Bill Text: VA HB615 | 2024 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Virginia STEM Education Advisory Board; powers and duties, historically underrepresented students.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2024-04-17 - Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0814) [HB615 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-HB615-Enrolled.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§22.1-364, 22.1-365 and 22.1-367 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:
§22.1-364. The Virginia STEM Education Advisory Board; purpose.
A. As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:
"Board" means the Virginia Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Advisory Board.
"Historically underrepresented students" includes elementary and secondary students in the Commonwealth who are racial or ethnic minorities, students who identify as LGBTQ+, students who are female, and students who are disabled.
"Historically underrepresented groups" means certain minority demographics that have historically faced discrimination and other systemic and social obstacles that have limited their representation in and opportunities for education and academic success, including racial and ethnic minorities, individuals who identify as LGBTQ+, women, and individuals who are disabled.
"LGBTQ+" includes lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and additional sexual orientations and gender identities.
"STEM" means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
B. The Virginia Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics (STEM) Education Advisory Board (the Board) is established
as an advisory board, within the meaning of §2.2-2100, in the executive branch
of state government. The purpose of the Board is to advise the Governor,
Cabinet members, and the General Assembly on strategies to align STEM education
efforts and, report STEM education challenges, goals, and
successes across the Commonwealth, and promote the participation of
historically underrepresented students in STEM education.
§22.1-365. Membership; terms; quorum; meetings.
A. The Board shall have a total membership of 16 23
members that shall consist of 10 17 nonlegislative citizen
members and six ex officio members. Nonlegislative Ten of the
nonlegislative citizen members to shall be appointed by the
Governor and shall represent or have STEM experience with the public and
private sector, industry partners, environmental organizations, and both formal
and informal STEM educational organizations. Seven of the nonlegislative
citizen members shall be appointed by the chairmen of the Virginia African
American Advisory Board, Virginia-Asian Advisory Board, Latino Advisory Board,
Council on Women, Virginia LGBTQ+ Advisory Board, Office of New Americans
Advisory Board, and Virginia Board for People with Disabilities. Each chairman of
such advisory boards shall appoint one nonlegislative citizen member
representing the population served by his advisory board subject to the
approval of a majority of the members of his advisory board. The Director
of the Science Museum of Virginia, the Superintendent of Public Instruction,
and the Director of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, or
their designees, shall serve ex officio with full voting privileges. The
Secretary of Education;, the Director of Diversity, Equity, and
Inclusion for the Commonwealth;, and the Chief Director
of Workforce Development Officer and Advancement for the
Commonwealth, or their designees, shall serve ex officio without voting
privileges. Nonlegislative citizen members of the Board shall be citizens of the
Commonwealth.
B. Ex officio members of the Board shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office. Appointments to fill vacancies, other than by expiration of a term, shall be for the unexpired terms. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments. All members may be reappointed. After the initial staggering of terms, nonlegislative citizen members shall be appointed for a term of four years. No nonlegislative citizen member shall serve more than two consecutive four-year terms. The remainder of any term to which a member is appointed to fill a vacancy shall not constitute a term in determining the member's eligibility for reappointment.
C. The Board shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman from among its membership. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum. The meetings of the Board shall be held at the call of the chairman or whenever the majority of the members so request.
§22.1-367. Powers and duties of the Board; acceptance of gifts and grants; report.
A. The Virginia STEM Education Advisory Board shall
have the following powers and duties:
1. Create a unified vision regarding STEM education initiatives, language, and measures of success to promote a culture of collaboration for STEM programming in the Commonwealth.
2. Develop the infrastructure for creating STEM Regional Hubs and naming STEM Champions in communities across the Commonwealth to facilitate partnerships between organizations across regions and populations that will lead to increased cross-sector opportunities.
3. Advance and disseminate STEM curricular and professional development resources for formal and informal education.
4. Identify strategies to promote the participation of historically underrepresented students in STEM education. Such strategies shall include (i) identifying barriers to STEM participation for historically underrepresented students in elementary and secondary schools; (ii) developing recommendations for elective courses in secondary schools that expand hands-on STEM opportunities for all secondary school students; (iii) developing recommendations for elective courses in secondary schools that expand and promote hands-on STEM opportunities and STEM participation for historically underrepresented students; (iv) recommending changes to the Standards of Learning that promote the STEM-related contributions of historically underrepresented groups; and (v) collaborating with institutions of higher education and the private sector in the Commonwealth to educate students on and expand STEM pathways and opportunities in higher education, STEM careers, STEM internships, STEM fellowships, and other STEM enrichment programs.
5. Submit an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly for publication as a report document as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports. The chairman shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an annual executive summary of the interim activity and work of the Board no later than the first day of each regular session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall be submitted for publication as a report document as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.
B. The Board may apply for, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations from public or private sources to enable it to carry out its objectives.
