Senate Bill sb0502
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2006 SB 502
By Senator Wilson
33-18-06
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to discounted computers and
3 Internet access for students; creating a
4 program to offer discounted computers and
5 Internet access to public school students in
6 grades 5 through 12; authorizing the Department
7 of Education to negotiate terms with computer
8 manufacturers or nonprofit corporations;
9 requiring the department to negotiate terms
10 with broadband Internet access providers;
11 requiring the department to adopt rules,
12 including rules for provision of technical
13 training to students; requiring the Digital
14 Divide Council to implement a pilot project to
15 assist low-income students with purchasing
16 discounted computers and Internet access
17 services; requiring the council to identify
18 eligibility criteria for participation in the
19 pilot project; providing for funding and
20 authorizing the council to accept grants to
21 implement the pilot project; providing an
22 effective date.
23
24 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
25
26 Section 1. Discounted computers and Internet access
27 for students.--
28 (1) There is created a program to offer computers and
29 Internet access at a discounted price to students enrolled in
30 grades 5 through 12 in a public school in the state.
31
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Florida Senate - 2006 SB 502
33-18-06
1 (2) The Department of Education may negotiate with
2 computer manufacturers or nonprofit corporations that obtain
3 reconditioned computer hardware concerning:
4 (a) The prices of discounted computers and whether
5 computer accessories such as printers or scanners will be
6 offered to the students at reduced prices.
7 (b) Specialized software and hardware packages,
8 including, but not limited to:
9 1. A word processor;
10 2. Software and hardware necessary to enable broadband
11 Internet access; and
12 3. An operating system.
13 (c) The type of warranty that is to be provided to the
14 students and whether an extended warranty will be available to
15 the students and under what terms.
16 (3) The Department of Education shall negotiate with
17 broadband Internet access providers concerning the prices of
18 discounted broadband Internet access packages. In areas in
19 which broadband Internet access is not currently available,
20 the department shall negotiate with non-broadband Internet
21 access providers.
22 (4) The Department of Education, in conjunction with
23 the Digital Divide Council, shall adopt rules concerning:
24 (a) How to integrate into this program the provision
25 of computer or technical training to students in their
26 respective school districts.
27 (b) How parents and students may be notified of the
28 discounted computer and Internet access choices available.
29 (c) The distribution of eligibility certificates to
30 the students, the locations at which discounted computers and
31 Internet access services are available for purchase, and how
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Florida Senate - 2006 SB 502
33-18-06
1 students may obtain and pay for the equipment and services
2 covered by this program.
3 Section 2. Discounted computers and Internet access
4 for low-income students; pilot project.--
5 (1) The Digital Divide Council, in consultation with
6 the Department of Education, shall implement a pilot project
7 to assist low-income students to purchase discounted computers
8 and Internet access services as negotiated by the department.
9 The council shall identify counties, grade levels, and
10 low-income eligibility criteria for participation in the pilot
11 project.
12 (2) The pilot project shall be funded in an amount to
13 be determined in the General Appropriations Act. The Digital
14 Divide Council may accept grants from additional public and
15 private sources to implement the pilot project.
16 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2006.
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18 *****************************************
19 SENATE SUMMARY
20 Creates a program to offer discounted computers and
Internet access to public school students in grades 5
21 through 12. Authorizes the Department of Education to
negotiate terms with computer manufacturers or nonprofit
22 corporations. Requires the department to negotiate terms
with broadband Internet access providers. Requires the
23 department to adopt rules, including rules for provision
of technical training to students. Requires the Digital
24 Divide Council to implement a pilot project to assist
low-income students with purchasing discounted computers
25 and Internet access services. Requires the council to
identify eligibility criteria for participation in the
26 pilot project. Provides for funding and authorizes the
council to accept grants to implement the pilot project.
27
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29
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31
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.