House Bill 450

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COUNCIL ON EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY, WHICH WAS REPEALED UNDER THE OPERATION OF LAW ON JULY 1, 2011, AS PROVIDED FOR IN SENATE BILL NO. 2710, 2011 REGULAR SESSION OF THE MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE; TO CODIFY NEW SECTIONS 37-151-15, 37-151-17, 37-151-19, 37-151-21 AND 37-151-23, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PRESCRIBE THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE COUNCIL ON EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY; TO DEFINE ITS RESPONSIBILITIES IN MANDATING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MASTER PLAN FOR EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY IN THE STATE; TO REQUIRE THE COUNCIL TO CREATE A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR DISTANCE LEARNING; TO CREATE A STATE PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY FUND; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. The following shall be codified as Section 37-151-15, Mississippi Code of 1972:

37-151-15. (1) The purpose of Sections 37-151-15 through 37-151-23 is to provide access to individualized instruction through computer-based technology, video and other technology-based instruction to eligible school districts.

(2) As used in Sections 37-151-15 through 37-151-23, unless the context indicates otherwise:

(a) "Council" means the Council for Education Technology.

(b) "Technology" includes, but is not limited to, computers, software, telecommunications, cable television, interactive video, film, low-power television, satellite communications, microwave communications, technology-based equipment installation and maintenance, and the training of staff in the use of such technology-based instruction.

SECTION 2. The following shall be codified as Section 37-151-17, Mississippi Code of 1972:

37-151-17. (1) There is established the Council for Education Technology, which shall be an advisory group attached to the Board of the Department of Information Technology Services and the State Board of Education. The council shall develop a master plan for education technology.

(2) (a) The council shall consist of the following members who shall serve as ex officio voting members:

(i) The Chief Information Officer in the Department of Education;

(ii) The State Superintendent of Public Education;

(iii) The Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services;

(iv) The Executive Director of Mississippi Public Broadcasting;

(v) The Executive Director of the Mississippi Library Commission;

(vi) The Executive Director of the Mississippi Community College Board; and

(vii) The Commissioner of Higher Education.

(b) The following eight (8) members to be appointed as follows:

(i) One (1) member appointed by the State Board of Education;

(ii) Two (2) members appointed by the Governor;

(iii) One (1) member appointed by the Lieutenant Governor;

(iv) One (1) member appointed by the Speaker of the House;

(v) One (1) member of the Mississippi Educational Computing Association to be appointed by the State Superintendent of Public Education;

(vi) One (1) member appointed by the Board of Information Technology Services; and

(vii) One (1) member appointed by the Executive Director of the Mississippi Development Authority.

Members of the council shall be appointed within thirty (30) days after July 1, 2015, for four-year terms and may be reappointed for one (1) additional four-year term.

All appointed members of the council shall have a demonstrated knowledge in the use, applications and specifications of education technology.

(3) A majority of the membership present at any meeting shall constitute a quorum for the official conduct of business. Members may be reimbursed for mileage and actual and necessary expenses in accordance with state law, and members who are not state officers or employees shall receive per diem as authorized in Section 25-3-69.

(4) Immediately upon receiving notice of the appointment of all members, the State Superintendent of Public Education shall call an organizational meeting. At this meeting the State Superintendent of Public Education shall preside as the temporary chairperson. The council will select a chairperson for the first year of organization, and annually thereafter, elect a new chairperson, provided that no member shall serve more than two (2) consecutive years as chairperson. The council may also elect from among the members any officers it deems necessary, and shall define the duties of the officers.

(5) Meetings shall be held at least four (4) times per year, or upon call of the chairperson, at a time and place designated by the chairperson. The Department of Information and Technology Services and the State Department of Education shall provide staff support for the council.

