Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Bill HB365 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

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3	3		HB365
4		-	~~TBBQ299-2~~
	4	+	2JXR3KK-1
5	5		By Representatives Collins, Baker
6	6		RFD: Education Policy
7	7		First Read: 27-Feb-25
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12		-	5 ~~HB365 Engrossed~~
	12	+	5 2JXR3KK-1 02/27/2025 KMS (L)cr 2025-958
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14	14		First Read: 27-Feb-25
	15	+	SYNOPSIS:
	16	+	This bill would create the Alabama Science,
	17	+	Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Council as an
	18	+	independent state entity within the Department of
	19	+	Workforce to advise the Governor, Lieutenant Governor,
	20	+	Department of Workforce, State Department of Education,
	21	+	and Legislature on ways to improve STEM-related
	22	+	education, career awareness, and workforce development
	23	+	across the state.
	24	+	This bill would also provide for the membership,
	25	+	duties, and functions of the council.
15	26		A BILL
16	27		TO BE ENTITLED
17	28		AN ACT
18	29		Relating to the Alabama Science, Technology,
19	30		Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Council; to create the
20	31		council within the Department of Workforce; to provide for the
21	32		membership of the council, including the executive committee
22	33		of the council and additional members appointed by the
23	34		Governor and Secretary of Workforce; to provide for meetings;
24	35		and to provide for the duties and functions of the council.
25	36		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
26		-	Section 1. For the purposes of this act, the following
27		-	terms have the following meanings:
28		-	(1) COUNCIL or STEM COUNCIL. The Alabama Science,
29		-	Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Council
30		-	created by this act.
31		-	(2) DEPARTMENT. The Department of Workforce.
32		-	(3) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The executive committee of the
33		-	council.
34		-	(4) STEM. Science, technology, engineering, and math.
35		-	(5) STEM CAREERS. Careers that utilize concepts from
36		-	the STEM fields including, but not limited to, engineering,
37		-	life science, astronomy, physics, chemistry, earth science,
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	66	+	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
	67	+	Section 1. For the purposes of this act, the following
	68	+	terms have the following meanings:
	69	+	(1) COUNCIL or STEM COUNCIL. The Alabama Science,
	70	+	Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Council
	71	+	created by this act.
	72	+	(2) DEPARTMENT. The Department of Workforce.
	73	+	(3) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The executive committee of the
	74	+	council.
	75	+	(4) STEM. Science, technology, engineering, and math.
	76	+	(5) STEM CAREERS. Careers that utilize concepts from
	77	+	the STEM fields including, but not limited to, engineering,
67	78		life science, astronomy, physics, chemistry, earth science,
68	79		math and computing, information science, artificial
69	80		intelligence, health and medicine, including physicians,
70	81		nurses, technicians, and social sciences, including political
71	82		science and economics.
72	83		(6) STEM EDUCATION. Education that entails more than
73	84		achieving competency in individual STEM subject areas and
74	85		requires students to be able to integrate concepts from
75	86		multiple disciplines and use that knowledge to solve complex
76	87		problems. The term often includes instructional practices that
77	88		actively engage all students in an interdisciplinary project
78	89		or problem-based approach, tied to a real world, authentic
79	90		challenge through which students use various technologies to
80	91		assist their inquiry, research, and communication.
81	92		Section 2. (a) The Alabama Science, Technology,
82	93		Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Council is established as
83		-	a state entity within the department to advise the Governor,
84		-	Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of Workforce, Executive
85		-	Director of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education,
86		-	Chancellor of the Alabama Community College System, State
87		-	Superintendent of Education, Chair of the Alabama Workforce
88		-	Board, and the Legislature on ways to improve STEM-related
89		-	education, career awareness, and workforce development across
90		-	the state.
