First Regular Session of the 123rd General Assembly (2023)
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HOUSE ENROLLED ACT No. 1382
AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning education.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
SECTION 1. IC 20-20-45.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
JULY 1, 2023]:
Chapter 45.5. Robotics Competition Program
Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "allowable expenses" means:
(1) payment of a stipend for a robotics team mentor;
(2) fees, kits, and supplies required to:
(A) establish or maintain a robotics team; or
(B) participate in a robotics competition; and
(3) event registrations, materials, transportation costs, travel
costs, and other expenses associated with attendance at a
robotics competition.
Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "eligible school" means a:
(1) public school, including a charter school (as defined in
IC 20-24-1-4); or
(2) state accredited nonpublic school.
Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "eligible team" means a robotics
competition team consisting of:
(1) students in kindergarten through grade 12 who are
enrolled in an eligible school; and
(2) at least one (1) adult who is a team mentor and team
coach.
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Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "fund" refers to the robotics
competition program fund established by section 8 of this chapter.
Sec. 5. As used in this chapter, "program" refers to the robotics
competition program established by section 7 of this chapter.
Sec. 6. As used in this chapter, "robotics competition" means a
competition that:
(1) requires participating teams to design, construct,
program, and operate robots; and
(2) 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, that has as one (1) of its
organizational purposes the goal of encouraging young people
to develop an interest in science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics (STEM).
Sec. 7. The robotics competition program is established to
provide grants to eligible teams to expand opportunities to increase
interest and improve skills in science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics (STEM) through participation in competitive robotics
programs that:
(1) provide hands on learning experiences;
(2) establish community partnerships to increase awareness
of local workforce and postsecondary opportunities;
(3) highlight career opportunities through adult mentors; and
(4) prioritize a connection to manufacturing, machining, and
fabrication skills for students in grades 9 through 12.
Sec. 8. The robotics competition program fund is established.
The department shall use money in the fund to provide grants to
eligible teams to develop and implement competitive robotics
programs.
Sec. 9. (a) The fund consists of the following:
(1) Appropriations from the general assembly.
(2) Gifts to the fund.
(3) Grants, including grants from private entities.
(4) Other state funds that are transferred to the fund.
(b) The expenses of administering the fund shall be paid from
money in the fund.
(c) The treasurer of state shall invest the money in the fund not
currently needed to meet the obligations of the fund in the same
manner as other public money may be invested. Interest that
accrues from these investments shall be deposited into the fund.
(d) Money in the fund at the end of a state fiscal year does not
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revert to the state general fund.
Sec. 10. Subject to appropriation by the general assembly, the
department shall administer the program and fund.
Sec. 11. (a) Beginning July 1, 2023, an eligible team may apply
to the department to receive a grant from the fund on a form
provided by the department.
(b) To receive a grant, an eligible team must show proof of the
following in its application:
(1) A partnership for the purposes of a robotics competition
with at least one (1) sponsor, business entity, higher education
institution, or technical school.
(2) An adult robotics team mentor.
(3) A spending plan.
(4) A commitment to compete in a robotics competition.
(5) For grades 9 through 12, a commitment to creating an
original, iteratively designed robot.
(6) A local in kind or cash match from other private or local
funds in an amount equal to at least twenty-five percent
(25%) of the amount of the awarded grant.
Sec. 12. (a) The department shall develop guidelines to award
grants, after June 30, 2023, to eligible teams for allowable
expenses. The guidelines developed by the department must include
a maximum grant award allotment for each eligible team based on
the:
(1) level of programming; and
(2) level of competition;
of various robotics competitions as determined by the department.
(b) The department shall award grants in a manner that
maximizes the number of eligible teams that will be able to receive
funds, with an emphasis on increasing the number of high school
teams, and that expands the geographical distribution of eligible
teams.
Sec. 13. The department shall establish guidelines to
accommodate the participation of students with disabilities on an
eligible team or in a robotics competition.
Sec. 14. The department may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to
implement this chapter.
HEA 1382 — CC 2 Speaker of the House of Representatives
President of the Senate
President Pro Tempore
Governor of the State of Indiana
Date: Time:
HEA 1382 — CC 2