85R12458 SRS-F     By: Taylor of Galveston S.B. No. 1483       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the creation of the Technology Lending Program to   provide grants to school districts and open-enrollment charter   schools.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 32, Education Code, is amended by adding   Subchapter G to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER G. TECHNOLOGY LENDING PROGRAM GRANTS          Sec. 32.301.  ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM. (a) The   commissioner may establish a grant program under which grants are   awarded to school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to   implement a technology lending program to provide students access   to equipment necessary to access and use electronic instructional   materials.          (b)  A school district or an open-enrollment charter school   may apply to the commissioner to participate in the grant program.   In awarding grants under this subchapter for each school year, the   commissioner shall consider:                (1)  the availability of existing equipment to students   in the district or school;                 (2)  other funding available to the district or school;   and                (3)  the district's or school's technology plan.          (c)  The commissioner may determine the terms of a grant   awarded under this section, including limits on the grant amount   and approved uses of grant funds.          (d)  The commissioner may recover funds not used in   accordance with the terms of a grant by withholding amounts from any   state funds otherwise due to the school district or open-enrollment   charter school.          Sec. 32.302.  FUNDING. (a) The commissioner may use not   more than $25 million from the state instructional materials fund   under Section 31.021 each state fiscal biennium or a different   amount determined by appropriation to administer a grant program   established under this subchapter.          (b)  The cost of administering a grant program under this   subchapter must be paid from funds described by Subsection (a).          Sec. 32.303.  USE OF GRANT FUNDS. (a) A school district or   open-enrollment charter school may use a grant awarded under   Section 32.301 or other local funds to purchase, maintain, and   insure equipment for a technology lending program.          (b)  Equipment purchased by a school district or   open-enrollment charter school with a grant awarded under Section   32.301 is the property of the district or school.          Sec. 32.304.  REVIEW OF PROGRAM. Not later than January 1,   2019, the commissioner shall review the grant program established   under this subchapter and submit a report to the governor, the   lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,   and the presiding officers of the standing committees in the senate   and house primarily responsible for public education.  This section   expires September 1, 2019.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2017.