91		-	(b) The Chief of the Workforce Pathways Division of the
92		-	department shall be responsible for the administrative
93		-	functions of the council and, upon recommendation of the
94		-	Executive Committee of the STEM Council, shall hire an
95		-	individual employed by the department to serve as the Director
	94	+	an independent state entity within the department to advise
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125		-	individual employed by the department to serve as the Director
126		-	of the STEM Council. The director shall serve in that position
127		-	at the pleasure of the Executive Committee of the STEM
128		-	Council.
	124	+	an independent state entity within the department to advise
	125	+	the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of Workforce,
	126	+	Executive Director of the Alabama Commission on Higher
	127	+	Education, Chancellor of the Alabama Community College System,
	128	+	State Superintendent of Education, Chair of the Alabama
	129	+	Workforce Board, and the Legislature on ways to improve
	130	+	STEM-related education, career awareness, and workforce
	131	+	development across the state.
	132	+	(b) The Chief Workforce Officer of the department shall
	133	+	be responsible for the administrative functions of the council
	134	+	and, upon recommendation of the Executive Committee of the
	135	+	STEM Council, shall hire an individual employed by the
	136	+	department to serve as the Director of the STEM Council. The
	137	+	director shall serve in that position at the pleasure of the
	138	+	Executive Committee of the STEM Council.
129	139		Section 3. (a) The membership of the STEM Council shall
130	140		consist of all of the following:
131	141		(1) Two members appointed by the Governor with
132	142		expertise in STEM education or workforce development.
133	143		(2) Two members appointed by the Secretary of Workforce
134	144		with expertise in workforce development.
135	145		(3) The following public officials or their designees:
136	146		a. The Chair of the Alabama Workforce Board.
137	147		b. The Secretary of Commerce.
138	148		c. The Secretary of Early Childhood Education.
139	149		d. The State Superintendent of Education.
140	150		e. The Chancellor of the Alabama Community College
141	151		System.
142	152		f. The Executive Director of the Alabama Commission on
143		-	Higher Education.
144		-	(4) One member appointed by the Governor from each of
145		-	the state's workforce regions.
146		-	(5) Additional members appointed by the Governor and
147		-	Secretary of Workforce as representatives of the state's STEM
148		-	stakeholders, including STEM industry representatives, formal
149		-	STEM education organizations, and informal STEM education
150		-	organizations.
151		-	(b) The appointing authorities shall coordinate their
152		-	appointments to assure the council membership is inclusive and
153		-	reflects the racial, gender, geographic, urban, rural, and
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	182	+	f. The Executive Director of the Alabama Commission on
	183	+	Higher Education.
	184	+	(4) One member appointed by the Governor from each of
	185	+	the state's workforce regions.
	186	+	(5) Additional members appointed by the Governor and
	187	+	Secretary of Workforce as representatives of the state's STEM
	188	+	stakeholders, including STEM industry representatives, formal
	189	+	STEM education organizations, and informal STEM education
	190	+	organizations.
	191	+	(b) The appointing authorities shall coordinate their
	192	+	appointments to assure the council membership is inclusive and
183	193		reflects the racial, gender, geographic, urban, rural, and
184	194		economic diversity of the state.
185	195		(c) STEM Council members shall serve until their
186	196		successors are appointed. A vacancy shall be filled in the
187	197		manner provide for the original appointment. An individual
188	198		appointed to fill a vacancy on the council shall serve only
189	199		for the remaining unexpired portion of the term.
190	200		(d) Each council member shall serve at the pleasure of
191	201		the appointing authority for a four-year renewable term.
192	202		(e) Members of the STEM Council shall serve without
193	203		compensation except for reimbursement for reasonable travel
194	204		and other expenses actually incurred as an incident to their
195	205		service on the council as approved by the Chair of the STEM
196	206		Council. Expenses shall be paid using any funds appropriated
197	207		for use by the council in the same manner as is provided by
198	208		law for state officers and employees.
