HF 4352

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 04/12/2018 02:27pm

A bill for an act
relating to capital investment; appropriating money for a regional STEM Education
Center with a focus on agriculture; authorizing the sale and issuance of state bonds.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin STEM EDUCATION WITH A FOCUS ON AGRICULTURE.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definition. new text end

new text begin For purposes of this act, "STEM education with a focus on
agriculture" means a voluntary collaboration of AGlobal Education, the kindergarten through
grade 12 school districts, postsecondary institutions, businesses, and other regional public
and private partners as well as international collaboration that works to increase access,
training, and career pathways opportunities in STEM Education Center with a focus on
agriculture, and cultural competence for students and teachers in greater Minnesota through
project-based learning.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin (a) AGlobal Education shall develop a STEM education center
to increase access to STEM careers with a focus on agriculture for greater Minnesota with
an emphasis on grades 6 to 12. The STEM center with a focus on agriculture shall:
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new text begin (1) focus on the development of STEM labs and agriculture programs that encourage
local, state, and international collaboration between businesses, postsecondary institutions,
and school districts in greater Minnesota;
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new text begin (2) develop new career pathways for STEM with an emphasis on agriculture and cultural
and global competence that focus on the industry sectors that fuel the rural regional, state,
national, and international economy in order to prepare students to work in one set of
interconnected, global environment;
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new text begin (3) facilitate the development of highly trained and knowledgeable students who are
equipped with STEM and global competence as well as technical and workplace skills
needed to navigate diverse communities and to compete in the global market as regional,
national, and international employees or employers;
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new text begin (4) improve access to STEM with a focus on agriculture programs for students in greater
Minnesota by developing public and private partnerships with business and industry leaders
and by increasing coordination of kindergarten through grade 12 and postsecondary education
as well as international collaboration;
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new text begin (5) increase family and student awareness in STEM and agriculture careers, its benefits
and access to training opportunities, and provide enhancement to robust experimental STEM
labs with project-based learning focusing on agriculture; and
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new text begin (6) provide access and training to educators for STEM professional development in
order to prepare students for a global mindset.
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new text begin (b) In addition to the requirements in paragraph (a), the STEM lab center will:
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new text begin (1) address access for international exchange, international competence in STEM
curriculum for educators, and scientific research in agriculture;
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new text begin (2) provide access to induction in STEM education as well as mentorship by industry
for educators in order to impact retention of STEM educators in the teaching profession;
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new text begin (3) provide access and opportunities for inquiry and investigation through project-based
learning with postsecondary and industry partnerships for students exploring STEM education
with a focus on agriculture; and
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new text begin (4) provide access to equitable opportunities in greater Minnesota and the region for
students to participate in the STEM lab center at the local and international levels.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin AGlobal Education - STEM center advisory committee. new text end

new text begin AGlobal Education
shall establish a STEM education advisory committee to advise the center on programming
with a focus on agriculture and global competence.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Private funding. new text end

new text begin AGlobal Education may receive other sources of funds for
the project. All funds received shall be administered by AGlobal Education.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Reporting requirement. new text end

new text begin AGlobal Education must submit an annual report to
the legislature and the commissioner of agriculture by January 15. The annual report must
contain a financial report for the preceding fiscal year. The first report is due no later than
January 15, 2020.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin STEM EDUCATION CENTER.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Appropriation. new text end

new text begin (a) $3,500,000 is appropriated from the bond proceeds
fund to the commissioner of education for a grant to the city of Sleepy Eye for design,
demolition, construction of new space, renovation of existing space, furnishing, equipping,
and other capital improvements necessary to redevelop the former Orchid Inn event center
in Sleepy Eye for use as a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Education
Center with an emphasis on agriculture. The city may enter into a lease or management
agreement under Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.695, for operation of the center.
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new text begin (b) The commissioner of administration may provide project management services to
assist the commissioner of education with oversight of the project. This appropriation is
available when the commissioner of management and budget determines that sufficient
resources have been committed to complete the project, as required by Minnesota Statutes,
section 16A.502.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Bond sale. new text end

new text begin To provide the money appropriated in this section from the bond
proceeds fund, the commissioner of management and budget shall sell and issue bonds of
the state in an amount up to $3,500,000 in the manner, upon the terms, and with the effect
prescribed by Minnesota Statutes, sections 16A.631 to 16A.675, and by the Minnesota
Constitution, article XI, sections 4 to 7.
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new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end