II 111th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1614 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES August 6, 2009 Mr. Schumer introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To provide grants to community colleges to improve the accessibility of computer labs and to provide information technology training for 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— (i)a certificate of graduation from a school providing secondary education or the recognized equivalent of such a certificate; or (ii)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 an associate's 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. (4)

State

The term State has the meaning given the term in section 103 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1003). (b)

Authorization of grant program

(1)

In general

From amounts appropriated under section 4, the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to community colleges eligible under subsection (d) to enable the community colleges— (A)to improve the accessibility of computer labs; and (B)to provide information technology training for students and members of the public seeking to improve their computer literacy and information technology skills. (2)

Use of funds

(A)

Mandatory

A community college receiving a grant award under this Act shall use the grant funds for the maintenance, administration, and improvement of computer labs, which shall include— (i)staffing facilities; (ii)purchasing computer equipment, including hardware and software; (iii)maintaining, repairing, and replacing technology equipment; (iv)maintaining and securing facilities; or (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 the grant funds to expand or build a computer lab by submitting an application for such use to the Secretary and receiving authorization for such use 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 the community college's proposed use of the grant funds. (d)

Eligibility

A community college is eligible for a grant award under this Act if the community college's application under subsection (c) demonstrates that the community college 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, except that if the computer lab is open more than 10 hours on weekends as required under paragraph (1), then each additional hour above 10 hours on weekends shall reduce by 1 hour the 20 hours required under this paragraph; (3)provide computer lab instruction (by an employee of the 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 a grant award under this Act based on the applications received under subsections (b)(2)(B) and (c).

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 the computer lab's 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 assisted under this Act, including the number of grant awards made 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 2010 to 2014.