HB144 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bill Poole

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

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 144 provides a supplemental Education Trust Fund Advancement and Technology Fund appropriation for FY 2019 to state education agencies, higher education institutions, and local school systems to fund technology tools and teacher professional development.

What This Bill Does

The bill adds specific funding for the State Department of Education, public colleges and universities, and several education boards for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019. It allocates $2,000,000 for teacher professional development under the Digital Tools for Teachers Initiative to provide technology tools and training to classroom teachers. It also assigns detailed funding to local boards of education and other entities across Alabama, with expenditures subject to prior approval by the State Superintendent of Education and a reporting requirement due October 1, 2020.

Who It Affects

• State Department of Education receives funds to run grants and administer the technology and teacher development program.
• Public institutions of higher education receive funds to be distributed among the listed colleges and universities.
• Boards and entities including the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind, Youth Services School Districts, Alabama School of Fine Arts, and the Alabama School of Math and Science receive funds for their operations.
• Local boards of education and school districts across Alabama receive allocations for various programs and districts listed in the act.
• Classroom teachers benefit from technology tools and professional development funded by the initiative, and students are expected to benefit from improved instruction.

Key Provisions

• Section 1: Appropriates $1,287,807 from the Education Trust Fund Advancement and Technology Fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019 to award grants to local education agencies for technology tools and professional development for teachers.
• Section 2: Appropriates a total of $73,609,761 to public institutions of higher education for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, distributed among specific institutions (e.g., Alabama Community College System, University of Alabama, Auburn University, etc.).
• Section 3: Appropriates $198,716,398 from the Education Trust Fund Advancement and Technology Fund to the Department of Education and the boards of the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind, Youth Services School Districts, Alabama School of Fine Arts, and Alabama School of Math and Science for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019.
• Section 4: Allocates funds to local boards of education and other entities (a detailed district-by-district allocation is provided in the act), to be distributed by the Department of Education.
• Section 4(c): The funds for teacher professional development shall support the Digital Tools for Teachers Initiative, with grants to local education agencies to provide technology tools packages (including a laptop, wireless tablet, projector) and professional learning services, ensuring equal numbers of teachers per district.
• Section 4(b): Funds appropriated to the Department of Education may not be expended without prior approval from the State Superintendent of Education.
• Section 4(d): The State Superintendent must report on the initiative to the Chairs of the House Ways and Means-Education Committee and the Senate Committee on Finance and Taxation-Education no later than October 1, 2020.
• Section 5: The act becomes effective immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor, or upon becoming law by other means.

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