I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2060 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 23, 2009 Mr. Larson of Connecticut (for himself, Mr. Miller of North Carolina, Mr. Hare, Mr. Wu, Ms. Edwards of Maryland, Mr. Honda, Mr. Himes, Mr. Patrick J. Murphy of Pennsylvania, Mr. Ehlers, Mr. Sestak, Ms. Kilpatrick of Michigan, Mr. Sablan, Mrs. Napolitano, Ms. Markey of Colorado, Mr. Ross, Ms. Matsui, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. McGovern, and Mr. Smith of Washington) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor A BILL To provide grants to community colleges to improve the accessibility of computer labs and to provide information technology training for both students and members of the public seeking to improve their computer literacy and information technology skills.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Community College Technology Access Act.

2.

Grant program

(a)

Definitions

In this Act: (1)

Community college

The term community college means an educational institution in any State that— (A)admits as regular students only persons having a certificate of graduation from a school providing secondary education, or the recognized equivalent of such a certificate, or persons having completed a secondary school education in a home school setting that is treated as a home school or private school under State law; (B)is legally authorized within such State to provide a program of education beyond secondary education; (C)provides not less than a 2-year program that is acceptable for full credit toward such a degree; (D)is a public or other nonprofit institution; and (E)is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association, or if not so accredited, is an institution that has been granted preaccreditation status by such an agency or association that has been recognized by the Secretary for the granting of preaccreditation status, and the Secretary has determined that there is satisfactory assurance that the institution will meet the accreditation standards of such an agency or association within a reasonable time. (2)

Computer lab

The term computer lab means a dedicated community college facility that provides onsite computer software, hardware, and technical support for students, faculty, and staff. (3)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Education. (b)

Authorization of grant program

(1)

In general

The Secretary shall, to the extent funds are available, award grants to community colleges eligible under subsection (d) to improve the accessibility of computer labs and to provide information technology training for both students and members of the public seeking to improve their computer literacy and information technology skills. (2)

Use of funds

(A)

In general

A community college receiving a grant award under this Act shall use funds for the maintenance, administration, and improvement of computer labs, which includes— (i)staffing facilities; (ii)purchasing computer equipment, which includes hardware and software; (iii)maintaining, repairing, and replacing technology equipment; (iv)maintaining and securing facilities; and (v)providing utilities for the facilities and computer equipment. (B)

Additional uses with authorization

A community college receiving a grant award under this Act may use funds to expand or build a computer lab facility by submitting an application to and receiving authorization from the Secretary. (c)

Application

(1)

In general

A community college seeking a grant award under this Act shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information and assurances as the Secretary may require. (2)

Proposed use

A community college shall include in the application its proposed use of funds from the grant award. (d)

Eligibility

A community college is eligible for a grant award under this Act if its application demonstrates that it will— (1)keep a computer lab open not less than 10 hours on weekends to members of the public; (2)keep a computer lab open not less than 20 hours on weekday evenings to members of the public, but if any computer lab is open more than 10 hours on weekends as required under paragraph (1), each additional hour above 10 shall reduce the required hours under this paragraph; (3)provide lab instruction (by an employee of a community college who is capable of providing basic computer instruction) to members of the public for hours that the computer lab is open under paragraphs (1) and (2); and (4)offer computer-related training at no charge to members of the public for hours that the computer lab is open under paragraphs (1) and (2). (e)

Grant amounts

The Secretary shall determine the amount of the grant award based on the applications received.

3.

Reports

(a)

Annual report by a community college

For each fiscal year that a community college receives a grant award under this Act, the community college shall submit to the Secretary, by a date determined by the Secretary, a report that contains a review and evaluation of the computer lab, including its costs, hours of operation, and amount of users. (b)

Report by secretary

The Secretary shall submit annually to Congress a report on the grant program, including the number of grant awards allocated and the approximate number of persons served by each computer lab receiving funds under this Act.

4.

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $125,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2009 to 2013.