SLS 17RS-263 ORIGINAL
2017 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 225
BY SENATOR HEWITT
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
CURRICULA. Provides relative to STEM education. (gov sig)
1 AN ACT
2 To enact Chapter 45 of Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, to be comprised
3 of R.S. 17:4071 through 4073, and R.S. 36:651(T)(6), relative to science, technology,
4 engineering, and mathematics education; to create the Louisiana Science,
5 Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Advisory Council and provide for its
6 membership, powers, duties, and functions; to create and provide with respect to the
7 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education Fund; to provide for
8 a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics high school diploma
9 endorsement; and to provide for related matters.
10 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
11 Section 1. Chapter 45 of Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950,
12 comprised of R.S. 17:4071 through 4073, is hereby enacted to read as follows:
13 §4071. Louisiana Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
14 Advisory Council; creation; membership; powers, duties, and
15 functions
16 A. The Louisiana Science, Engineering, Mathematics, and Technology
17 Advisory Council is hereby created to coordinate and oversee the creation,
Page 1 of 8
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 225
SLS 17RS-263 ORIGINAL
1 delivery, and promotion of STEM education programs, to increase student
2 interest and achievement in the fields of science, engineering, technology, and
3 mathematics, and to ensure the alignment of education, economic development,
4 industry, and workforce needs.
5 B. The council shall consist of twenty-five members as follows:
6 (1) The commissioner of higher education, or his designee.
7 (2) The secretary of the Department of Economic Development, or his
8 designee.
9 (3) The executive director of the Louisiana Workforce Commission, or
10 his designee.
11 (4) The state superintendent of education, or his designee.
12 (5) The president of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary
13 Education, or his designee.
14 (6) The president of the Louisiana State University System, or his
15 designee.
16 (7) The president of the Southern University System, or his designee.
17 (8) The president of the University of Louisiana System, or his designee.
18 (9) The president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College
19 System, or his designee.
20 (10) The executive director of the Louisiana School Boards Association,
21 or his designee.
22 (11) The executive director of the Louisiana Association of Principals,
23 or his designee.
24 (12) The executive director of the Louisiana Association of Public
25 Charter Schools, or his designee.
26 (13) The president of the Louisiana Science Teachers Association, or his
27 designee.
28 (14) The president of the Louisiana Association of Teachers of
29 Mathematics, or his designee.
Page 2 of 8
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 225
SLS 17RS-263 ORIGINAL
1 (15) Two members who are on the faculty of a Louisiana postsecondary
2 education institution and who teach in a STEM discipline.
3 (16) The president of the Louisiana Association of Business and
4 Industry, or his designee.
5 (17) Three members with demonstrated interest, experience, and
6 expertise in STEM education, appointed by the governor.
7 (18) Three members representing key industries in the state, appointed
8 by the secretary of the Department of Economic Development.
9 (19) A member of the Louisiana Senate, appointed by the president of
10 the Senate.
11 (20) A member of the Louisiana House of Representatives, appointed by
12 the speaker of the House.
13 C. Vacancies shall be filled in the manner of appointment.
14 D. Members shall serve without compensation or reimbursement of
15 expenses, other than what may be afforded by their appointing authority.
16 E. The council shall be chaired by the commissioner of higher education
17 or his designee. The secretary of the Department of Economic Development, or
18 his designee, shall serve as the initial vice chairman of the council. Thereafter,
19 the vice chairmanship shall alternate on a biennial basis between the secretary
20 of the Department of Economic Development, or his designee, and the executive
21 director of the Louisiana Workforce Commission, or his designee. The council
22 may elect such other officers as it deems necessary.
23 F. The council shall meet monthly and at such other times as called by
24 the chairman.
25 G. A quorum of the total membership is required to do business and all
26 actions taken by the council shall require the affirmative vote of the majority
27 of the members present and voting.
28 H. As funding allows, the council shall:
29 (1) Create a comprehensive, statewide STEM plan that contains clear
Page 3 of 8
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 225
SLS 17RS-263 ORIGINAL
1 objectives to guide the development of STEM education and STEM career
2 opportunities and aligns elementary, secondary, and postsecondary STEM
3 curricula, programs, initiatives, and activities.
4 (2) Coordinate all state STEM-related programs and activities.
5 (3) Promote activities that raise awareness of STEM education and
6 STEM career opportunities.
7 (4) Engage business and industry, employers, professional and
8 community-based organizations, and other stakeholders in STEM education
9 and career and talent programs and activities.
10 (5) Encourage industry and business entities to provide funding,
11 resources, and technical assistance to elementary, secondary, and postsecondary
12 schools to promote interest in STEM discipline courses and career
13 opportunities.
14 (6) Connect STEM resources, initiatives, and programs regionally and
15 throughout the state.
16 (7) Establish an information clearinghouse, to be housed at the Board
17 of Regents, to identify and provide best practice resources for both the
18 secondary and postsecondary educational systems and to review and acquire
19 STEM education related instructional materials.
20 (8) Provide support for high quality professional development for
21 teachers of STEM subjects.
