Legislature(2013 - 2014)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/03/2013 08:00 AM Senate EDUCATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB15 | |
| SB82 | |
| Confirmation Hearing: State Board of Education & Early Development | |
| HB87 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 15 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | HB 87 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 82 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 82-BROADBAND DISCOUNTS FOR SCHOOLS
8:40:19 AM
CHAIR STEVENS announced the consideration of SB 82.
SENATOR HUGGINS moved to adopt CS for SB 82, labeled 28-
LS0637\0, as the working document.
CHAIR STEVENS objected for discussion purposes.
8:40:54 AM
DAVID SCOTT, Staff, Senator Donny Olson, explained the changes
in the CS for SB 82, version O, on behalf of the sponsor. He
related that "telecommunications" was removed from the title and
the bill, as was any reference to Title I, both on advice from
the department. An effective date was added to the bill.
He explained that SB 82 intends that the state pick up the local
share for broadband costs that are not cover under the federal
E-rate Program. He pointed out that schools are facing higher
costs and it is the intent of the sponsor to free up money for
instruction.
He said the sponsor worked with the department to reduce the
fiscal note. For FY 2014, the state match would not change;
however, for FY 2015 on, for schools whose internet services are
faster than 10 megabits-a-second, the amount they are eligible
to receive is limited to a 10 percent increase from the previous
year's amount. For schools with internet service slower than 10
megabit-a-second, they can receive more than 10 percent of the
previous year's amount. This change results in a fixed-number
fiscal note, not an indeterminate note.
8:43:44 AM
SENATOR GARDNER summarized that schools need state assistance to
pay for their broadband costs because of the way the state is
funding schools and because costs are variable across the state.
MR. SCOTT replied that schools are faced with higher costs, such
as energy costs, and the sponsor decided that subsidizing
broadband costs was one way the state could help.
SENATOR GARDNER asked if increasing the base student allocation
would do the same thing, as well as allow schools to choose how
to spend the extra funding.
MR. SCOTT said he could not speak for his boss, but he agreed.
8:45:06 AM
LES MORSE, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Education & Early
Development, answered questions related to the fiscal note for
SB 82. He explained the calculations used to determine a new
fiscal note. He said the local share would be $13.7 million next
year for districts across the state. In FY 2015, if the schools
within the district have the broadband called for in the
legislation, they receive a 10 percent increase; if not, the
department works with vendors to increase the broadband up to
the qualifying amount.
He related that about one-third of the schools do not have
adequate broadband. The two-thirds of the schools that do have
adequate broadband, with the 10 percent escalator, would cost
$14.6 million and the one-third would cost $7.3 million. The
total for FY 2015 would be about $22 million. The out years
would see a 10 percent increase per year out to FY 2019.
8:47:11 AM
CHAIR STEVENS closed public testimony and held SB 82 in
committee.