Panel OKs Bond Issue on Computers for Schools

SACRAMENTO — On a second attempt, a proposal to raise $500 million from bond sales to finance computer equipment for California schools has been approved by a legislative committee.

The bill asking voters to authorize the bonds faltered earlier, then became the center of controversy over the remarks of a Republican consultant who contended that computers can cause brain damage in children.

On Wednesday, the Assembly Education Committee voted again, passing the measure 7 to 5.

The bill (AB 797) calls for using $400 million in public schools and $100 million in colleges to wire and retrofit classroom buildings for computer and telecommunication equipment and to buy computers and other hardware.

Republicans defeated the bill two weeks ago. Last week, Assembly Speaker Doris Allen caused a new stir by suspending a veteran Capitol staffer who prepared the GOP analysis of the bill that said use of computers has led to “impairment to areas of young children’s brains.”

The staffer, Anne McKinney, remains on administrative leave, according to state officials.

Republicans who are waging political war with Allen objected to the action against McKinney, saying that McKinney’s concerns deserved attention.

Assemblyman Steve Baldwin (R-El Cajon) led the opposition to the bond measure and to the handling of the McKinney controversy. He has called for statewide hearings on the possible harm that he says computers may be causing young people.

But Baldwin failed to stop the bill. In the Education Committee vote Wednesday, two Republicans sided with Democrats to win passage.

The bill is scheduled for another committee hearing and, if approved, will go to the Assembly floor for a vote, where a two-thirds majority is required for passage. If the bill becomes law, the referendum on the bonds will come in the California primary in March.