199	209		Section 4. The STEM Council shall have the following
200	210		committees:
201		-	(1) The executive committee. The STEM Council shall be
202		-	under the direction of an executive committee, consisting of
203		-	the individuals identified in subdivisions (a)(1), (a)(2), and
204		-	(a)(4) of Section 3, and shall be led by the Chair of the STEM
205		-	Council, appointed by the Governor. The business of the
206		-	council shall be conducted by the executive committee, which
207		-	may launch initiatives, make final recommendations, approve
208		-	budgets, evaluate the director, and take any other action in
209		-	furtherance of the council's purpose and duties, consulting
210		-	with the other members of the council and the Secretary of
211		-	Workforce, as it deems appropriate.
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	240	+	committees:
	241	+	(1) The executive committee. The STEM Council shall be
	242	+	under the direction of an executive committee, consisting of
	243	+	the individuals identified in subdivisions (a)(1), (a)(2), and
	244	+	(a)(4) of Section 3, and shall be led by the Chair of the STEM
	245	+	Council, appointed by the Governor. The business of the
	246	+	council shall be conducted by the executive committee, which
	247	+	may launch initiatives, make final recommendations, approve
	248	+	budgets, evaluate the director, and take any other action in
	249	+	furtherance of the council's purpose and duties, consulting
	250	+	with the other members of the council and the Secretary of
241	251		Workforce, as it deems appropriate.
242	252		(2) Additional committees. The chair of the council may
243	253		form additional committees to address issues concerning the
244	254		purpose and duties of the council. For each committee formed,
245	255		the chair shall designate a serving member of the council as
246	256		committee chair and shall provide for the membership and
247	257		duties of the committee. Members appointed to additional
248	258		committees may also be serving as members of the council.
249	259		Section 5. (a) Regular meetings of the council shall be
250	260		held at least annually and from time to time at the call of
251	261		the council chair. Committee meetings shall be held at the
252	262		call of the committee chair. Members of the council may
253	263		participate in a meeting of the council by means of telephone
254	264		conference, video conference, or similar communications
255	265		equipment by means of which all individuals participating in
256	266		the meeting may hear each other at the same time.
257	267		Participation by electronic means shall constitute presence in
258	268		person at a meeting for all purposes. The council shall
259		-	establish procedures and other policies necessary to perform
260		-	the business of the council, including the establishment of a
261		-	quorum.
262		-	(b) All regular and special meetings of the council,
263		-	including committee meetings, shall comply with the Open
264		-	Meetings Act.
265		-	Section 6. The duties of the Director of the STEM
266		-	Council, with guidance from the council and the Chief
267		-	Workforce Officer, shall include all of the following:
268		-	(1) Revise, as needed, and oversee the implementation
269		-	of the state STEM strategic plan, working in concert with the
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	298	+	person at a meeting for all purposes. The council shall
	299	+	establish procedures and other policies necessary to perform
	300	+	the business of the council, including the establishment of a
	301	+	quorum.
	302	+	(b) All regular and special meetings of the council,
	303	+	including committee meetings, shall comply with the Open
	304	+	Meetings Act.
	305	+	Section 6. The duties of the Director of the STEM
	306	+	Council, with guidance from the council and the Chief
	307	+	Workforce Officer, shall include all of the following:
	308	+	(1) Revise, as needed, and oversee the implementation
299	309		of the state STEM strategic plan, working in concert with the
300	310		Alabama Workforce Board's State Strategic Plan.
301	311		(2) Serve as the primary point of contact for
302	312		communicating with state and national STEM organizations.
303	313		(3) Coordinate communication efforts to increase STEM
304	314		awareness, illustrate the value of STEM learning, and
305	315		highlight STEM careers across the state.
306	316		(4) Develop and implement the Governor's STEM "Seal of
307	317		Approval," using an evidence-based rubric to recognize
308	318		individual programs or periodic events that advance STEM
309	319		principles and learning across the state.
310	320		(5) Develop, implement, and maintain a digital registry
311	321		of evidence-based and effective STEM instructional and
312	322		professional learning strategies including summer,
313	323		after-school, and out-of-school programs, project-based lesson
314	324		plans, inquiry driven modules, and professional learning
315	325		opportunities.