22 (9) As appropriate, join and participate in a national STEM network
23 and collaborate with other states in STEM program development.
24 (10) Establish a competitive grants program to fund robotics
25 competitions to provide students in grades seven through twelve with
26 opportunities to improve science, engineering, technology, and mathematics
27 skills by participating in events sponsored by a science and technology
28 development program known as FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of
29 Science and Technology) Robotics. The program may be funded through the
Page 4 of 8
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 225
SLS 17RS-263 ORIGINAL
1 Science, Engineering, Mathematics, and Technology Education Fund and any
2 other available public or private funds.
3 I. The council may:
4 (1) Establish such subcommittees and workgroups as the council deems
5 necessary and appropriate to carry out its duties and responsibilities.
6 (2) Solicit funds, contributions, and grants from any allowable source
7 to implement the provisions of this Section and to further STEM education in
8 the state.
9 (3) Seek the expertise and services of individuals and entities outside its
10 membership for research, advice, and other needs as required to carry out the
11 council's mission.
12 J. The council, through the Board of Regents, shall submit a status
13 report regarding all actions taken to implement the provisions of this Section,
14 including any recommendations for legislation or policy changes, to the Senate
15 Committee on Education and the House Committee on Education by January
16 thirtieth of each year.
17 §4072. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education Fund
18 A. The Science, Engineering, Mathematics, and Technology (STEM)
19 Education Fund is hereby created in the state treasury for the purpose of
20 conducting student-focused, project-based, programs and competitions in
21 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics subjects, including robotics,
22 coding, and design-build test projects, in grades prekindergarten through
23 college level.
24 B.(1) The source of monies deposited into the fund shall be legislative
25 appropriations. Monies in the fund shall be subject to appropriation by the
26 legislature and shall be available exclusively for programs and initiatives
27 prescribed by the Louisiana Science, Engineering, Mathematics, and
28 Technology Advisory Council.
29 (2) The treasurer is hereby authorized to establish a separate account
Page 5 of 8
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 225
SLS 17RS-263 ORIGINAL
1 within the fund for the deposit of grants and donations received by the
2 Louisiana Science, Engineering, Mathematics, and Technology Advisory
3 Council. Monies in this separate account shall not be subject to legislative
4 appropriation but shall be used by the council only to further their mission.
5 C. All unexpended and unencumbered monies in the fund at the end of
6 the fiscal year shall remain in the fund. Such monies shall be invested by the
7 state treasurer in the same manner as monies in the state general fund, and
8 interest earned on the investment of these monies shall be credited to the fund,
9 after compliance with the requirements of Article VII, Section 9(B) of the
10 Constitution of Louisiana, relative to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund.
11 §4073. Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; diploma
12 endorsement program
13 A. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, in
14 consultation with the Louisiana Science, Engineering, Mathematics, and
15 Technology Advisory Council, shall establish an Engineering, Mathematics, and
16 Technology (STEM) diploma endorsement to recognize a high school student
17 who exhibits superior academic achievement in STEM discipline subjects.
18 B. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall
19 establish the minimum course, proficiency, and other requirements the board
20 deems necessary and appropriate for a student to earn the STEM diploma
21 endorsement.
22 C. The state Department of Education and each public school governing
23 authority shall provide information regarding the requirements for STEM
24 diploma endorsement to all students enrolled in grades six through twelve and
25 their parents.
26 D. The governing authority of each public high school shall maintain the
27 records needed to identify students who have earned the STEM diploma
28 endorsement and shall note such on the transcript of each student who earns the
29 endorsement.
Page 6 of 8
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 225
SLS 17RS-263 ORIGINAL
1 E. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall adopt
2 rules in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act to implement the
3 provisions of this Section.
4 Section 2. R.S. 36:651(T)(6) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
5 §651. Transfer of boards, commissions, departments, and agencies to Department of
6 Education; boards, commissions, and agencies within Department of
7 Education
8 * * *
9 T. The following agencies are placed within the Department of Education and
10 shall perform and exercise their powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities as
11 provided by law:
12 * * *
13 (6) The Louisiana Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
14 Advisory Council (R.S. 17:4071).
15 * * *
16 Section 3. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
17 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
18 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
19 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
20 effective on the day following such approval.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jeanne C. Johnston.
DIGEST
SB 225 Original 2017 Regular Session Hewitt
Proposed law provides with respect to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
education as follows:
(1)Creates the Louisiana Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Advisory
Council and provides for its membership, powers, duties, and function.
(2)Creates the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education Fund in
the state treasury.
(3)Requires the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to create a science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics high school diploma endorsement.
Page 7 of 8
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 225
SLS 17RS-263 ORIGINAL
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 17:4071-4073 and R.S. 36:651(T)(6))
Page 8 of 8
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.