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2004 SESSION

043710796
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 28
Offered January 14, 2004
Prefiled January 8, 2004
Establishing a joint subcommittee to review the feasibility and appropriateness of implementing the educational technology funding options recommended by the Joint Legislative and Audit Review Commission.
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Patron-- Puller
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, in seeking to enhance the use and integration of educational technology in their classrooms, Virginia school divisions have been challenged by funding constraints; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution No. 87, the 2002 Session of the General Assembly requested the Joint Legislative and Audit Review Commission (JLARC) to develop a state funding formula for educational technology and technology support personnel; and

WHEREAS, in September, 2003, JLARC issued a draft report exploring "how different aspects of educational technology can be addressed through a funding formula" and offered several options for further consideration for implementation; and

WHEREAS, the report indicated that state appropriations for educational technology in fiscal year 2002 are estimated to have covered about 44 percent of the total technology expenditures made by school divisions, and that school divisions provided the remaining costs through local, and, to a lesser extent, federal funds; and

WHEREAS, the options offered by the JLARC report address a variety of funding approaches, including a prevailing cost methodology, an advanced level staff ratios computation, a Standards of Quality model, a site-based model, industry standards calculations, and other specific and complex mechanisms; and

WHEREAS, further examination of these options is necessary for the Commonwealth to implement a methodology that will best support educational technology in our public schools; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to review the feasibility and appropriateness of implementing the educational technology funding options recommended by the Joint Legislative and Audit Review Commission.

The joint subcommittee shall be composed of 14 members as follows: five members of the House of Delegates, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House, in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates; three members of the Senate, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; and three citizen members with expertise in business or educational technology, two to be appointed by the Speaker of the House, and one to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; the Secretary of Education, the President of the Board of Education, and the Superintendent of Public Instruction, who shall serve ex officio with full voting privileges.

Nonlegislative citizen members of the joint subcommittee shall be citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Unless otherwise approved in writing by the chairman of the joint subcommittee and the respective Clerk, nonlegislative citizen members shall only be reimbursed for travel originating and ending within the Commonwealth of Virginia for the purpose of attending meetings. If a companion joint resolution of the other chamber is agreed to, written authorization of both Clerks shall be required. The joint subcommittee shall elect a chairman and vice chairman from among its membership, who shall be members of the General Assembly.

In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall, among other things, (i) evaluate the specific findings underlying the various JLARC funding options; (ii) identify potential funding sources for such options as well as for the lease and purchase of computers, technology equipment, and software licenses by school divisions; (iii) recommendations for the implementation of a funding formula, if any; and (iv) such other issues as it deems appropriate.

Administrative staff support shall be provided by the Office of the Clerk of the House of Delegates. Legal, research, policy analysis, and other services as requested by the joint subcommittee shall be provided by the Division of Legislative Services. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the joint subcommittee for this study, upon request.

The joint subcommittee shall be limited to four meetings for the 2004 interim, and the direct costs of this study shall not exceed $6,200 without approval as set out in this resolution. Approval for unbudgeted nonmember-related expenses shall require the written authorization of the chairman of the joint subcommittee and the respective Clerk. If a companion joint resolution of the other chamber is agreed to, written authorization of both Clerks shall be required.

No recommendation of the joint subcommittee shall be adopted if a majority of the House members or a majority of the Senate members appointed to the joint subcommittee (i) vote against the recommendation and (ii) vote for the recommendation to fail notwithstanding the majority vote of the joint subcommittee.

The joint subcommitee shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2004, and the chairman shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the 2005 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall state whether the joint subcommittee intends to submit to the General Assembly and the Governor a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a document. The executive summary and the report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.

Implementation of this resolution is subject to subsequent approval and certification by the Joint Rules Committee. The Committee may approve or disapprove expenditures for this study, extend or delay the period for the conduct of the study, or authorize additional meetings during the 2004 interim.