiring repaired, refurbished, or upgraded donated computers for use in the state's
29 public schools] funding the program.
30 (ii) [The] A representative from the board [may use the] and the Department of
31 Corrections and the governor's designee shall establish guidelines for distribution of the
32 appropriation [to purchase parts and supplies required to repair, refurbish, or upgrade the donated
33 computers].
34 (iii) The appropriation made under Subsection (1)(c)(i) shall be phased out over the second
35 and third year of the pilot program so that by the end of the third year the program shall be
36 economically self-sufficient.
37 [(c)] (d) (i) This pilot program is established to supplement and not supplant the
38 technology programs authorized and funded pursuant to Sections 53A-1-701 and 53A-1-702 .
39 (ii) In order for a school district to participate in the pilot program, it must first
40 demonstrate to the satisfaction of the board a sustained effort to meet its existing technology needs
41 by providing related support and training.
42 (2) (a) The State Board of Education and the Department of Corrections shall administer
43 the program as provided under this section.
44 (b) The board and department may contract or work with nonprofit organizations to
45 coordinate the overall program, particularly in the areas of obtaining donated computers and
46 publicizing the program.
47 (c) [Representatives from the board and department] The individuals designated in
48 Subsection (1)(c)(ii) shall jointly establish policies for the program, to include:
49 (i) the selection of schools to receive computers[, which schools would pay to the Utah
50 Correctional Industries $100 per computer to cover the costs incurred under Subsection (4)(c)(ii)];
51 (ii) standards for computers, including warrantees; [and]
52 (iii) the solicitation of donated computers from the private sector[.]; and
53 (iv) the equitable distribution of computers to school districts participating in the program.
54 (d) [If the number of computers requested exceeds the number of computers available
55 under the program, then the board's determination as to which applicants are given priority shall
56 be based on a school district's efforts to secure computers in the previous fiscal year as compared
57 to all other school districts] Charges for computers to school districts shall reflect the need to keep
58 the program economically viable, taking into account the phase out requirement under Subsection

59 (1)(c)(iii).
60 (3) (a) The State Board of Education, through the State Superintendent of Public
61 Instruction, shall conduct a survey of computer needs in the state's 40 school districts.
62 (b) The state superintendent shall complete the survey by July 15[, 1998] of each year.
63 (4) (a) In conjunction with the survey, the State Board of Education, in collaboration with
64 the Department of Corrections, shall establish an applied technology training and recycling
65 program to provide inmates with skills to build and refurbish computers in order to increase the
66 number of quality computers in the state's public schools.
67 (b) The [training and recycling] program shall take place at a state correctional facility
68 designated by the Department of Corrections.
69 (c) (i) As part of the program, the Utah Correctional Industries shall establish a computer
70 [refurbishing] facility in industrial space made available at the designated correctional facility.
71 (ii) The Utah Correctional Industries is responsible for pickup and delivery of the
72 computers and staffing of the [refurbishing] facility.
73 (d) An applied technology center or correctional educational program shall supply an
74 electronics and computer repair curriculum for the program at the correctional facility.
75 (5) To ensure that inmates at the designated correctional facility do not have unauthorized
76 access to the hardware and software components of the program, the Department of Corrections
77 and the Utah Correctional Industries shall establish appropriate security policies and procedures.
78 (6) The State Board of Education and Department of Corrections shall closely monitor the
79 pilot program and present [a] an annual progress report to the Education Interim Committee [prior
80 to the 1999 General Session, together with recommendations for continuance, expansion, or
81 termination of the program].




Legislative Review Note
as of 11-19-98 12:54 PM

A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel

Committee Note

The Education Interim Committee recommended this bill.