BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    




                   Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
                           Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair

                                           678 (Hall)
          
          Hearing Date:  08/17/2009           Amended: 05/06/2009
          Consultant:  Dan Troy           Policy Vote: ED 7-1
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          BILL SUMMARY:   AB 678 would require the inclusion of  
          cyberbullying, content control software, and the use of mobile  
          communications technology to the existing guidelines and  
          criteria relating to school district education technology plans.  
           
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                            Fiscal Impact (in thousands)

           Major Provisions         2009-10      2010-11       2011-12     Fund
                                                                  
          Education technology plan        $60 to $75, annually      
          General
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          STAFF COMMENTS: This bill meets the criteria for referral to the  
          Suspense File.  
          
          In order to be eligible for education technology grants, school  
          districts are required to complete a three- to five-year  
          education technology plan.  The Department of Education is  
          required to develop guidelines and criteria for use in the  
          development of local plans.  The Department is also responsible  
          for maintaining the plans and making them available to the  
          public.

          While bullying through electronic means is already an act that  
          can trigger suspension or expulsion, there is currently no  
          requirement for the inclusion of cyberbullying in the local  
          education technology plans.  This bill would add cyberbullying,  
          content control software, and the use of mobile communications  
          technology to the elements included in existing state guidelines  
          for technology plans.  The bill would further encourage  
          districts to partner with information technology companies or  
          non-profits to develop tools to supplement the internet safety  
          provisions specified in the guidelines and criteria.











          As districts would not need to update their plans to conform to  
          the revised guidelines until the next update, this bill should  
          not result in any significant local costs.  Plus, as technology  
          plans are adopted as a condition of receipt of technology  
          grants, no costs would be reimbursable.  However, the Department  
          of Education reports increased workload of one half of a  
          consultant position to revise guidelines and criteria and to  
          maintain the enhanced plans.  Costs would be approximately  
          $60,000 to $75,000 for this effort.