SJR111 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bobby D. SingletonSenator

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Education, Joint Interim Study Commission on Responsible Technology Purchases by Public Education, created

Summary

SJR111 creates a bipartisan interim study commission to examine and guide responsible technology purchases by Alabama public education, including a model for total cost of ownership.

What This Bill Does

The bill establishes the Joint Interim Study Commission on Responsible Technology Purchases by Public Education to study the short- and long-term financial effects of large technology purchases and to recommend ways to address economic, privacy, and environmental impacts. It defines the commission's diverse membership, designates co-chairs from key committees, and requires meetings and staff support. It directs the commission to consider creating a simple total cost of ownership (TCO) model for K-12 and higher education purchases, including factors like resale value, leasing options, end-of-life buyback, sustainability, disposal environmental impact, and data privacy at end-of-life, and to report findings with proposed legislation by January 1, 2022, after which the commission dissolves.

Who It Affects

• Public K-12 schools and higher education institutions in Alabama, which would use or be influenced by the proposed TCO model and purchasing guidance.
• Public school and college students, who may benefit from more responsible and cost-effective technology purchases and better privacy and environmental safeguards.
• Alabama state government and legislators, who will oversee, staff, and participate in the commission and potentially enact related legislation.
• Taxpayers, who are affected by how public education spending on technology is planned and managed.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Joint Interim Study Commission on Responsible Technology Purchases by Public Education to examine fiscal impacts and recommend methods to address economic, privacy, and environmental issues of mass technology purchases.
• Defines commission membership, including state education leaders, chairs of key education and finance committees, minority leaders, the State Finance Director, and a hardware technology specialist appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, with diversity considerations.
• Designates co-chairs as the chairs of the Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee and the House Ways and Means Education Committee; requires timely meetings.
• Requires the commission to review existing mass technology purchasing methods and to explore a model total cost of ownership (TCO) calculator for public K-12 and higher education, including residual value, leasing options, end-of-life buyback, sustainability, disposal impact, and data privacy.
• Provides staff support from the Senate and Legislative Services Agency; outlines compensation or reimbursement for members.
• Requires the commission to report findings and proposed legislation to the Legislature and publish a final report by January 1, 2022, at which point the commission is dissolved.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 23, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Resolutions, Legislative