What's happening
This bill creates a grant program to fund high school participation in FIRST robotics competitions, with $250,000 appropriated for the initiative.
Why it matters
Expands STEM Opportunities. By making grants available to both public and private high schools, the program aims to broaden access to hands-on STEM learning, especially for schools that have not participated in robotics before.
Promotes Community and Industry Partnerships. The requirement for schools to form partnerships with businesses, higher education institutions, or technical schools encourages collaboration between students and professionals, potentially opening doors to mentorship, internships, and future career opportunities.
Encourages Local Investment in Education. Since schools must secure at least 50% matching funds from other sources, the program incentivizes local businesses, organizations, and communities to actively support STEM education and robotics teams.
Targets New and Underserved Teams. By giving preference to first-time applicants and schools new to robotics competitions, the bill seeks to reduce barriers for schools with fewer resources or less experience, helping to level the playing field across the state.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Fund School Robotics Grants
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Fund High School Robotics Grants
In Senate Committee · Finance · Sponsor Michael H. Ranzenhofer
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
671
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. BRONSON -- read once and referred 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 Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 3641-c to read as follows:
§ 3641-c. For inspiration and recognition of science and technology robotics league participation ("FIRST") grant program. 1. The commissioner shall establish the FIRST grant program and the FIRST robotics competition pursuant to this section and regulations of the commissioner adopted for such purpose. Within the amounts appropriated for this purpose, the commissioner shall award grants on a competitive basis to public and private high schools for the purpose of encouraging study in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math.
2. Eligibility. a. Applicants must be a public or private high school in the state that has a school sponsored robotics club or a team participating, or intending to participate, in a FIRST robotics competition.
b. Applicants must establish a partnership for the purposes of designing, building and/or programming the team's robot with at least one other sponsor, which shall be a business, institution of higher learning or technological school.
3. Applications. Applications must be submitted to the commissioner by June first of each year for grants to be made for the following academic year. All grants shall be subject to the applicant obtaining matching funds from other sources of at least fifty percent of the grant.
4. Awards. a. The commissioner shall grant awards in the amount of five thousand dollars to schools that are eligible, pursuant to subdivi-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01698-01-9
A. 671 2
sion two of this section. Awards shall be within the amounts appropriated for such purpose and based on availability of funds.
b. Preference shall be given to schools that have not previously participated in robotics competitions or received grants through this program, on a first-come first-served basis, and if there are funds remaining thereafter to other previously established programs.
c. Funds awarded under this grant shall be used for: registration costs; materials; travel costs; and other expenses associated with the preparation for, and attendance at, FIRST robotics competitions.
d. Additional grants shall also be made pursuant to such other rules and regulations as may be promulgated by the commissioner.
§ 2. The sum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be available, is hereby appropriated to the department of education from any moneys in the state treasury in the general fund to the credit of the state purposes account, not otherwise appropriated, and made immediately available, for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this act. Such moneys shall be payable on the audit and warrant of the comptroller on vouchers certified or approved by the commissioner of education in the manner prescribed by law.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment, and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.