Legislation to provide surplus computers to students from low-income homes has passed the General Assembly.
Republican Sens. Jeff Tarte, R-Mecklenburg; Andrew Brock, R-Davie; and Ralph Hise, R-Mitchell; sponsored Senate Bill 312. Rep. Jason Saine, R-Lincoln, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee on Information Technology, sponsored a similar version of the bill in the House.
“This will benefit students across the state by leveling the playing field and making sure everyone has an opportunity to access digital resources,” Saine explained to the House last week.
The act allows for the State Surplus Property Agency to give surplus computers to nonprofits, which will refurbish and donate them to low-income students and households.
There was unanimous support for the bill in the Senate, and near unanimous support for the bill in the House. Republican Rep. Michael Speciale, R-Craven, cast the lone opposition vote.
“I don’t trust that these items will actually go to the underprivileged,” Speciale explained. “I don’t like turning over the property of the state to nonprofits for any reason.”
Terry Stoops, director of research and education studies at the John Locke Foundation, said the surplus program makes sense, as the computers are likely just taking up space.
“They want to get rid of these things. They probably take up an enormous amount of space. It seems like a win-win,” Stoops said. “The state disposes of items that are taking up space in warehouses and gives them to families that can truly use the computers for educational or occupational reasons.”
Gov. Roy Cooper now has the bill.