BILL ANALYSIS �
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair
AB 227 (Hall)
Hearing Date: 07/11/2011 Amended: 04/06/2011
Consultant: Jacqueline Wong-HernandezPolicy Vote: Education 6-2
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BILL SUMMARY: AB 227 adds the prevention of cyberbullying,
content control software, and the responsible use of mobile
communication technology to the components that are required to
be included in existing guidelines and criteria for school
district educational technology plans.
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Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 Fund
CDE criteria/guidelines up
to $75 up to $75 General
Technology grants Substantial cost pressure to
continue program 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 (CDE) is
required to develop guidelines and criteria for use in the
development of local plans. The CDE is also responsible for
maintaining the plans and making them available to the public.
Existing law requires the CDE to develop guidelines and criteria
(to be included in plans) that involve components to educate
pupils and teachers on all of the following: A) the appropriate
and ethical use of information technology in the classroom; B)
Internet safety; C) the manner in which to avoid committing
plagiarism; D) the concept, purpose, and significance of a
copyright so that pupils are equipped with the skills necessary
to distinguish lawful from unlawful online downloading; and E)
the implications of illegal peer-to-peer network file sharing.
AB 227 (Hall)
Page 1
This bill would add cyberbullying, content control software, and
the use of mobile communications technology to the elements
included in state guidelines for technology plans at their next
required update to apply for the next cycle of grant funding.
The CDE, however, would be required to establish criteria and
create guidelines before schools apply for any new funding (as
early as 2013).
According to the CDE, the only education technology grants it
administers are the federally-funded Education Technology State
grant program and the Enhancing Education Through Technology.
Federal funding for both programs was eliminated in April, and
there are no immediate plans to restore federal program funding.
Although existing law has practically applied to those specific
programs, both existing law and this bill would apply to any
education technology grant program the state administers in the
future, as well. Thus, whether or not funding continues for
existing grant programs (the current grant cycle ends in 2013)
this bill requires CDE to establish the specified criteria and
guidelines for which schools would be responsible in the future.
The CDE has indicated that administrative activities had been
funded with federal grant program funds, which will no longer be
available. The CDE estimates limited-term workload of up to .5
PY to implement this bill.
This legislation does not create or continue specific education
technology grants. However, enacting new legislation to add
requirements for accessing technology grants creates cost
pressure on the General Fund to continue funding recently
de-funded federal grants or similar technology grants.