SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6004

               As Passed Senate, March 13, 1997

Title:  An act relating to creating the education technology revolving fund.

Brief Description:  Creating the K‑20 education technology revolving fund.

Sponsors:  Senators Wood, Bauer, Winsley, Jacobsen and Kohl.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Ways & Means:  3/5/97, 3/6/97 [DP].

Passed Senate, 3/13/97, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators West, Chair; Deccio, Vice Chair; Strannigan, Vice Chair; Bauer, Brown, Fraser, Long, Loveland, Roach, Rossi, Schow, Sheldon, Snyder, Spanel, Swecker, Thibaudeau and Winsley.

Staff:  Michael Groesch (786-7434)

Background:  The 1996 Legislature established the Telecommunications Oversight and Policy Committee (TOPC) to oversee the development of a backbone for the K-20 education network.

TOPC has recommended that the costs of ongoing operations of the K-20 network shared infrastructure should be funded through an internal service fund--a sustainable funding source frequently used in state government to provide ongoing utility services.  An internal service fund is a type of revolving fund used to account for state activities that provide goods and services on a cost-reimbursement basis to state agencies and other governmental entities.

Summary of Bill:  All network users pay an equitable share of the costs for use of the network to the education technology revolving fund created in the custody of the State Treasurer.  Only the Director of the Department of Information Services or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from the fund.  The fund may be used only to pay for the acquisition of equipment, software, supplies and services, and other incidental costs.  The fund may not be used for local networks or for anything specific to a particular institution or group of institutions.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For:  This bill is one of three elements needed to implement the K-20 network established by the Legislature in 1996.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator Jeannette Wood, prime sponsor (pro).