SENATE BILL NO. 518

June 08, 2021, Introduced by Senators GEISS, BAYER, HOLLIER, BULLOCK, SANTANA, POLEHANKI and MCMORROW and referred to the Committee on Energy and Technology.

A bill to amend 1979 PA 94, entitled

"The state school aid act of 1979,"

(MCL 388.1601 to 388.1896) by adding section 68.

the people of the state of michigan enact:

Sec. 68. (1) In addition to the appropriations in section 11, there is appropriated an amount not to exceed $25,000,000.00 from the general fund for 2021-2022 for the purposes of this section. By not later than 45 days after the effective date of the amendatory act that added this section, the department shall establish a grant program to distribute this funding to districts and intermediate districts to be used in the manner described in subsection (4).

(2) To receive funding under this section, a district or intermediate district must apply for the funding in a form and manner prescribed by the department.

(3) The department shall distribute funding under this section in an amount not to exceed $100,000.00 for each district or intermediate district.

(4) A district or intermediate district that receives funding under this section shall use the funding only for the following purposes:

(a) To provide mobile hotspot devices to pupils who are enrolled in the district or intermediate district.

(b) Toward the payment of costs associated with participation in the E-rate Program offered by the Federal Communications Commission.

(5) Notwithstanding section 17b, the department shall make payments under this section on a schedule determined by the department.

(6) As used in this section, "mobile hotspot device" means a portable device that creates Wi-Fi coverage allowing nearby devices to connect to the internet.