00 CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 54(HES) 01 "An Act establishing the Alaska education technology program; creating a 02 corporate tax deduction for donations to the Alaska education technology fund; 03 and providing for an effective date." 04 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 05 * Section 1. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. (a) The legislature finds that 06 (1) 75 percent of the labor force in the state is unprepared to deal with rapidly 07 changing technology; 08 (2) the education system and publicly funded libraries can help in creating a 09 trained and productive labor force; 10 (3) education technology has the potential to improve the academic 11 performance of students, to prepare students for work in a technological society, and to assist 12 with education reform; 13 (4) schools and publicly funded libraries lack adequate hardware, software, and 14 training for students, patrons, and educators in education technology; 01 (5) in order to implement effective education technology programs, teacher 02 training and active participation is essential; 03 (6) there is a need for a central agency to coordinate education technology 04 efforts in the state and to increase awareness of sources of funds and equipment for 05 developing education technology. 06 (b) It is the purpose of this Act to establish the Alaska education technology program, 07 to provide teachers, library staff, and other instructional personnel with training in how to 08 apply education technology in meeting instructional objectives and to provide the necessary 09 equipment and materials to effectively utilize education technology within the adopted 10 curricula throughout the rural and urban schools and in publicly funded libraries of this state. 11 * Sec. 2. AS 14.30 is amended by adding new sections to read: 12 Article 12. Alaska Education Technology. 13 Sec. 14.30.800. Alaska education technology fund established. (a) The 14 Alaska education technology fund is established in the department. The purpose of the 15 fund is to (1) enhance the quality and equity of education at public elementary and 16 secondary schools by providing project or grant money needed to purchase, install, and 17 maintain education technology in classrooms; (2) provide training in the use of 18 education technology to help students and teachers achieve student performance 19 standards; (3) provide access to networks for public schools and publicly funded 20 libraries through the University of Alaska computer network, the Department of 21 Administration computer network, or other means consistent with the program 22 developed under AS 44.21.315(c); and (4) provide education technology, including 23 computer and resource sharing systems, to publicly funded libraries. The fund consists 24 of legislative appropriations to the fund and public or private donations made for the 25 purpose of the fund. 26 (b) A project or grant application shall be submitted on a form prescribed by 27 the department. A project or grant application may be submitted to the department by 28 a school district on behalf of a public school or by a publicly funded library. 29 (c) The department shall award and administer grants and contracts under this 30 section. 31 Sec. 14.30.810. Required duties of department. The department 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 revenue. The 21 commissioner of revenue is the treasurer of the fund and has the duty to do all acts, 22 whether or not expressly authorized, that the commissioner of revenue considers 23 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. AS 43.20 is amended by adding a new section to read: 03 Sec. 43.20.018. Education technology tax deduction. A deduction may be 04 claimed from the income subject to the tax due under this chapter for a contribution 05 made by the taxpayer in cash to the Alaska education technology fund established under 06 AS 14.30.800 to the extent the contribution is not claimed as a deduction or credit under 07 another provision of this title. 08 * Sec. 4. This Act takes effect July 1, 1997.