HB165 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jim McClendon

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Public schools, grades 9-12, textbooks and instructional materials, Education Department to provide in electronic format to each student as feasible

Description

Under existing law, students enrolled in public K-12 schools are provided approved textbooks free of charge.

This bill would provide to all students in the public school grades 9-12, where available, approved textbooks and instructional materials to students in electronic format.

This bill would also provide to all students and teachers in public school grades 9-12, where feasible, a pen-enabled tablet computer for storing, reading, accessing, exploring, and interacting with digital textbooks and other instructional materials, in whole or in part, to students in lieu of hardbound textbooks and other instructional materials. The State Department of Education will lead, implement, provide oversight, and administer this act and shall adopt such rules as necessary in accordance with an implementation plan as authorized in this act.

This bill also authorizes the Alabama Public School and College Authority to sell and issue up to $100,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of additional bonds for the support of public education and to use such funds for the acquisition and maintenance of computer equipment, software, and digital textbooks.

This bill authorizes the Authority to reimburse the Department of Finance and the State Treasurer's office for costs incurred in providing services for the Authority; authorizes the Authority to provide for the details of the bonds and the sale and issuance thereof; makes an appropriation and pledge for payment of the principal and interest on the bonds from specific taxes necessary to pay the principal and interest at their respective maturities and authorizes the Authority to pledge for payment of the principal and interest on the bonds the funds that are appropriated and pledged; provides for the investment of funds by the State Treasurer; provides that the bonds shall not constitute a debt of the state but shall be limited obligations payable out of the funds appropriated and pledged therefor; provides that the bonds and income therefrom shall be exempt from all taxation in this state and that the bonds may be used to secure deposits of funds of this state and its political subdivisions, instrumentalities, and agencies, and for investment of fiduciary funds; authorizes the Authority to establish procedures and requirements to ensure compliance with the tax covenants with which the Authority must comply; exempts the bonds from the usury laws of the state; authorizes the Authority to issue refunding bonds and give the details of such refunding; provides for the employment of attorneys, fiscal advisors, trustees, paying agents, investment bankers, banks, and underwriters and for the payment of all expenses incurred in the issuance of the bonds; provides that after payment of the expenses of the issuance of the bonds the proceeds from the sale thereof shall be disbursed on order or warrants issued by or under the direction of the Authority for the purposes for which the bonds are authorized to be issued; provides for the timely expenditure of proceeds from the sale of the bonds; and provides that if any portion of this act should be held invalid such holding shall not affect the validity of any other portion thereof.

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Subjects

Education