SB224 Alabama 2013 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Gerald O. Dial

Republican

Co-Sponsor

Trip Pittman

Session

Regular Session 2013

Title

Alabama Ahead Act. commencing with 2013-2014 school year, revised to delete pen-enabled requirement, phase-in requirement and reassignment provisions, advisory committee revised, schools given question of participating, local school systems to contribute 25 percent of funding, Secs. 16-16B-1, 16-16B-2 am'd.

Summary

SB224 would reform the Alabama Ahead Act by removing pen-enabled device requirements, ending the phased rollout and device reassignment, and making local participation voluntary with a 25% local funding share.

What This Bill Does

Starting with the 2013-2014 school year, it would drop the pen-enabled requirement and eliminate the phased-in rollout and reassignment of tablets and mobile devices. Local school systems could choose to participate, and participating systems would need to contribute 25% of the funding from local funds unless the State Department of Education waives or reduces this amount. The plan would be overseen by the Department of Education with a revised Alabama Ahead Advisory Committee. It also amends the contingent implementation act and clarifies how local funding changes relate to Amendment 621 of the Alabama Constitution, including exceptions that may allow the changes without separate legislative enactment.

Who It Affects

• Local school systems/districts: voluntary participation; if they participate, they must fund 25% of project costs from local funds (subject to waiver/reduction by the State Department of Education).
• Students and teachers in participating districts: would receive digital textbooks and instructional materials electronically, without pen-enabled devices and without mandated device reassignment.
• State Department of Education: would lead and oversee implementation, set plan requirements, and have authority to waive/reduce the local funding share; would revise the advisory committee structure.
• Alabama Ahead Advisory Committee: composition would be revised to reflect new structure and oversight roles.

Key Provisions

• Delete the requirement that tablets and mobile computers be pen-enabled.
• Delete the phase-in provisions for digital instructional materials and devices.
• Delete the reassignment provisions that required devices to be reassigned to students over time.
• Revise the composition and role of the Alabama Ahead Advisory Committee.
• Make participation by local school systems voluntary and require participating systems to contribute 25% of funding from local funds (with possible waivers or reductions by the State Department of Education).
• Amend the contingent implementation act to remove the need for separate legislative enactment for implementation.
• Acknowledge that the bill involves a new or increased expenditure of local funds but allow it under exceptions in Amendment 621 of the Alabama Constitution.
• Amend Sections 16-16B-1 and 16-16B-2 of the Code of Alabama 1975 to implement changes and update the definitions and implementation details.
• Establish the act’s effective date as the first day of the third month after approval by the Governor or becoming law.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Alabama Ahead Act