Senate Bill No. 328–Committee on Finance

(On Behalf of Legislative Committee on Education)

March 8, 1999

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Referred to Committee on Human Resources and Facilities

 

SUMMARY—Revises provisions regarding commission on educational technology. (BDR 34-1395)

FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.

Effect on the State or on Industrial Insurance: No.

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. Green numbers along left margin indicate location on the printed bill (e.g., 5-15 indicates page 5, line 15).

 

AN ACT relating to education; revising provisions regarding the commission on educational technology; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

1-1 Section 1. NRS 388.795 is hereby amended to read as follows:

1-2 388.795 1. The commission shall establish a plan for the use of

1-3 educational technology in the public schools of this state. In preparing the

1-4 plan, the commission shall consider:

1-5 (a) Plans that have been adopted by the department and the school

1-6 districts in this state;

1-7 (b) Plans that have been adopted in other states ; [, including, but not

1-8 limited to, the Iowa Communications Network;]

1-9 (c) The information submitted to the commission by the board of

1-10 trustees of each school district pursuant to subsection 2 of NRS 385.351;

1-11 and

1-12 (d) Any other information that the commission or the committee deems

1-13 relevant to the preparation of the plan.

1-14 2. The plan established by the commission must include

1-15 recommendations for methods to:

1-16 (a) Incorporate educational technology into the public schools of this

1-17 state;

2-1 (b) Increase the number of pupils in the public schools of this state who

2-2 have access to educational technology;

2-3 (c) Increase the availability of educational technology to assist licensed

2-4 teachers and other educational personnel in complying with the

2-5 requirements of continuing education, including, but not limited to, the

2-6 receipt of credit for college courses completed through the use of

2-7 educational technology;

2-8 (d) Facilitate the exchange of ideas to improve the achievement of

2-9 pupils who are enrolled in the public schools of this state; and

2-10 (e) Address the needs of teachers in incorporating the use of educational

2-11 technology in the classroom, including, but not limited to, the completion

2-12 of training that is sufficient to enable the teachers to instruct pupils in the

2-13 use of educational technology.

2-14 3. The department shall provide:

2-15 (a) Administrative support;

2-16 (b) Equipment; and

2-17 (c) Office space,

2-18 as is necessary for the commission to carry out the provisions of this

2-19 section.

2-20 4. The following entities shall cooperate with the commission in

2-21 carrying out the provisions of this section:

2-22 (a) The state board.

2-23 (b) The board of trustees of each school district.

2-24 (c) The superintendent of schools of each school district.

2-25 (d) The department.

2-26 5. The commission shall:

2-27 (a) Develop technical standards for educational technology and any

2-28 electrical or structural appurtenances necessary thereto, including, without

2-29 limitation, uniform specifications for computer hardware and wiring, to

2-30 ensure that such technology is compatible, uniform and can be

2-31 interconnected throughout the public schools of this state.

2-32 (b) Allocate money to the school districts from the trust fund for

2-33 educational technology created pursuant to NRS 388.800 and any money

2-34 appropriated by the legislature for educational technology, subject to any

2-35 priorities for such allocation established by the legislature.

2-36 (c) Establish criteria for the board of trustees of a school district that

2-37 receives an allocation of money from the commission to:

2-38 (1) Repair, replace and maintain computer systems.

2-39 (2) Upgrade and improve computer hardware and software and other

2-40 educational technology.

2-41 (3) Provide training, installation and technical support related to the

2-42 use of educational technology within the district.

3-1 (d) Submit to the governor, the committee and the department its plan

3-2 for the use of educational technology in the public schools of this state and

3-3 any recommendations for legislation.

3-4 (e) Review the plan annually and make revisions as it deems necessary

3-5 or as directed by the committee or the department.

3-6 (f) In addition to the recommendations set forth in the plan pursuant to

3-7 subsection 2, make further recommendations to the committee and the

3-8 department as the commission deems necessary.

3-9 6. The commission may appoint an advisory committee composed of

3-10 members of the commission or other qualified persons to provide

3-11 recommendations to the commission regarding standards for the

3-12 establishment, coordination and use of a telecommunications network in

3-13 the public schools throughout the various school districts in this state.

3-14 The advisory committee serves at the pleasure of the commission and

3-15 without compensation unless an appropriation or other money for that

3-16 purpose is made available by the legislature.

3-17 7. As used in this section, "public school" includes the Caliente youth

3-18 center and the Nevada youth training center.

3-19 Sec. 2. This act becomes effective upon passage and approval.

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