SJR5 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bobby D. SingletonSenator

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

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

Summary

SJR5 creates a temporary Joint Interim Study Commission to review how public education buys technology, study costs and impacts, and develop a cost-of-ownership tool.

What This Bill Does

The bill establishes a commission to examine the short-term and long-term costs of large technology purchases by public education and to identify economic, privacy, and environmental impacts. It requires the commission to consider creating a model total cost of ownership (TCO) calculator for K-12 and higher education purchases, including factors like resale value, leasing options, end-of-life buybacks, sustainability, disposal impacts, and data privacy. The commission will report findings and any proposed legislation to the Legislature by January 1, 2025, and then dissolve. The Governor will chair the commission, and staff support will be provided by the Senate and the Legislative Services Agency.

Who It Affects

• Public K-12 schools and higher education institutions that purchase technology, who may use a new TCO model to inform purchasing decisions and budget planning.
• State and local education and budgeting bodies and lawmakers involved in education policy and finance, who will participate in and oversee the commission and its recommendations.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Joint Interim Study Commission on Responsible Technology Purchases by Public Education with specified members including state education leaders, chairs of education and finance committees, minority leaders, the State Finance Director, and a hardware technology specialist appointed by the Lieutenant Governor.
• Tasked to review the fiscal impact of mass technology purchases and to develop methods addressing economic, privacy, and environmental concerns, including a model TCO matrix/calculator for K-12 and higher education purchases.
• Requires coordination to ensure diverse membership and appointing authorities, and Governor to serve as chair with meetings scheduled as practical.
• Requires the Commission to provide staff support, allow compensation and travel for legislative members, reimburse other members as per appointing authorities, provide meeting notices to the Secretary of State, and publish findings and proposed legislation.
• Mandates final report to the Legislature with proposed legislation and public posting of the final report on the Legislature's website no later than January 1, 2025, at which point 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

Legislature