2010 Idaho Code
TITLE 67 STATE GOVERNMENT AND STATE AFFAIRS
CHAPTER 57 DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION
67-5745E IDAHO EDUCATION NETWORK PROGRAM AND RESOURCE ADVISORY COUNCIL (IPRAC).

TITLE 67

STATE GOVERNMENT AND STATE AFFAIRS

CHAPTER 57

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION

67-5745E. Idaho education network program and resource advisory council (IPRAC). (1) The administrative oversight for the Idaho education network (IEN) shall be provided by the Idaho education network program and resource advisory council (IPRAC) that is hereby created within the department of administration. The IPRAC shall be composed of thirteen (13) members, as follows:

(a) The superintendent of public instruction or his designee, who shall serve as the chairman of the council;

(b) The director of the department of administration or his designee, who shall serve as vice chairman of the council;

(c) The chief executive officer of the Idaho digital learning academy;

(d) Two (2) individuals appointed by the superintendent of public instruction representing public and higher education in Idaho, selected for their knowledge and experience in the development and technology necessary for the procurement and/or ongoing operation of a network that will enable the delivery of educational materials and resources. One (1) of the individuals appointed by the superintendent of public instruction shall serve an initial term of one (1) year and one (1) of such individuals shall serve an initial term of two (2) years, as determined by the superintendent. After such initial terms, these individuals shall serve four (4) year terms. Vacancies in such appointment shall be filled by appointment by the superintendent for the remaining term;

(e) Two (2) individuals appointed by the superintendent of public instruction to represent the private sector. One (1) of the individuals appointed by the superintendent of public instruction shall serve an initial term of two (2) years and one (1) of such individuals shall serve an initial term of three (3) years, as determined by the superintendent. After such initial terms, these individuals shall serve terms of four (4) years. Vacancies in such appointment shall be filled by appointment by the superintendent for the remaining term;

(f) The chairman of the senate education committee or his designee;

(g) The chairman of the house of representatives education committee or his designee; and

(h) Four (4) members of the joint finance-appropriations committee, appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives in consultation with the cochairmen of the joint finance-appropriations committee, with one (1) such appointee being a member of the minority political party.

(2) In performing the duties pursuant to this section, IPRAC shall consider the following goals to ensure that:

(a) Idaho will utilize technology to facilitate comparable access to educational opportunities for all students;

(b) Idaho will be a leader in the use of technology to deliver advanced high school curricula, concurrent college credit, and ongoing teacher training on an equitable basis throughout the state; and

(c) Idaho will leverage its statewide purchasing power for the IEN to promote private sector investment in telecommunications infrastructure that will benefit other technology applications such as telemedicine, telecommuting, telegovernment and economic development.

(3) In performing the duties pursuant to this section, subject to the availability of funds, the IPRAC shall:

(a) Coordinate the development, outsourcing and implementation of a statewide network for education, which shall include high-bandwidth connectivity, two-way interactive video and internet access, using primarily fiber optic and other high-bandwidth transmission media;

(b) Consider statewide economic development impacts in the design and implementation of the educational telecommunications infrastructure;

(c) Coordinate and support the telecommunications needs, other than basic voice communications of public education;

(d) Procure high-quality, cost-effective internet access and appropriate interface equipment to public education facilities;

(e) Procure telecommunications services and equipment on behalf of public education;

(f) Procure and implement technology and equipment for the delivery of distance learning;

(g) In conjunction with the state department of education, apply for state and federal funding for technology on behalf of IEN services;

(h) Procure telecommunications services and equipment for the IEN through an open and competitive bidding process;

(i) Establish a technical subcommittee of the IPRAC to advise and assist the IPRAC in the technical development and operation of the IEN as required pursuant to this section. Members of the technical subcommittee shall be selected for their knowledge and experience in the development and technology necessary for the procurement and/or ongoing operation of a network that will enable the delivery of educational materials and resources, as provided in this section;

(j) Establish other subcommittees to provide specific assistance to the IPRAC, as may be deemed expedient and necessary for such purpose;

(k) Work with the private sector to deliver high-quality, cost-effective services statewide; and

(l) Cooperate with state and local governmental and educational entities and provide leadership and consulting for telecommunications for education.

(4) The IPRAC shall follow an implementation plan that:

(a) In the first phase, will connect each public high school with a scalable, high-bandwidth connection, including connections to each institution of higher education and the Idaho digital learning academy as provided for in chapter 55, title 33, Idaho Code, as necessary, thereby allowing any location on the IEN to share educational resources with any other location;

(b) Upon completion of the first phase, shall provide that each public high school will be served with high-bandwidth connectivity, internet access and equipment in at least one (1) two-way interactive video classroom; and

(c) In subsequent phases, will evaluate and make recommendations to the legislature for:

(i) Connectivity to each elementary and middle school;

(ii) The addition of libraries to the IEN; and

(iii) The migration of state agency locations from current technology and services.

(5) The IPRAC shall, in its administration of the provisions of this section, comply with all provisions of federal law and regulations necessary to obtain and maintain qualification of the IEN and its participating schools in order to enable receipt of federal universal service support funding and the federal e-rate discount program for schools and libraries including, but not limited to, maintenance of the IEN as a separate and distinct network to the extent necessary to obtain and maintain such qualification.

(6) Educational institutions served by the IEN shall manage site operations under policies established by the IPRAC and the state department of education.

(7) Idaho education network fund. There is hereby created in the state treasury the Idaho education network fund. Moneys in the fund shall consist of funds received from state appropriations, grants, federal moneys, donations or funds from any other source. Moneys in the fund may be expended, pursuant to appropriation, for implementation and ongoing costs of the IEN. The treasurer shall invest all idle moneys in the fund. Any interest earned on the investment of idle moneys shall be returned to the fund.

(8) Members of the IPRAC or any associated subcommittee shall not be compensated for service as such member, but shall receive per diem and travel allowance as provided for state employees, in such amount as is provided for in section 67-2008, Idaho Code.