GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1993

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1192

Short Title:  School Technology Funds.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Representatives Nesbitt, Barnes, Diamont, Black, Rogers, Hackney, Colton, Crawford, Fitch; Alexander, Bowman, Burton, Cummings, Dickson, Gottovi, Griffin, Hall, Hensley, H. Hunter, Luebke, G. Miller, Smith, Spears, and Stamey.
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Referred to:  Appropriations.
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April 26, 1993

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO PROVIDE EVERY SCHOOL IN THE STATE WITH A BASIC LEVEL OF TECHNOLOGY.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Education the sum of three hundred fifty-six million three hundred thirty-eight thousand one hundred fifty dollars ($356,338,150) for the 1993-94 fiscal year to provide every public school in the State with a basic level of technology.
Of these funds, the sum of three hundred fifty-five million five thousand one hundred forty dollars ($355,005,140) shall be used to provide school technology in every public school in the State, including the following:
(1)	A computer lab with 30 student stations for the use of instructional software such as computer assisted instruction, integrated learning systems, instructional management systems, and applications software such as word processing, database, spreadsheet, and desktop publishing.
(2)	A computer workstation in every classroom for teachers to use in preparation and delivery of instruction and for administrative record keeping.
(3)	A television monitor and video cassette-recorder in every classroom to take advantage of open-air broadcast programs, satellite programs, and instructional video tapes available from the library/media center.
(4)	At least two computer workstations at each elementary school and five computer workstations at each secondary school, housed in the library/media center, for individual students to use for basic skills instructional software.
(5)	A telecommunications line, modem, and software in each school's library/media center that will allow students and teachers access to external databases and resources for research purposes.
The remainder of the funds shall be used to train the principal and two teachers from each school to use the new technology.
Sec. 2.  (a)	There is created the Commission on School Technology.  The Commission shall be located administratively in the Department of Public Education but shall exercise all its prescribed statutory powers independently of the State Board of Education and the Department of Public Instruction.
(b)	The Commission shall consist of five members appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the President of the Senate in accordance with G.S. 120-121, one of whom shall be recommended by the President of the Senate to serve as cochair, and five members appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives in accordance with G.S. 120-121, one of whom shall be recommended by the Speaker of the House of Representatives to serve as cochair.
	(c)	The terms of members shall expire when all funds appropriated pursuant to Section 1 of this act have been expended or encumbered and the Commission has made a final report on the expenditure of the funds to the General Assembly.  A vacancy shall be filled in accordance with G.S. 120-122.
(d)	The initial meeting of the Commission shall be called jointly by the cochairs.
(e)  Members of the Commission who are not State officers or employees shall receive per diem and necessary travel and subsistence expenses in accordance with G.S. 138-5.  Members who are State officers or employees shall be reimbursed for travel and subsistence in accordance with G.S. 138-6.
(f)  The Department of Public Instruction shall provide requested professional and clerical staff to the Commission.  The Commission may also employ professional and clerical staff and may hire outside consultants to assist it in its work.
(g)  The Commission shall provide oversight and guidance on the implementation and use of technology in the schools and on the  expenditure of State funds for school technology.  The Commission shall report to the General Assembly on an annual basis on the implementation and use of school technology throughout the State and the expenditure of funds appropriated pursuant to Section 1 of this act.
Sec. 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1993.