AB587: Bill Text

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2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE

2019 Assembly BILL 587

November 1, 2019 - Introduced by Representatives Stubbs, Kitchens, Anderson, Bowen, Mursau, Neylon, Ohnstad, Pope, Sinicki, Spreitzer, Subeck, Tusler, Zamarripa, Brostoff, Stuck and C. Taylor, cosponsored by Senators Schachtner, Olsen, Bewley, Carpenter, Johnson, Miller and L. Taylor. Referred to Committee on Education.

AB587,1,3 An Act to create 20.255 (2) (dq) and 115.453 of the statutes; relating to: a science competition participation grant pilot program and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill requires the Department of Public Instruction to award grants to teams of pupils in the 6th through 12th grades for the purpose of participating in science competitions. As a condition of receiving a grant, a team of pupils must demonstrate that it will provide funds to match the grant amount. DPI may not award a grant for this purpose in amount that exceeds $5,000. Under the bill, these grants are available until June 30, 2021.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB587,1 Section 1 . 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table

AB587,2 Section 2 . 20.255 (2) (dq) of the statutes is created to read:

AB587,2,4 20.255 (2) (dq) Science competition participation grants. The amounts in the schedule for grants to science competition teams under s. 115.453. No moneys may be encumbered from this appropriation after June 30, 2021.

AB587,3 Section 3 . 115.453 of the statutes is created to read:

AB587,2,7 115.453 Science competition participation grant pilot program. (1) In this section:

AB587,2,10 (a) “Allowable expenses" includes fees, kits, and supplies required to participate in a science competition, travel expenses to a science competition for eligible team members, and a stipend for the mentor of an eligible team.

AB587,2,12 (b) “Eligible team" means a science competition team consisting of pupils in any of the grades 6 through 12 and at least one mentor.

AB587,3,2 (c) “Science competition" means a competition that requires participating teams to compete in a challenge of science, technology, engineering, and math and that is sponsored by a nonstock, nonprofit corporation, described under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code and exempt from taxation under section 501 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code, having among its organizational purposes improving the quality of elementary and secondary science education, increasing male, female, and minority interest in science, creating a technologically-literate workforce, and providing recognition for outstanding achievement by both pupils and teachers.

AB587,3,10 (2) (a) By no later than April 1, 2020, the department shall notify school boards, operators of charter schools under s. 118.40 (2r) and (2x), governing bodies of private schools, and administrators of home-based private educational programs that applications for grants under this section will be accepted from eligible teams through a date set forth in the notice. As a condition of receiving a grant under this section, an eligible team shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the department that the eligible team will provide matching funds in an amount equal to the amount awarded under this section.

AB587,3,14 (b) From the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (dq), the department shall award a grant of up to $5,000 to each eligible team selected from the applicants under par. (a). Grant funds awarded under this section may be applied only towards allowable expenses.

AB587,3,17 (3) The department shall publish on its Internet site a list of grant recipients and submit to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3) a report on the program under this section.

AB587,3,18 (End)