HB1206: HB1206 Education; require local boards of education and other public school governing bodies to consider total cost of ownership and related factors when purchasing school technology devices

26 LC 49 2727S The House Committee on Education offers the following substitute to HB 1206: A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Article 19 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Co de of Georgia Annotated,1 relating to instructional materials and content relative to elementary and secondary education,2 so as to require local boards of education and other public sch ool governing bodies to3 consider the total cost of ownership and related factors when purchasing school technology4 devices; to provide for reports; to provide definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal5 conflicting laws; and for other purposes.6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:7 SECTION 1.8 Article 19 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Geo rgia Annotated, relating to9 instructional materials and content relative to elementary and secondary education, is10 amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:11 "20-2-1018.12 (a) As used in this Code section, the term:13 (1) 'Break/fix rate' means the number of school technology dev ices reported as14 malfunctioning or needing repair prior to the end of the device's life cycle as stated by the15 manufacturer due to physical damage, hardware failure, or other breakage incidents16 H. B. 1206 (SUB) - 1 - 26 LC 49 2727S which are not covered by insurance or a policy plan period during a school year divided17 by the total number of school technology devices in operation d uring the same school18 year.19 (2) 'Department' means the Department of Education.20 (3) 'School technology device' or 'device' means electronic or computerized equipment21 greater than $100.00 in value provided for educational purposes in a public school,22 including, but not limited to, computers, tablets, and interact ive whiteboards, and23 associated hardware, software, and technical equipment.24 (b) When purchasing school technology devices, each local board of education and other25 public school governing body shall take into consideration the following factors:26 (1) The long-term cost of ownership of such devices, including the costs of repairs;27 (2) The flexibility for innovation during the life of such devices; and28 (3) The anticipated resale or salvage value of such devices co mpared to the initial29 purchase cost of such devices.30 (c) Beginning in 2027, no later than October 15 of each year, each local board of education31 and other public school governing body shall submit a report to the department which32 includes the following information for the respective local school system or public school33 for the preceding school year:34 (1) The total number of school technology devices in operation;35 (2) The break/fix rate of school technology devices;36 (3) The total number of school technology devices which required repair and the number37 of such devices that underwent repair or were out of service; and38 (4) The total amount spent to repair or replace school technology devices.39 (d) Beginning in 2027, no later than December 31 each year, the department shall submit40 a report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Spea ker of the House of41 Representatives, and the chairpersons of the House Committee on Education and the Senate42 H. B. 1206 (SUB) - 2 - 26 LC 49 2727S Education and Youth Committee whic h shall include the informati on provided to the43 department pursuant to subsection (c) of this Code section."44 SECTION 2.45 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.46 H. B. 1206 (SUB) - 3 -