Bill Text: NJ S2204 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Establishes pilot program in DOE to support FIRST Robotics Programs in school districts.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-06-03 - Substituted by A2455 (1R) [S2204 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2020-S2204-Amended.html

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[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 2204

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED MARCH 16, 2020

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  LINDA R. GREENSTEIN

District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)

Senator  STEVEN V. OROHO

District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Senators Pou and Thompson

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Establishes pilot program in DOE to support FIRST Robotics Programs in school districts.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Senate Education Committee on May 13, 2021, with amendments.

  

An Act establishing a robotics competition pilot program in the Department of Education.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

      1.   a.  The Commissioner of Education shall establish a three-year pilot program that provides grant funding to ¹encourage and support¹ school districts to ¹establish For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) nonprofit organization's robotics programs and¹ participate in ¹a¹ FIRST Robotics ¹[Competitions] Competition¹. The purpose of the pilot program shall be to:

      (1)  increase opportunities for students to participate in ¹a¹ FIRST Robotics ¹[Competitions] Competition¹;

      (2)  motivate students to pursue education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; and

      (3)  improve students' knowledge in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

      b.   A school district that wants to participate in the pilot program shall submit an application to the commissioner in such form as required by the commissioner. The school district shall select no more than one school serving students from grades nine through 12 to participate in the pilot program.

     c.     The commissioner shall select up to 12 school districts for participation in the pilot program. The commissioner shall select districts in the northern, central, and southern regions of the State and shall seek a cross section of school districts from urban, suburban, and rural areas of the State.  The ¹school districts selected by the¹ commissioner shall ¹[award] be eligible for¹ grants, within the limit of available ¹[State appropriations] funds that are donated pursuant to subsection d. of this section¹, to ¹[selected school districts to]¹ be used to support the development and implementation of a FIRST ¹[Robotics Program] robotics program¹ in the selected schools. The ¹[commissioner] FIRST nonprofit organization¹ shall determine the amount of each grant awarded under the program and may award multi-year grants. Grants awarded pursuant to this subsection shall be used by school districts to provide coaching stipends, purchase materials for competitions, finance competition travel expenses, and register for events. School districts selected by the commissioner to participate in the pilot program may apply for additional funding as teams in the school district become eligible to participate in ¹the¹ FIRST ¹[Robotics Program's] robotics program's¹ district, district championship, and world championship events..

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.