HB46 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Donnie ChesteenSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Schools, Alabama Ahead Act, use of bonds to purchase and install high quality standards-based broadband Wi-Fi infrastructure in all public K-12 schools, Sec. 16-16B-2.1 added; Secs. 16-16B-1, 16-16B-2, 16-16B-3 am'd.

Summary

The bill would use up to $100 million in bonds to install high-quality broadband Wi‑Fi in every public school classroom, then use remaining funds to buy mobile digital computing devices for public high school students, with a detailed implementation plan and new governance rules.

What This Bill Does

It amendments the Alabama Ahead Act to prioritize funding for wireless infrastructure in all classrooms before mobile devices for students, and to set standards and a cost model for the network. It requires a formal implementation plan (technology plan, infrastructure readiness report, accountability reporting) and updates who serves on the advisory committee. It also changes bond issuance rules and adds a detailed, phased rollout with a 24‑month statewide completion target and semiannual progress reports.

Who It Affects

• Public school students and teachers, who would gain statewide high-quality Wi‑Fi access in classrooms and, for public high school students, access to mobile digital computing devices instead of traditional digital textbooks.
• Local school systems and state agencies (Department of Education, Alabama Educational Technology Association, and the Alabama Public School and College Authority), which would plan, implement, fund, monitor, and report on the WLAN upgrades and device program under new standards and timelines.

Key Provisions

• Bond funds up to 100,000,000 dollars are to be used first for high quality, standards-based wireless infrastructure in every classroom and common area, with remaining funds used to purchase mobile digital computing devices for students in lieu of digital textbooks for public high school students; a cost model and priorities for wireless infrastructure are specified.
• A new implementation framework requires a technology plan, an infrastructure readiness report, and accountability reporting; the advisory committee is redefined to include only selected members from the Alabama Educational Technology Association and the Educational Technology Division of the State Department of Education; bonds must be issued with approval from the State Director of Finance; the act allows the Alabama Public School and College Authority to issue bonds and removes prior contingent implementation language.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education