HB 765

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to discounted computers and Internet
3	access for students; creating a program to offer
4	discounted computers and Internet access to public school
5	students and students in home education programs in grades
6	5 through 12; requiring the Department of Education to
7	negotiate terms with computer manufacturers, certain
8	nonprofit corporations, and broadband Internet access
9	providers; requiring the State Board of Education to adopt
10	rules, including rules for provision of technical training
11	to students; requiring the Digital Divide Council to
12	implement a pilot project to assist low-income students
13	with purchasing discounted computers and Internet access
14	services; requiring the council to identify eligibility
15	criteria for participation in the pilot project; providing
16	for funding and authorizing the council to accept grants
17	to implement the pilot project; providing an effective
18	date.
19
20	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
21
22	Section 1.  Discounted computers and Internet access for
23	students.--
24	(1)  There is created a program to offer computers and
25	Internet access at a discounted price to students enrolled in
26	grades 5 through 12 in a public school, including a charter
27	school, or a home education program in the state.
28	(2)  The Department of Education shall negotiate with
29	computer manufacturers and with nonprofit corporations that
30	obtain reconditioned computer hardware concerning:
31	(a)  The prices of discounted computers and whether
32	computer accessories such as printers or scanners will be
33	offered to the students at reduced prices.
34	(b)  Specialized software and hardware packages, including,
35	but not limited to:
36	1.  A word processor.
37	2.  Software and hardware necessary to enable broadband
38	Internet access.
39	3.  An operating system.
40	(c)  The type of warranty that is to be provided to the
41	students and whether an extended warranty will be available to
42	the students and under what terms.
43	(3)  The Department of Education shall negotiate with
44	broadband Internet access providers concerning the prices of
45	discounted broadband Internet access packages. In areas in which
46	broadband Internet access is not currently available, the
47	department shall negotiate with non-broadband Internet access
48	providers.
49	(4)  The State Board of Education shall adopt rules
50	concerning:
51	(a)  How to integrate into this program the provision of
52	computer or technical training to students in their respective
53	school districts.
54	(b)  How parents and students may be notified of the
55	discounted computer and Internet access choices available.
56	(c)  The distribution of eligibility certificates to the
57	students, the locations at which discounted computers and
58	Internet access services are available for purchase, and how
59	students may obtain and pay for the equipment and services
60	covered by this program.
61	Section 2.  Discounted computers and Internet access for
62	low-income students; pilot project.--
63	(1)  The Digital Divide Council, in consultation with the
64	Department of Education, shall implement a pilot project to
65	assist low-income students to purchase discounted computers and
66	Internet access services as negotiated by the department. The
67	council shall identify counties, grade levels, and low-income
68	eligibility criteria for participation in the pilot project.
69	(2)  The pilot project shall be funded in an amount to be
70	determined in the General Appropriations Act. The Digital Divide
71	Council is authorized to accept grants from additional public
72	and private sources to implement the pilot project.
73	Section 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2006.

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