Bill Text: NY A05736 | 2017-2018 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Establishes the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology ("FIRST") robotics competition and appropriates funds for the grant program to fund high school participation in the competition and to encourage study in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-01-03 - referred to education [A05736 Detail]

Download: New_York-2017-A05736-Introduced.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
                                          5736
                               2017-2018 Regular Sessions
                   IN ASSEMBLY
                                    February 14, 2017
                                       ___________
        Introduced  by M. of A. BRONSON -- read once and referred to the Commit-
          tee on Education
        AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing  the  For
          Inspiration  and Recognition of Science and Technology ("FIRST") grant
          program; and making an appropriation therefor
          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
     1    Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 3641-c
     2  to read as follows:
     3    §  3641-c.  For  inspiration and recognition of science and technology
     4  robotics league participation ("FIRST") grant program.  1.  The  commis-
     5  sioner  shall  establish  the FIRST grant program and the FIRST robotics
     6  competition pursuant to this section and regulations of the commissioner
     7  adopted for such purpose.  Within  the  amounts  appropriated  for  this
     8  purpose,  the  commissioner shall award grants on a competitive basis to
     9  public and private high schools for the purpose of encouraging study  in
    10  the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math.
    11    2.  Eligibility. a. Applicants must be a public or private high school
    12  in the state that has a school sponsored robotics club or a team partic-
    13  ipating, or intending to participate, in a FIRST robotics competition.
    14    b. Applicants must establish a partnership for the purposes of design-
    15  ing, building and/or programming the team's  robot  with  at  least  one
    16  other sponsor, which shall be a business, institution of higher learning
    17  or technological school.
    18    3. Applications. Applications must be submitted to the commissioner by
    19  June first of each year for grants to be made for the following academic
    20  year.  All  grants  shall be subject to the applicant obtaining matching
    21  funds from other sources of at least fifty percent of the grant.
    22    4. Awards. a. The commissioner shall grant awards  in  the  amount  of
    23  five thousand dollars to schools that are eligible, pursuant to subdivi-
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD08259-01-7
        A. 5736                             2
     1  sion  two  of this section. Awards shall be within the amounts appropri-
     2  ated for such purpose and based on availability of funds.
     3    b.  Preference  shall  be  given  to  schools that have not previously
     4  participated in robotics competitions or received  grants  through  this
     5  program,  on  a  first-come  first-served  basis, and if there are funds
     6  remaining thereafter to other previously established programs.
     7    c. Funds awarded under this grant shall be  used  for:    registration
     8  costs;  materials;  travel costs; and other expenses associated with the
     9  preparation for, and attendance at, FIRST robotics competitions.
    10    d. Additional grants shall also be made pursuant to such  other  rules
    11  and regulations as may be promulgated by the commissioner.
    12    § 2. The sum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars, or so much thereof
    13  as  may be available, is hereby appropriated to the department of educa-
    14  tion from any moneys in the state treasury in the general  fund  to  the
    15  credit  of  the  state purposes account, not otherwise appropriated, and
    16  made  immediately  available,  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  out  the
    17  provisions  of  this  act. Such moneys shall be payable on the audit and
    18  warrant of the comptroller on vouchers  certified  or  approved  by  the
    19  commissioner of education in the manner prescribed by law.
    20    § 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
    21  it  shall have become a law; provided however, that effective immediate-
    22  ly, the addition, amendment, and/or repeal of  any  rule  or  regulation
    23  necessary  for  the implementation of this act on its effective date are
    24  authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such date.