REVISED
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
RS29946C1 / H0112
The purpose of the Education Opportunity Resource Act is to establish a resource for Idaho’s education and
library system in providing broadband, wireless local area network (LAN) and related services to students and
establishes a committee in the Department of Education to focus on the broadband, wireless LAN and related
services needs of all E-rate eligible entities. This program was established in 2016 along with the Broadband
Infrastructure Improvement Grant Program. At the time, the K-12 portion of the state longitudinal data system
was housed in the Department of Education and the Chief Information Officer has served as the Committee
Chair. With the move of the data system to the Office of the State Board of Education there has been some
disconnect on which is responsible for staffing this committee. The proposed legislation would clarify and align
responsibilities for staffing the committee while at the same time maintaining the distribution of any eligible
grant funds or e-rate reimbursement through the current process with the Department of Education.
FISCAL NOTE
The proposed amendments would be budget neutral. The existing remaining resources for staffing the
committee (3 FTE and $267,803 in personnel cost) would be transferred to the Office of the State Board of
Education. The award funding would not move and would continue to be distributed in the same manner as it
is today.
Contact:
Tracie Bent
State Board of Education
Representative Mark Sauter
(208) 332-1582
DISCLAIMER: This statement of purpose and fiscal note are a mere attachment to this bill and prepared by a proponent
of the bill. It is neither intended as an expression of legislative intent nor intended for any use outside of the legislative
process, including judicial review (Joint Rule 18).
Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Note Bill SOP/FN REVISED: 03/07/2023, 9:57 AM


Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 33-5603, 33-5604, 33-5605