Revision: Feb. 15, 2018, 7:52 p.m.
SB 437 - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
02/15/2018 0492s
2018 SESSION
18-2910
06/05
SENATE BILL 437
AN ACT relative to the robotics education development program.
SPONSORS: Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Cavanaugh, Dist 16; Sen. French, Dist 7; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21; Sen. Gannon, Dist 23; Sen. Gray, Dist 6; Sen. Innis, Dist 24; Sen. Reagan, Dist 17; Sen. Sanborn, Dist 9; Sen. Ward, Dist 8; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Rep. Seidel, Hills. 28; Rep. Major, Rock. 14; Rep. V. Sullivan, Hills. 16; Rep. Notter, Hills. 21; Rep. Ladd, Graf. 4
COMMITTEE: Education
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ANALYSIS
This bill adds eligibility criteria for grants to schools from the robotics education fund.
This bill also provides for additional grants in the event that funds remain in the fund after all initial requests have been met.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
02/15/2018 0492s 18-2910
06/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eighteen
AN ACT relative to the robotics education development program.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Robotics Education Development Program. Amend RSA 188-E:24-a to read as follows:
188-E:24-a Robotics Education Development Program.
I. There is established a robotics education development program in the department of education. The purpose of the program is to motivate public school students to pursue education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, while building critical life and work-related skills. Grants from the robotics education fund established in RSA 188-E:24 shall be available to any eligible public school or chartered public school for the purpose of financing the establishment of a robotics team and its participation in competitive events. Grant funds shall be limited to the purchase of robotics kits, stipends for coaches, and the payment of associated costs from participation in competitions.
II. The commissioner shall establish eligibility criteria for grants to public schools and chartered public schools which require that the applying school demonstrates:
(a) That it has established a partnership with at least one sponsor, business entity, institution of higher education, or technical school for the purpose of participation in a robotics program; [and]
(b) That it has developed a budget[.]; and
(c) That the program the school seeks to participate in has demonstrated gains in students' STEM outcomes as determined by the department of education.
III. [A school shall submit a grant application to the department of education, division of career technology and adult learning, bureau of career development, between September 1 and September 30 of each year. Grants shall be awarded no later than October 31 of each year.
IV.] The amount of the grant shall be sufficient to cover the costs of establishing and supporting a team for 2 years and shall be disbursed by the commissioner as a single payment.
[V] IV. Subject to the provisions of subparagraph V, no school shall receive more than one grant every 2 years, however, a school district may receive multiple grant awards.
[VI] V.(a) If the amount of grant funds requested exceeds the balance in the robotics education fund available in any year, the commissioner shall not prorate the grant awards, but shall assign preference to those schools with a higher percentage of students in the school's average daily membership in attendance who are eligible for a free or reduced-price meal as defined in RSA 198:38. Secondary preference shall be given to schools which did not receive a grant in the previous year due to lack of funds.
(b) In the event that additional funds exist in the fund after all initial grant application requests have been met, the commissioner shall award schools additional grants for additional requested teams in accordance with subparagraph (a). If a school receives a grant for any additional teams, such grant shall be made at the same time as the grant for the initial team. In the event that a school received a grant or grants in the prior year and qualifies for an additional team or teams, such grant shall be made in the usual manner.
[VII] VI. The commissioner shall adopt rules pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to developing grant application forms and procedures, establishing deadlines for the submission of applications and the awarding of grants, and establishing criteria for awarding and disbursing grants.
[VIII] VII. No later than July 15, 2018, and annually thereafter, the department shall issue a report to the governor, senate president, speaker of the house of representatives, and the state library, detailing the number of grants awarded, the schools receiving grants and the grant amount, the schools that applied for grants but did not receive a grant due to insufficient funds, and the unencumbered balance of the robotics education fund.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.