Appropriates general revenues for purchase of computers to increase the availability of computers, software, and Internet access for public high schools.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that if public school graduates in this State are to succeed in today's highly competitive and quickly evolving technological society, then the legislature must provide the funds to procure the necessary tools and expertise to train them to perform and compete with the best and the brightest worldwide. As articulated by the Hawaii Content and Performance Standards II Educational Technology Group, we must "ensure that all students are able to utilize available computer and related technology to do their tasks or to assist them in achieving their own learning goals."

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to increase the availability of computers, software, and universal Internet access to meet the needs of Hawaii's public high school students.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2001-2002, to purchase computers for public high schools statewide, in order to increase the availability of computers, software, and universal Internet access to meet the needs of Hawaii's public high school students.

SECTION 3. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2001.