SB199 Summary

• Requires the State Department of Education to provide approved textbooks and instructional materials in electronic format to grades 9-12 students starting with the 2012-2013 school year, to the extent practicable and available from publishers.

• Authorizes provision of pen-enabled tablet computers to grades 9-12 students and teachers where feasible for accessing and interacting with digital textbooks, with devices returned to schools at year-end; tablets roll over from grade 9 to 10 and continues annually.

• Authorizes Alabama Public School and College Authority to issue up to $100,000,000 in aggregate principal amount bonds to fund acquisition and maintenance of computer equipment, software, and digital textbooks.

• Pledges revenues from utility gross receipts tax, utility service use tax, sales tax, and use tax (in order of priority) to pay principal and interest on the bonds, with bonds being limited obligations payable only from these designated revenues.

• Establishes that bonds do not constitute state debt, are exempt from Alabama taxation, and require Governor approval before issuance to ensure the Education Trust Fund remains adequate for school operations.