The governor signed Assembly Bill 2706 late Wednesday. The measure, by Berg, D-Eureka, delivers more money to smaller districts without touching the state's cash-strapped bank accounts. That's because Berg's bill relies on federal grant funds earmarked for technology projects, and not on California's general fund.

"This law will make sure that children in rural areas have a chance to use the best technology available, just like children in urban and suburban areas," said Berg. "Every child in our state deserves the same opportunity to learn."

The new law will affect statewide distribution of about $42 million in competitive technology grants paid for by the federal government but 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. It also makes sure that every district within those regions has a fair shot at the money.

This will 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.

The bill earned bi-partisan and almost unanimous support in the Legislature. "It just shows that we can work together to make things better," Berg said.