00 CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 216(HES) 01 "An Act establishing the Alaska education technology program; and providing 02 for an effective date." 03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 04 * Section 1. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. (a) The legislature finds that 05 (1) 75 percent of the labor force in the state is unprepared to deal with rapidly 06 changing technology; 07 (2) the education system and publicly funded libraries can help in creating a 08 trained and productive labor force; 09 (3) education technology has the potential to improve the academic 10 performance of students, to prepare students for work in a technological society, and to assist 11 with education reform; 12 (4) schools and publicly funded libraries lack adequate hardware, software, and 13 training for students, patrons, and educators in education technology; 14 (5) in order to implement effective education technology programs, teacher 01 training and active participation is essential; 02 (6) there is a need for a central agency to coordinate education technology 03 efforts in the state and to increase awareness of sources of funds and equipment for 04 developing education technology. 05 (b) It is the purpose of this Act to establish the Alaska education technology program, 06 to provide teachers, library staff, and other instructional personnel with training in how to 07 apply education technology in meeting instructional objectives, and to provide the necessary 08 equipment and materials to effectively utilize education technology within the adopted 09 curricula throughout the rural and urban schools and in publicly funded libraries of this state. 10 * Sec. 2. AS 14.30 is amended by adding new sections to read: 11 ARTICLE 12. ALASKA EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY. 12  Sec. 14.30.800. ALASKA EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY FUND 13 ESTABLISHED. (a) The Alaska education technology fund is established in the 14 department. The purpose of the fund is to (1) enhance the quality and equity of 15 education at public elementary and secondary schools by providing project or grant 16 money needed to purchase, install, and maintain education technology in classrooms; 17 (2) provide training in the use of education technology to help students and teachers 18 achieve student performance standards; (3) provide access to networks for public 19 schools and publicly funded libraries through the University of Alaska computer 20 network, the Department of Administration computer network, or other means 21 consistent with the program developed under AS 44.21.315(c); and (4) provide 22 education technology, including computer and resource sharing systems, to publicly 23 funded libraries. The fund consists of legislative appropriations to the fund and public 24 or private donations made for the purpose of the fund. 25  (b) A project or grant application shall be submitted on a form prescribed by 26 the department. A project or grant application may be submitted to the department by 27 a school district on behalf of a public school, or by a publicly funded library. 28  (c) The department shall award and administer grants and contracts under this 29 section. 30  Sec. 14.30.810. REQUIRED DUTIES OF DEPARTMENT. The department 31 shall 01  (1) develop and promote the use of education technology to 02  (A) improve student learning capabilities; 03  (B) foster collaboration between elementary and secondary 04 schools as well as postsecondary institutions; and 05  (C) provide access to training and support resources for students 06 and staff; 07  (2) recommend outstanding education technology programs or products 08 for use by school districts in the state; 09  (3) develop plans to utilize distance learning technology and provide 10 leadership in implementing the use of distance learning technology; 11  (4) encourage parental involvement in the use and development of 12 education technology; 13  (5) make recommendations to the board on plans, policies, programs, 14 and activities relating to education technology; 15  (6) identify methods to reduce the costs to school districts of 16 implementing education technology, including the costs of access to national and 17 international computer services; and 18  (7) advise school districts on sources of gifts or grants of education 19 technology and application procedures for receiving the gifts or grants. 20  Sec. 14.30.820. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSIONER OF 21 REVENUE. The commissioner of revenue is the treasurer of the fund and has the duty 22 to do all acts, whether or not expressly authorized, that the commissioner of revenue 23 considers necessary or proper in administering the assets of the fund. 24  Sec. 14.30.850. DEFINITIONS. In AS 14.30.800 - 14.30.850, 25  (1) "district" has the meaning given in AS 14.17.250; 26  (2) "education technology" means instructional equipment and materials 27 that are used to enhance the quality and effectiveness of teaching and learning, to 28 improve the development and training of teachers, and to enhance access to information 29 in libraries, including hardware, software, and telecommunications; 30  (3) "fund" means the Alaska education technology fund; 31  (4) "publicly funded library" means a library eligible for a grant under 01 AS 14.56.310. 02 * Sec. 3. This Act takes effect July 1, 1996.