Berg's Assembly Bill 2706, if signed by the governor, would succeed in bringing more money to smaller districts even as California continues tightening its budget belt. That's because the increase would come from federal grant funds earmarked for technology projects, and not from the state's cash-strapped general fund.

"This is a great opportunity to make sure students all over California have access the best technology," said Berg, D-Eureka.

Berg's bill would affect statewide distribution of about $42 million in competitive technology grants administered by the state. The money is divvied among 11 regions. Her bill would require that each region have at least $1 million available to it.

The bill could mean significant increases in the amount of technology grants that go to Northern California's Region One, which includes school districts in Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino and Sonoma counties. In 2002, the most recent year for which grant totals are available, District One received about $377,000, just over a third of the amount it would likely receive if Berg's bill becomes law.

The bill would also help nearby Region Two, which includes Trinity County. In 2002, Region Two received less than half -- $472,000 -- of the million dollars mandated by Berg's bill. Under current law, there is no minimum that a region must receive.

"A lot of people say, 'How can we help schools when money is so tight?'" Berg said. "I say, 'How can we not help schools when money is so tight?'"