SF 2264

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/30/2017 09:07am

A bill for an act
relating to education; creating a pilot grant program to encourage and support
underrepresented and disadvantaged girls in exploring and pursuing STEM careers;
appropriating money; requiring a report.

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

Section 1. new text begin PILOT GRANT PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE UNDERREPRESENTED
AND DISADVANTAGED GIRLS TO EXPLORE AND PURSUE STEM CAREERS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For purposes of this section, the terms defined in this
subdivision have the meanings given.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of education.
new text end

new text begin (c) "Eligible organization" means a community-based, STEM-affiliated organization
experienced in serving underrepresented or disadvantaged girls, a Minnesota public
elementary and secondary school providing STEM instruction and curricula, or other
Minnesota STEM-affiliated organizations experienced in serving underrepresented or
disadvantaged girls, consistent with the purposes of this section.
new text end

new text begin (d) "Low-income" means income less than 200 percent of the federal poverty guideline
adjusted for a family size of four.
new text end

new text begin (e) "STEM" means the subject areas of science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics.
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new text begin (f) "Underrepresented or disadvantaged girls" means females through age 17 who are:
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new text begin (1) American Indian, Asian, Black, or Hispanic;
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new text begin (2) disabled; or
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new text begin (3) low-income.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Grants; use of grant funds. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner shall award one grant to
an eligible organization serving underrepresented or disadvantaged girls in Ramsey County
and one grant to an eligible organization serving underrepresented or disadvantaged girls
in one or more counties in greater Minnesota. The eligible organizations receiving a grant
must use grant funds to encourage and support underrepresented or disadvantaged girls in
exploring and pursuing STEM careers consistent with paragraph (b).
new text end

new text begin (b) Grant recipients must use grant funds for the following purposes:
new text end

new text begin (1) to increase the awareness and interest of underrepresented or disadvantaged girls in
STEM occupations and fields, to develop the knowledge and confidence of underrepresented
or disadvantaged girls in STEM, and to increase the access of underrepresented or
disadvantaged girls to secondary, dual credit, and postsecondary programs leading to STEM
occupations; and
new text end

new text begin (2) to provide financial assistance to help underrepresented or disadvantaged girls explore
and pursue STEM careers while balancing their responsibilities for work, job skills training
and education, and family caregiving, including financial assistance for child care,
transportation, or safe and stable housing.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Outcomes. new text end

new text begin The Ramsey County grant recipient must develop a model program
to encourage and support underrepresented or disadvantaged girls in exploring and pursuing
STEM careers that may be replicated and used in other Twin Cities metropolitan area
counties. The greater Minnesota grant recipient must develop a model program to encourage
and support underrepresented or disadvantaged girls in exploring and pursuing STEM
careers that may be replicated and used in other greater Minnesota counties.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin By January 15, 2020, the commissioner must submit a written report
to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees having jurisdiction
over kindergarten through grade 12 education containing information about the pilot grant
program design, activities, expenditures, and outcomes disaggregated by categories of race,
cultural group, family income, age, grade level, school district, geographic location, migrant
status, foreign immigrant status, home language, English learner status under Minnesota
Statutes, section 124D.59, disability, homelessness, and foster care status, to the extent the
information is available and no individual can be personally identified from that information.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2017.
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Sec. 2. new text begin PILOT GRANT PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT
UNDERREPRESENTED OR DISADVANTAGED GIRLS IN EXPLORING AND
PURSUING STEM CAREERS; APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2018 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of
education for a pilot grant program to encourage and support underrepresented or
disadvantaged girls in exploring and pursuing STEM careers under section 1. This is a
onetime appropriation and is available until expended.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for fiscal year 2018.
new text end