SJR34 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bobby D. SingletonSenator

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

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

Summary

SJR34 creates a Joint Interim Study Commission to review responsible technology purchases by Alabama public education and to develop a model total cost of ownership for tech buying.

What This Bill Does

It establishes a commission with defined members to study the short- and long-term fiscal, economic, privacy, and environmental impacts of expanding mass technology purchases in public education. It directs the commission to consider and design a simple total cost of ownership (TCO) model or calculator for K-12 and higher education, including factors like residual value, leasing, end-of-life buybacks, sustainability, disposal environmental impact, and data privacy. The commission will have staff support, determine meeting procedures, report findings and proposed legislation to the Legislature, publish a final report, and dissolve by January 1, 2023.

Who It Affects

• Public K-12 schools and higher education institutions in Alabama, whose technology purchasing decisions could be guided by or affected by the proposed TCO model and related recommendations.
• State and local education policymakers, school and system administrators, and legislators who participate in the commission and may implement its recommendations.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Joint Interim Study Commission on Responsible Technology Purchases by Public Education to examine fiscal, privacy, and environmental impacts of mass technology purchases and to recommend methods to address them.
• Sets membership, including state education leaders, higher education system leaders, chairs of Education Policy and Finance/Taxation committees, minority leaders, the State Finance Director, and an education technology specialist, with a diversity requirement.
• Co-chairs are the Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee chair and the House Ways and Means Education Committee chair; commission to meet as soon as practical.
• Requires consideration and design of a model total cost of ownership (TCO) matrix/calculator for public K-12 and higher education, including residual value, leasing options, end-of-life buybacks, sustainability, disposal environmental impact, and data privacy assurances.
• Provides staff support from the Senate and Legislative Services Agency; outlines compensation for legislative members and expense reimbursement for others.
• Mandates reporting of findings and any proposed legislation to the Legislature and publication of the final report on the Legislature’s website by January 1, 2023, after which the commission dissolves.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Resolutions, Legislative