2010 Tennessee Code
Title 49 - Education
Chapter 3 - Finances
Part 3 - Tennessee Education Finance Act of 1977
49-3-368 - Funds for Internet funding or connectivity Administration Eligibility Rules and regulations.

49-3-368. Funds for Internet funding or connectivity Administration Eligibility Rules and regulations.

(a)  Beginning with the 2008-2009 fiscal year, all funds appropriated for Internet funding or Internet connectivity funding shall be administered by the department of education and shall be distributed to LEAs pursuant to an equitable formula adopted by the department that recognizes the impact of federal E-Rate funding. This formula shall be used to distribute all funds designated for Internet services in lieu of the BEP funding formula.

(b)  LEAs shall have the authority to expend the funds authorized by this part for services provided by any qualified vendor properly selected in accordance with local procurement regulations.

(c)  The state board of education and the department of education shall review the funding for Internet funding, Internet connectivity funding and e-learning on an annual basis and make recommendations to the select oversight committee on education on the adequacy of the funding and the need for additional funds.

(d)  To be eligible for any funding distributed under this part, technology, Internet, Internet connectivity, or e-learning services shall be purchased pursuant to a competitive process prescribed by a request for proposal (RFP) submitted to and approved by the comptroller of the treasury prior to issuance.

(e)  The state board of education is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this part. The rules and regulations shall be promulgated in accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5.

[Acts 2008, ch. 938, § 1.]