HB 1613CS

CHAMBER ACTION




1The PreK-12 Committee recommends the following:
2
3     Council/Committee Substitute
4     Remove the entire bill and insert:
5
A bill to be entitled
6An act relating to discounted computers and Internet
7access for students; creating a program to offer
8discounted computers and Internet access to public school
9students in grades 5 through 12; requiring the Department
10of Education to negotiate terms with computer
11manufacturers and broadband Internet access providers;
12requiring the department to adopt rules, including rules
13for provision of technical training to students; requiring
14the Digital Divide Council to implement a pilot project to
15assist low-income students with purchasing discounted
16computers and Internet access services; requiring the
17council to identify eligibility criteria for participation
18in the pilot project; providing for funding and
19authorizing the council to accept grants to implement the
20pilot project; providing an effective date.
21
22Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
23
24     Section 1.  Discounted computers and Internet access for
25students.--
26     (1)  There is created a program to offer computers and
27Internet access at a discounted price to students enrolled in
28grades 5 through 12 in a public school in the state.
29     (2)  The Department of Education shall negotiate with
30computer manufacturers concerning:
31     (a)  The prices of discounted computers and whether
32computer accessories such as printers or scanners will be
33offered to the students at reduced prices.
34     (b)  Specialized software and hardware packages, including,
35but not limited to:
36     1.  A word processor;
37     2.  Software and hardware necessary to enable broadband
38Internet access; and
39     3.  An operating system.
40     (c)  The type of warranty that is to be provided to the
41students and whether an extended warranty will be available to
42the students and under what terms.
43     (3)  The Department of Education shall negotiate with
44broadband Internet access providers concerning the prices of
45discounted broadband Internet access packages. In areas in which
46broadband Internet access is not currently available, the
47department shall negotiate with non-broadband Internet access
48providers.
49     (4)  The Department of Education shall adopt rules
50concerning:
51     (a)  How to integrate into this program the provision of
52computer or technical training to students in their respective
53school districts.
54     (b)  How parents and students may be notified of the
55discounted computer and Internet access choices available.
56     (c)  The distribution of eligibility certificates to the
57students, the locations at which discounted computers and
58Internet access services are available for purchase, and how
59students may obtain and pay for the equipment and services
60covered by this program.
61     Section 2.  Discounted computers and Internet access for
62low-income students; pilot project.--
63     (1)  The Digital Divide Council, in consultation with the
64Department of Education, shall implement a pilot project to
65assist low-income students to purchase discounted computers and
66Internet access services as negotiated by the department. The
67council shall identify counties, grade levels, and low-income
68eligibility criteria for participation in the pilot project.
69     (2)  The pilot project shall be funded in an amount to be
70determined in the General Appropriations Act. The Digital Divide
71Council is authorized to accept grants from additional public
72and private sources to implement the pilot project.
73     Section 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2005.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.