Sponsored by:
Assemblyman GARY S. SCHAER
District 36 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes "Higher Education Manufacturing Grant Program" for public institutions of higher education to establish or expand programs in manufacturing fields.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing the "Higher Education Manufacturing Grant Program."
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Secretary of Higher Education shall establish and administer a "Higher Education Manufacturing Grant Program." The program shall annually award $10 million to New Jersey public institutions of higher education for the purpose of establishing or expanding programs in the manufacturing fields. The grants shall be allocated to public institutions of higher education on a competitive basis.
b. A public institution of higher education that receives a grant under the program shall use the funds to establish or expand programs and curricula in the fields of manufacturing, manufacturing engineering, or advanced manufacturing.
c. To be eligible for consideration of a grant award, a public institution of higher education shall submit an application to the Secretary of Higher Education, in accordance with application procedures and requirements prescribed by the secretary. A grant application shall include a complete description of the institution's specific plans and objectives for the use of the grant funds and any other information specified by the secretary.
d. The secretary shall establish selection criteria for the awarding of grant funds under the program, and shall award grants through a competitive process based upon review of the applications and subject to the availability of funds. The secretary shall establish the amount for each grant that is approved.
2. a. There is created within the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education a fund to be known as the "Higher Education Manufacturing Grant Fund." The fund shall be used to provide grants to New Jersey public institutions of higher education under the "Higher Education Manufacturing Grant Program" established pursuant to this act.
b. The fund shall be annually credited with money appropriated by the State, any moneys received by the State from corporate donors or other private sector support, and any federal funds which may become available for higher education and manufacturing-related purposes.
3. The Secretary of Higher Education shall adopt rules and regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act.
4. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes the "Higher Education Manufacturing Grant Program," which will be administered by the Secretary of Higher Education. The program will annually award $10 million, on a competitive basis, to New Jersey public institutions of higher education for establishing or expanding programs and curricula in the fields of manufacturing, manufacturing engineering, and advanced manufacturing.
Under the program, a public institution of higher education that wishes to be considered for a grant will submit an application to the secretary, which includes a complete description of the institution's specific plans and objectives for the use of the grant funds. The secretary will establish selection criteria and will award grants through a competitive process based upon review of the applications and subject to the availability of funds. The secretary will establish the amount for each grant that is approved.
Under the bill, the program will be funded by the "Higher Education Manufacturing Grant Fund," created within the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education. The fund will be annually credited with money appropriated by the State, any moneys received by the State from corporate donors or other private sector support, and any federal funds which may become available for higher education and manufacturing-related purposes.