316	326		(6) In collaboration with the Alabama Commission on the
317		-	Evaluation of Services, conduct comprehensive, external
318		-	evaluations, as needed or requested, of STEM-based curricula
319		-	and educational initiatives that receive funding from the
320		-	Education Trust Fund, beginning with the Alabama Math,
321		-	Science, and Technology Initiative; Technology in Motion;
322		-	Office of Math Improvement; and the Alabama Science in Motion
323		-	programs. Assessment rubrics should incorporate criteria
324		-	relevant to the goals and outcomes of each initiative
325		-	including, but not limited to, the impact on learning,
326		-	effectiveness of human capital and organizational performance,
327		-	cost per participant, fidelity of implementation, equitable
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	356	+	(6) In collaboration with the Alabama Commission on the
	357	+	Evaluation of Services, conduct comprehensive, external
	358	+	evaluations, as needed or requested, of STEM-based curricula
	359	+	and educational initiatives that receive funding from the
	360	+	Education Trust Fund, beginning with the Alabama Math,
	361	+	Science, and Technology Initiative; Technology in Motion;
	362	+	Office of Math Improvement; and the Alabama Science in Motion
	363	+	programs. Assessment rubrics should incorporate criteria
	364	+	relevant to the goals and outcomes of each initiative
	365	+	including, but not limited to, the impact on learning,
	366	+	effectiveness of human capital and organizational performance,
357	367		cost per participant, fidelity of implementation, equitable
358	368		access, the potential for engendering interest and engagement
359	369		in STEM activities, and other criteria.
360	370		(7) Develop continuous improvement plans for the
361	371		Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiative; Technology
362	372		in Motion; Office of Math Improvement; and the Alabama Science
363	373		in Motion programs based on the data gathered from the
364	374		external evaluations.
365	375		(8) In collaboration with the Alabama Commission on the
366	376		Evaluation of Services, conduct comprehensive evaluations, as
367	377		needed or requested, of state preservice preparation and
368	378		in-service programs for educators teaching STEM subjects,
369	379		including both traditional and alternate pathways.
370	380		(9) Expand opportunities for STEM career exploration
371	381		and discovery, especially among groups that are
372	382		under-represented in STEM professions.
373	383		(10) Collaborate with the Alabama Commission on Higher
374	384		Education, the State Board of Education, and the deans of
375		-	two-year and four-year institutions of higher education to
376		-	develop and enact an effective plan to encourage and support
377		-	an increase in the number of college students choosing a STEM
378		-	teaching career.
379		-	(11) In collaboration with the Alabama Commission on
380		-	the Evaluation of Services and the Office of Education and
381		-	Workforce Statistics, collect, aggregate, and analyze relevant
382		-	STEM data to track progress against the state STEM strategic
383		-	plan, including data from the Alabama Terminal on Linking and
384		-	Analyzing Statistics (ATLAS) on career pathways, state
385		-	agencies, including student STEM enrollment, learning, and
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415		-	agencies, including student STEM enrollment, learning, and
416		-	achievement data, STEM labor market information, and measures
417		-	of both STEM and STEM career awareness, attitudes, and
418		-	perceptions from learners across the education and workforce
419		-	continuum.
	414	+	Education, the State Board of Education, and the deans of
	415	+	two-year and four-year institutions of higher education to
	416	+	develop and enact an effective plan to encourage and support
	417	+	an increase in the number of college students choosing a STEM
	418	+	teaching career.
	419	+	(11) In collaboration with the Alabama Commission on
	420	+	the Evaluation of Services, collect, aggregate, and analyze
	421	+	relevant STEM data to track progress against the state STEM
	422	+	strategic plan, including data from the Alabama Terminal on
	423	+	Linking and Analyzing Statistics (ATLAS) on career pathways,
	424	+	state agencies, including student STEM enrollment, learning,
	425	+	and achievement data, STEM labor market information, and
	426	+	measures of both STEM and STEM career awareness, attitudes,
	427	+	and perceptions from learners across the education and
	428	+	workforce continuum.
