BILL NUMBER: AB 2437	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 23, 2014

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Hagman
    (   Coauthor:   Assembly Member  
Maienschein   ) 

                        FEBRUARY 21, 2014

   An act to add  Section 60644.5 to   Article
15 (commencing with Section 17079.35) to Chapter 12.5 of Part 10 of
Division 1 of Title 1 of  the Education Code, relating to
 pupil assessment,   school infrastructure,
 and making an appropriation therefor.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2437, as amended, Hagman.  Pupil assessment: school
  School infrastructure:  network infrastructure.

   Existing law establishes various programs to measure and assess
the academic performance of pupils.  
   Existing law authorizes the California School Financing Authority
to revenue bonds in an amount not to exceed $400 million repaid from
a dedicated portions of funds allocated to school districts from the
California State Lottery Education Fund for the purposes of
establishing computer-based networks and telecommunications systems
for instructional purposes, including the procurement and
installation of computer hardware and software, multimedia audio,
video, and data transfer equipment, and wiring, cabling, and other
equipment necessary to establish network connectivity, and any
planning and installation costs associated with establishing and
installing the networks. 
   This bill would require the State Department of Education to
establish a competitive grant program to provide grants for the
construction of network infrastructure for schools with kindergarten
and grades 1 to 12,  inclusive, to enable the schools to
administer adequately digital assessments of pupils that are required
pursuant to state or federal law.   inclusive. 
The bill would require the department to award grants based on the
needs of the local education agencies and would require, as a
condition of the grant, that the local education agency provide
matching funds of 50% of the project costs. The bill would, for the
2014-15 fiscal year, appropriate $500,000,000 from the General Fund
to the department for the grant program.
   Vote:  2/3   majority  . Appropriation:
yes. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   SECTION 1.    Article 15 (commencing with Section
17079.35) is added to Chapter 12.5 of Part 10 of Division 1 of Title
1 of the   Education Code   , to read:  

      Article 15.  Network Infrastructure


   17079.35.  (a) The department shall establish a competitive grant
program to provide grants for the construction of network
infrastructure for schools with kindergarten and grades 1 to 12,
inclusive.
   (b) In administering the program, the department shall evaluate an
application and award the grants based on the need of the local
education agencies.
   (c) The department shall, as a condition of a grant, require the
local education agency to provide matching funds in an amount of 50
percent of the project costs.
   (d) (1) For the 2014-15 fiscal year, the sum of five hundred
million dollars ($500,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the
General Fund to the department for the purposes of this section.
   (2) The department may expend not more than ____ percent of the
amount appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) for its administrative
costs in implementing this article.  
  SECTION 1.    Section 60644.5 is added to the
Education Code, to read:
   60644.5.  (a) The department shall establish a competitive grant
program to provide grants for the construction of network
infrastructure for schools with kindergarten and grades 1 to 12,
inclusive, to enable the schools to administer adequately digital
assessments of pupils that are required by state or federal law.
   (b) In administering the program, the department shall evaluate an
application and award the grants based on the need of the local
education agencies.
   (c) The department shall, as a condition of a grant, require the
local education agency to provide matching funds in an amount of 50
percent of the project costs.
   (d) For the 2014-15 fiscal year, the sum of five hundred million
dollars ($500,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund
to the department for the purposes of this section.