Bill Analysis — HB 2313, Furthering Digital Equity and Opportunity in Washington (Washington House)

Summary

Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research bill analysis for the Innovation, Community & Economic Development, & Veterans Committee on HB 2313, furthering digital equity and opportunity in Washington, with a hearing date of 1/23/24 and staff member Emily Poole. The brief summary states that the bill expands the purpose and duties of the Statewide Broadband Office regarding digital equity, including monitoring implementation of the Digital Equity Plan. It also states that the bill makes changes to the purpose and application selection criteria of the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction's technology grant program. The analysis lists a fiscal note requested on January 22, 2024.

Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used

Full text

Washington State                  BILL
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research   ANALYSIS
Innovation, Community & Economic
Development, & Veterans Committee
                                        HB 2313
Brief Description: Furthering digital equity and opportunity in Washington.

Sponsors: Representatives Gregerson, Ryu, Reed, Ortiz-Self, Morgan, Davis, Ormsby,
    Bergquist, Simmons, Street, Pollet, Shavers and Doglio.


                                     Brief Summary of Bill
          • Expands the purpose and duties of the Statewide Broadband Office
            (SBO) regarding digital equity, including requiring the SBO to monitor
            implementation of the Digital Equity Plan.
          • Establishes that the Digital Equity Forum is not required to advise the
            SBO regarding certain digital equity grant programs.
          • Makes changes to the purpose and application selection criteria of the
            Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction's technology grant
            program.


Hearing Date: 1/23/24

Staff: Emily Poole (786-7106).

Background:

Statewide Broadband Office.
The Statewide Broadband Office (SBO) is the central broadband planning body for the state, and
as such, it is tasked with promoting deployment of broadband infrastructure and greater
broadband access. Among other duties, the SBO is required to coordinate an outreach effort to
hard-to-reach communities and low-income communities across the state to provide information




     This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative
     members in their deliberations. This analysis is not part of the legislation nor does it
     constitute a statement of legislative intent.

House Bill Analysis                             -1-                                         HB 2313
about broadband programs available to consumers.

The SBO is tasked with updating the state's broadband goals and definitions for broadband
service as technology advances, except that the state's definition for broadband service may not
be actual speeds less than 25 megabits per second download and three megabits per second
upload.

Digital Equity Forum.
The Digital Equity Forum (Forum) develops recommendations to advance digital connectivity
and advises the SBO on the Digital Equity Opportunity Program and the Digital Equity Planning
Grant Program. In developing its recommendations, among other requirements, the Forum must
develop goals that are consistent with the SBO's broadband goals and strengthen public-private
partnerships. The SBO and the Washington State Office of Equity (Office of Equity) are jointly
responsible for transmitting the Forum's recommendations to the Legislature by October 28,
2025, and every odd-numbered year thereafter. The SBO and the Office of Equity are
responsible for appointing members of the Forum. A majority of the participating members must
appoint an administrative chair for the Forum.

Digital Equity Plan.
The SBO, in consultation with the Forum and certain agencies, must develop a state Digital
Equity Plan (Plan). In developing the Plan, the SBO must identify measurable objectives for
documenting and promoting digital equity among underserved communities.

The SBO was required to submit a report by December 1, 2023, to the Governor and the
Legislature including a description of how the SBO collaborated with key stakeholders to
develop the Plan and recommendations to help improve broadband adoption.

Digital Equity Grant Programs.
The Digital Equity Planning Grant Program, established by the Department of Commerce
(Department), provides grants to local governments, institutions of higher education, or other
entities to fund the development of a digital equity plan for a discrete geographic region of the
state.

The purpose of the Digital Equity Opportunity Program (Program), also administered by the
Department, is to advance broadband adoption and digital equity throughout the state. In
implementing the Program, the Department must provide organizational support to digital equity
programs and provide grants to community technology programs to advance digital equity and
inclusion.

The Forum must review grant applications for both grant programs and provide input to the
Department regarding the prioritization of applications.

Technology Grant Program.
The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) administers a technology grant


House Bill Analysis                             -2-                                         HB 2313
program for Digital Equity and Inclusion Grants to advance the following objectives:
   • attaining a universal 1:1 student to learning device ratio;
   • expanding technical support and training of school and district staff in using technology to
      support student learning; and
   • developing district-based and school-based capacity to assist students and their families in
      using technology to support student learning.

When selecting applicants, the OSPI must prioritize applicants based on certain criteria,
including the applicant's pre-existing programs, the number of students eligible for reduced-price
meals, and the number of students with specialized technology needs.

Summary of Bill:

SBO Duties.
The purpose of the SBO is expanded to include developing and improving broadband adoption
and digital equity within the state. Outreach efforts coordinated by the SBO to hard-to-reach and
low-income communities must include providing information about digital equity programs and
assisting consumers in enrolling in broadband and digital equity programs.

In carrying out its purpose, the SBO must collaborate with federally recognized tribes and all
relevant state agencies, including, but not limited to, the Office of Equity, the OSPI, and the
Consolidated Technology Services Agency.

The state's definition for broadband service may not be actual speeds less than 100 megabits per
second download and 20 megabits per second upload.

Digital Equity Forum.
The purposes of the Forum include developing recommendations to advance broadband adoption
and digital equity in Washington. The Forum is not required to advise the SBO on the Digital
Equity Opportunity Program and the Digital Equity Planning Grant Program.

A majority of the members of the Forum may appoint an administrative chair or cochairs.

Digital Equity Plan.
The SBO, in consultation with the Forum and certain agencies, must develop and monitor
implementation of the Plan. The SBO must make publicly available, on an ongoing basis, an
overview of progress made in promoting digital equity among underserved communities,
according to the measurable objectives identified in the Plan. The overview must include a
description of the successes and remaining challenges of promoting digital equity among specific
types of underserved populations.

Technology Grant Program.
The objectives of the OSPI's Digital Equity and Inclusion Grants include maintaining, as well as
attaining, a universal 1:1 student to learning device ratio.


House Bill Analysis                            -3-                                         HB 2313
When ranking and selecting applicants, the OSPI is not required to prioritize applicants based on
their pre-existing programs, the percentage of students eligible for free and reduced-price meals,
or the number of students with specialized technology needs.

Definitions.
Definitions for certain terms, including "community anchor institution" and "low-income," are
added or modified.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on January 22, 2024.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is
passed.




House Bill Analysis                            -4-                                         HB 2313


File and source

File

2024-01-23_a31735_d266089_bill-analysis.pdf

Size

10,742 bytes

SHA-256

4ddf623f314d23bedeb989c45bc045845bf7b0eb518f924f60ecc2546a0e04de

Our copy

2024-01-23_a31735_d266089_bill-analysis.pdf

Original

No public link identified.