Bill Text: NY S09411 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Establishes the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology ("FIRST") robotics competition; 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: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-05-25 - REFERRED TO EDUCATION [S09411 Detail]

Download: New_York-2021-S09411-Introduced.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          9411

                    IN SENATE

                                      May 25, 2022
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by  Sen.  BROUK  -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
          printed to be committed to the Committee 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-
    24  sion  two  of this section. Awards shall be within the amounts appropri-
    25  ated for such purpose and based on availability of funds.
    26    b. Preference shall be given  to  schools  that  have  not  previously
    27  participated  in  robotics  competitions or received grants through this

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD05170-01-1
        S. 9411                             2

     1  program, on a first-come first-served basis,  and  if  there  are  funds
     2  remaining thereafter to other previously established programs.
     3    c.  Funds  awarded  under  this grant shall be used for:  registration
     4  costs; materials; travel costs; and other expenses associated  with  the
     5  preparation for, and attendance at, FIRST robotics competitions.
     6    d.  Additional  grants shall also be made pursuant to such other rules
     7  and regulations as may be promulgated by the commissioner.
     8    § 2. The sum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars, or so much thereof
     9  as may be available, is hereby appropriated to the department of  educa-
    10  tion  from  any  moneys in the state treasury in the general fund to the
    11  credit of the state purposes account, not  otherwise  appropriated,  and
    12  made  immediately  available,  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  out  the
    13  provisions of this act. Such moneys shall be payable on  the  audit  and
    14  warrant  of  the  comptroller  on  vouchers certified or approved by the
    15  commissioner of education in the manner prescribed by law.
    16    § 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
    17  it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition,  amend-
    18  ment,  and/or  repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the imple-
    19  mentation of this act on its effective date are authorized and  directed
    20  to be made and completed on or before such date.