420	429		(12) Collaborate with business and industry in the
421	430		state to determine current and future STEM workforce needs.
422	431		(13) Promote in-demand Alabama STEM careers, aligning
423	432		them with viable educational opportunities.
424	433		(14) Provide an annual report on progress toward
425	434		implementing the state STEM strategic plan, with
426	435		recommendations for improvement, to all of the following:
427	436		a. The Governor.
428	437		b. The Lieutenant Governor.
429	438		c. The Secretary of Workforce.
430	439		d. The State Workforce Board.
431	440		e. The Speaker of the House of Representatives.
432	441		f. The President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
433	442		g. The Chairs of the Senate Finance and Taxation
434		-	Education and House Ways and Means Education Committees.
435		-	h. The State Superintendent of Education.
436		-	i. The Chancellor of the Alabama Community College
437		-	System.
438		-	j. The Executive Director of the Alabama Commission on
439		-	Higher Education.
440		-	(15) Perform other tasks as requested by the Governor,
441		-	the Secretary of Workforce, and the Legislature.
442		-	Section 7. (a) The council shall receive
443		-	administrative, legal, and clerical support from the Chief of
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473		-	administrative, legal, and clerical support from the Chief of
474		-	the Workforce Pathways Division of the department.
	472	+	g. The Chairs of the Senate Finance and Taxation
	473	+	Education and House Ways and Means Education Committees.
	474	+	h. The State Superintendent of Education.
	475	+	i. The Chancellor of the Alabama Community College
	476	+	System.
	477	+	j. The Executive Director of the Alabama Commission on
	478	+	Higher Education.
	479	+	(15) Perform other tasks as requested by the Governor,
	480	+	the Secretary of Workforce, and the Legislature.
	481	+	Section 7. (a) The council shall receive
	482	+	administrative, legal, and clerical support from the Chief
	483	+	Workforce Officer of the department.
475	484		(b) The department may retain the services of outside
476	485		experts, using funds appropriated for use by the council, on
477	486		behalf of the council.
478	487		(c) Upon request of the council, state agencies and
479	488		other state-funded entities shall cooperate with the council
480	489		and provide any requested information and data.
481	490		Section 8. The council may establish a foundation to
482	491		assist in the development and implementation of the programs
483	492		to promote STEM education, STEM workforce development, and
484	493		STEM careers. The foundation may solicit and receive
485	494		contributions from private organizations to accomplish
486	495		objectives provided in this act.
487	496		Section 9. This act shall become effective on October
488	497		1, 2025.
489	498		225
490	499		226
491	500		227
492	501		228
493	502		229
494	503		230
495	504		231
496	505		232
497	506		233
498	507		234
499	508		235
500	509		236
501	510		237
502	511		238
503		-	239 HB365 Engrossed
504		-	Page 10
505		-	1, 2025.
506		-	House of Representatives
507		-	Read for the first time and referred
508		-	to the House of Representatives
509		-	committee on Education Policy
510		-	................27-Feb-25
511		-	Read for the second time and placed
512		-	on the calendar:
513		-	1 amendment
514		-	................05-Mar-25
515		-	Read for the third time and passed
516		-	as amended
517		-	Yeas 102
518		-	Nays 0
519		-	Abstains 0
520		-	................01-Apr-25
521		-	John Treadwell
522		-	Clerk
	512	+	239
523	513		240
524	514		241
525	515		242
526	516		243
527	517		244
528	518		245
529	519		246
530	520		247
531	521		248
532	522		249
533		-	250
534		-	251
535		-	252
536		-	253
537		-	254
538		-	255
539		-	256
540		-	257
541		-	258
542		-	259
543		-	260