Senate Bill 2408

AN ACT TO REENACT SECTION 37-151-17, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REESTABLISH THE COUNCIL ON EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY AND PRESCRIBE ITS MEMBERSHIP; TO PRESCRIBE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COUNCIL; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 37-151-17, Mississippi Code of 1972, is reenacted as follows:

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 shall be appointed 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) The council shall annually elect a chairperson and 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) Research and serve as an information resource to the Mississippi Legislature on bandwidth in Mississippi;

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

(3) This section shall stand repealed after July 1, 2021.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2016.