HB179 Alabama 2018 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Bill Poole
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2018
Title: Appropriations, supplemental appropriations for fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, from the Education Trust Fund Advancement and Technology Fund to various school systems and colleges and universities, and other entities
Summary: HB 179 adds a supplemental appropriation from the Education Trust Fund Advancement and Technology Fund to support equipment, maintenance, and technology for Alabama colleges, universities, and education-related agencies in FY 2018, with new provisions for school security and a teacher-technology development program.
What This Bill Does
It provides $2,000,000 to the Alabama Community College System for equipment and/or deferred maintenance. It allocates $15,593,560 to public institutions of higher education for repairs/maintenance, facility insurance, and education technology/equipment purchases, distributed to individual colleges and universities. It directs $41,190,275 to the Department of Education and related boards for repairs/maintenance, classroom instructional support, facility insurance, transportation, and education technology, and it adds authority to spend on school security measures as part of a systemwide security plan. It also requires the Department of Education to allocate funds to local boards and specified entities, funds a Digital Tools for Teachers Initiative to provide technology tools and professional development, uses a grant-based approach for tool packages, and mandates a progress report by October 1, 2019.

Who It Affects
Higher education entities in Alabama (Alabama Community College System and public colleges/universities) will receive funds for equipment, maintenance, and technology upgrades.
K-12 and related education entities (Department of Education, Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind, Alabama School of Fine Arts, Alabama School of Math and Science, Youth Services School Districts, and local boards of education) will receive funds for repairs/maintenance, facility insurance, transportation, security measures, and teacher-focused technology development.

Key Provisions
Section 1: Appropriates $2,000,000 from the Education Trust Fund Advancement and Technology Fund to the Alabama Community College System for FY 2018 for equipment and/or deferred maintenance.
Section 2: Appropriates $15,593,560 from the Education Trust Fund Advancement and Technology Fund to the public institutions of higher education for FY 2018, to be used for repairs or deferred maintenance, facility insurance, and/or education technology and equipment purchases, with specific allocations to each institution as listed.
Section 3: Appropriates $41,190,275 from the Education Trust Fund Advancement and Technology Fund to the Department of Education, the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind, the Board of Youth Services School Districts, the Alabama School of Fine Arts, and the Alabama School of Math and Science for FY 2018, for repairs/maintenance, classroom instructional support, facility insurance, transportation, and education technology/equipment, and allows school security measures as part of a systemwide security plan.
Section 4: Requires the Department of Education to allocate these funds to local boards of education and named entities, including a line-by-line listing of local allocations; establishes a Digital Tools for Teachers Initiative for technology tools and professional development, awarding grants for tool packages (laptop, wireless tablet, projector) and related services; requires reporting to the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance and Tax Committee by October 1, 2019.
Section 5: Provides immediate effective date upon passage and governor's approval.

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