COVS Act

To require the Administrator of General Services to transfer certain surplus computers and technology equipment to nonprofit computer refurbishers for repair and distribution, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Computers for Veterans and Students Act of 2018 COVS Act 2. Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) Access to computers and computer technology are indispensable for success in the 21st century. Millions of Americans do not regularly use a computer and research shows that substantial disparities remain in both internet use and the quality of access with the digital divide concentrated among older, less educated, less affluent populations, especially veterans, low-income students, and senior citizens. (2) In 1996, the President issued Executive Order 12999 instructing the General Services Administration (GSA) to allow schools and nonprofits the ability to receive Federal surplus computers for educational purposes. (3) GSA created the Computers for Learning Program, which distributes approximately 30,000 computers and computer-related equipment annually to public schools and nonprofits for reuse. (4) As a Federal program, Computers for Learning has lagged in fulfilling its mission just as the need for computer access for basic services and education has skyrocketed. (5) Computers for Learning has failed on three fronts through waste (computers going to schools and nonprofits that are not equipped to refurbish them), abuse (multiple cases of theft or fraud in recent years), and inefficiency (schools and nonprofits that lack the capacity to refurbish on a regional or national scale). (6) Computers for Learning would benefit from increased coordination by working directly with certified nonprofit computer refurbishers, the majority of which are allied together under the Alliance for Technology Reuse and Refurbishing (AFTRR). (7) AFTRR members collectively refurbish and put over 90,000 computers back into the community annually from public and privately donated equipment, closing the digital divide and diverting millions of pounds of potential e-waste from landfills. (8) Each AFTRR member has bridging the digital divide 3. Transfer of certain surplus computers and technology equipment to nonprofit computer refurbishers (a) In general The head of a Federal agency, through the Administrator of General Services, shall offer to transfer any surplus computer or technology equipment that is not being used internally by the Federal agency, or has not been requested for use by another Federal agency, to a nonprofit computer refurbisher for repair and distribution to an educational institution, a veteran, an individual with a disability, a low-income individual, a student, or a senior in need (as determined by the nonprofit computer refurbisher). (b) Collaboration with Alliance for Technology Refurbishing and Reuse In carrying out subsection (a), the Administrator of General Services shall work directly with the Alliance for Technology Refurbishing and Reuse to establish a process through which surplus computers and technology equipment will be transferred to nonprofit computer refurbishers. Such process shall be established not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. (c) Return of certain computers and equipment In the case in which the Administrator of General Services is not able to transfer a surplus computer or technology equipment to a nonprofit computer refurbisher within 30 days after offering to transfer such computer or equipment, the head of the Federal agency on whose behalf the Administrator of General Services acted shall dispose of such computer or equipment in accordance with the procedures of such agency regarding the disposal of Federal electronic assets. (d) Duties of nonprofit computer refurbishers (1) Training programs Each nonprofit computer refurbisher to whom the Administrator of General Services transfers a surplus computer or technology equipment under subsection (a) shall offer training programs for educational institutions, veterans, individuals with disabilities, low-income individuals, students, and seniors in need on the use of computers and technology equipment. (2) Legal compliance Each nonprofit computer refurbisher to whom the Administrator of General Services transfers a surplus computer or technology equipment under subsection (a) shall comply with any Federal, State, or local law relating to the disposition of e-waste. (3) Annual reports to AFTRR Each nonprofit computer refurbisher to whom the Administrator of General Services transfers a surplus computer or technology equipment under subsection (a) shall submit an annual report to the Alliance for Technology Refurbishing and Reuse on any surplus computer or technology equipment repaired or distributed by such refurbisher. (e) Prohibition against tracking and time limits Due to the unique condition of each surplus computer or technology equipment, the Administrator of General Services may not require a nonprofit computer refurbisher to repair and distribute any surplus computer or technology equipment within a specific timeframe. (f) Definitions In this section: (1) Educational institution The term educational institution (A) any public or private child care center, preschool, elementary school, secondary school, or accredited institution of vocational, professional, or higher education; and (B) in the case of an accredited institution of vocational, professional, or higher education composed of more than one school, college, or department that is administratively a separate unit, each such school, college, or department. (2) Nonprofit computer refurbisher The term nonprofit computer refurbisher (A) whose primary mission and activity is to bridge the digital divide; (B) that is exempt from taxation under section 501 (C) that is a member of the Alliance for Technology Refurbishing and Reuse. (3) Senior The term senior (4) Student The term student (5) Technology equipment The term technology equipment (6) Veteran The term veteran

Summary: Computers for Veterans and Students Act of 2018 or the COVS Act This bill directs federal agencies to offer, through the General Services Administration (GSA), to transfer surplus computers and technology equipment to nonprofit computer refurbishers for repair and distribution to educational institutions, veterans, disabled individuals, low-income individuals, students, and seniors in need. Each nonprofit computer refurbisher to whom the GSA transfers a surplus computer or technology equipment must offer training programs for such an institution or individual on how to use the computer or equipment. The bill prohibits the GSA from requiring that a nonprofit computer refurbisher repair and distribute any surplus computer or technology equipment within a specific period of time.