Bill Text: TX SB1140 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the establishment of a technology allotment for public schools.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-17 - Referred to Education [SB1140 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-SB1140-Introduced.html

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84R9563 CAE-D
By: Watson S.B. No. 1140

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of a technology allotment for public
schools.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 31.001, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 31.001. FREE INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS. Instructional
materials selected for use in the public schools shall be furnished
without cost to the students attending those schools. Except as
provided by Section 31.104(d), a school district may not charge a
student for instructional material or technological equipment
purchased by the district with the district's instructional
materials allotment or technology allotment.
SECTION 2. Section 31.152(b), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) A school trustee, administrator, or teacher commits an
offense if the person accepts a gift, favor, or service that:
(1) is given to the person or the person's school;
(2) might reasonably tend to influence a trustee,
administrator, or teacher in the selection of instructional
material or technological equipment; and
(3) could not be lawfully purchased with state
instructional materials funds or the technology allotment under
Section 32.006.
SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 32, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 32.006 to read as follows:
Sec. 32.006. TECHNOLOGY ALLOTMENT. (a) Each school
district is entitled to an allotment of $15 for each student in
average daily attendance or a different amount for any year
provided by appropriation.
(b) An allotment under this section may be used only to:
(1) provide for the purchase by school districts of
technological equipment that contributes to student learning; and
(2) pay:
(A) to provide access to technological equipment
for instructional use; and
(B) the salary and other expenses of an employee
who provides technical support for the use of technological
equipment directly involved in student learning.
(c) The allotment under this section may not be paid from
the state instructional materials fund established under Section
31.021 or otherwise affect the amount of a school district's
instructional materials allotment under Section 31.0211. The
allotment may be paid from:
(1) the available school fund; or
(2) any other fund that may be used for that purpose
and that is identified in the General Appropriations Act as the
source of payment of the allotment.
(d) An open-enrollment charter school is entitled to an
allotment under this section.
SECTION 4. Section 41.124(c), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(c) A school district that receives tuition for a student
from a school district with a wealth per student that exceeds the
equalized wealth level may not claim attendance for that student
for purposes of Chapters 42 and 46, [and] the instructional
materials allotment under Section 31.0211, and the technology
allotment under Section 32.006.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.