ASSEMBLY SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 192

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 3, 2020

      The Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 192.

      As reported, this bill establishes the four-year “New Jersey STEM Scholars Grant Pilot Program” (pilot program), which would provide grants to assist school districts in enhancing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education programs for students and increasing access to STEM education programs. 

      Applications for grant awards under the pilot program would be submitted to the Commissioner of Education, who would allocate the awards on a competitive basis. 

      The grant awards would be distributed so that school districts can build upon existing STEM education programs or create new education programs along three distinct areas of concentration, namely project-based learning, afterschool STEM, and out-of-school STEM. 

      This bill also establishes within the Department of Education a fund to be known as the “STEM Scholars Grant Fund” (fund), which would be used to provide grants to school districts under the pilot program.  The fund would be annually credited with money appropriated by the Legislature, any moneys received by the State from corporate donors or other private sector support, and any federal funds which may become available for STEM-related activities.  No State funds would be used to support a grant under the pilot program unless there is an appropriation for the pilot program in the annual appropriations act for that fiscal year. 

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2020-2021 session pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.