SECTION 1. Chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following section :-

Section 100. (a) The department of elementary and secondary education, hereafter called the department, shall establish a grant program, subject to appropriation, to be known as the school connectivity grant program. The grants shall be distributed with the purposes of upgrading cellular connectivity in the commonwealth’s school districts.

(b)   The department shall award school connectivity grants to school districts that apply for grant funding in the form and manner set forth by the commissioner.

SECTION 2. Not later than two years after the passage of this act, the department shall conduct a study and report on the school connectivity grant program. The report shall include (i) The impact and effectiveness of grant funds in applicant school districts, and (ii) recommendations for improvements in distribution of grant funds. The department shall file the report with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, the house and senate committees on ways and means, and the joint committee on education.