(6) The duties and responsibilities of the council shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(a) Provide vision and direction for the use of education technology in Mississippi;

(b) Serve as an advisory group to the chairs of the Appropriations Committees in the Mississippi House of Representatives and the Mississippi Senate on issues related to education technology;

(d) Review technology plans (current and future activities) and appropriations requests of state-funded entities;

(e) Serve as a forum for discussion of education technology uses, issues and innovations;

(f) Encourage an environment receptive to technological progress in education throughout the state;

(g) Submit an annual report to the Mississippi Legislature.

SECTION 3. The following shall be codified as Section 37-151-19, Mississippi Code of 1972:

37-151-19. (1) The Council for Education Technology shall develop the master plan for education technology and submit the plan to the State Board of Education and the Legislature. Implementation of each stage of the master plan shall begin immediately upon approval of the State Board of Education. The plan shall outline the state's five-year activities related to purchasing, developing and using technology to:

(a) Improve learning and teaching and the ability to meet individual students' needs to increase student achievement;

(b) Improve curriculum delivery to help meet the needs for educational equity across the state;

(d) Improve the efficiency and productivity of administrators; and

(e) Encourage development by the private sector and acquisition by districts of technologies and applications appropriate for education.

(2) The five-year plan shall cover all aspects of education technology, including, but not limited to, its use in educational instruction and administration, video and computer systems, software and hardware, multiple delivery systems for satellite, microwave, cable, instructional television fixed service, fiber optic and computer connections products, video cameras and monitoring equipment for classrooms, school buildings and school buses, the preparation of school buildings for technological readiness, and the development of staff necessary to implement the plan.

(3) Periodically, to develop and make specific recommendations to the State Board of Education for the adoption of minimum specifications for the equipment to be utilized in the education technology plan by school districts. The State Board of Education shall adopt and promulgate said minimum guidelines for the utilization of said education technology equipment which shall be monitored through the accreditation process.

(4) The integrated technology-based communications system shall provide comprehensive, current, accurate and accessible information relating to management, finance, operations, instruction and pupil programs which are under the jurisdiction of the State Department of Education.

(5) To facilitate communication among teachers, parents, students and prospective employers of students, and to provide access to many vital technological services, the five-year plan may include the installation of telephone lines in each classroom.

(6) In designing and implementing the five-year plan, the council shall consider seeking the active participation of private organizations whose knowledge and assistance will be useful.

(7) The council shall update as necessary the plan developed under subsection (2) of this section and report to the Legislature at the completion of each implementation phase of the master plan.

(8) The council shall submit its recommendations for a statewide technology plan to the State Board of Education, which shall accept the recommendations, or return them to the council along with suggestions for changes to make the recommendations consistent with the policies of the State Board of Education.

SECTION 4. The following shall be codified as Section 37-151-21, Mississippi Code of 1972:

37-151-21. The council shall create a strategic plan for distance learning in the state and submit it to the Legislature by November 1, 2016. The plan shall set forth the state's vision for developing a long-term and statewide distance learning strategy. It shall include, but not be limited to, definitions of the types of distance learning delivery systems, an evaluation process for determining and certifying the educational and cost-effectiveness of each type of delivery system, comparisons of the various types of delivery systems and recommendations for implementation.

SECTION 5. The following shall be codified as Section 37-151-23, Mississippi Code of 1972:

37-151-23. There is hereby created in the State Treasury a special fund to be designated the "State Public School Education Technology Fund." Any unexpended balance in said fund at the end of the fiscal year shall carry over into the subsequent fiscal year and shall not lapse into the State General Fund. School districts shall be required to submit a plan for the use of such funds for education technology to the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education, consistent with policies adopted pursuant to recommendations of the council, shall allocate funds provided from the proceeds of State Education Technology Bonds and funds provided from appropriation by the Legislature into the State Public School Education Technology Fund, to school districts based on the approved education technology plan, which demonstrates need consistent with the district's existing technology, for the purchase or lease of education technology for the schools. The State Board of Education is authorized to apply said funds to matching grants from federal or private sources to generate additional funds for the purchase or lease of education technology for the schools.

SECTION 6. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2015.