2017 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE BILL NO. 225
BY SENATORS HEWITT, ALARIO, APPEL, BARROW, BISHOP, CARTER, CORTEZ,
DONAHUE, ERDEY, GATTI, JOHNS, LAFLEUR, LAMBERT,
MILKOVICH, MILLS, MIZELL, MORRISH, PEACOCK, PETERSON,
RISER, GARY SMITH, JOHN SMITH, TARVER, THOMPSON,
WALSWORTH, WARD AND WHITE AND REPRESENTATIVES
AMEDEE, BACALA, BARRAS, BILLIOT, BOUIE, BROADWATER,
TERRY BROWN, CARMODY, GARY CARTER, STEVE CARTER,
CREWS, DAVIS, EDMONDS, EMERSON, FALCONER, GISCLAIR,
GLOVER, GUINN, HALL, HILFERTY, HOLLIS, HORTON,
HUNTER, JORDAN, NANCY LANDRY, LEGER, LEOPOLD,
GREGORY MILLER, MORENO, JAY MORRIS, PIERRE, RICHARD,
SIMON, SMITH, THIBAUT, THOMAS, WHITE AND ZERINGUE
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
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 CHAPTER 45. LOUISIANA SCIENCE, TECHNOLOG Y,
14 ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS EDUCATION (LaSTEM)
15 §4071. Louisiana Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
16 Advisory Council; creation; membership; powers, duties, and
17 functions
18 A. The Louisiana Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
19 Advisory Council (LaSTEM) is hereby created under the auspices of the Board
20 of Regents to coordinate and oversee the creation, delivery, and promotion of
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1 STEM education programs, to increase student interest and achievement in the
2 fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, to ensure the
3 alignment of education, economic development, industry, and workforce needs,
4 and to increase the number of women who graduate from a postsecondary
5 institution with a STEM degree or credential.
6 B. The council shall consist of twenty-nine members as follows:
7 (1) The commissioner of higher education, or his designee.
8 (2) The secretary of the Department of Economic Development, or his
9 designee.
10 (3) The executive director of the Louisiana Workforce Commission, or
11 his designee.
12 (4) The state superintendent of education, or his designee.
13 (5) The president of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary
14 Education, or his designee.
15 (6) The president of the Louisiana State University System, or his
16 designee.
17 (7) The president of the Southern University System, or his designee.
18 (8) The president of the University of Louisiana System, or his designee.
19 (9) The president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College
20 System, or his designee.
21 (10) The executive director of the Louisiana School Boards Association,
22 or his designee.
23 (11) The executive director of the Louisiana Association of Principals,
24 or his designee.
25 (12) The executive director of the Louisiana Association of Public
26 Charter Schools, or his designee.
27 (13) The president of the Louisiana Science Teachers Association, or his
28 designee.
29 (14) The president of the Louisiana Association of Teachers of
30 Mathematics, or his designee.
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1 (15) Two members who are on the faculty of a Louisiana postsecondary
2 education institution and who teach in a STEM discipline, appointed by the
3 commissioner of higher education.
4 (16) The president of the Louisiana Association of Business and
5 Industry, or his designee.
6 (17) Three members with demonstrated interest, experience, and
7 expertise in STEM education, appointed by the governor.
8 (18) Three members representing key industries in the state, appointed
9 by the secretary of the Department of Economic Development.
10 (19) A member of the Louisiana Senate, appointed by the president of
11 the Senate.
12 (20) A member of the Louisiana House of Representatives, appointed by
13 the speaker of the House.
14 (21) The chairman of the Louisiana Workforce Investment Council, or
15 his designee.
16 (22) The president of the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges
17 and Universities, or his designee.
18 (23) The president of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers, or his
19 designee.
20 (24) The president of the Louisiana Association of Educators, or his
21 designee.
22 C. Vacancies shall be filled in the manner of appointment.
23 D. Members shall serve without compensation or reimbursement of
24 expenses, other than what may be afforded by their appointing authority.
25 Legislative members of the council shall receive the same per diem and
26 reimbursement of travel expenses as is provided for legislative committee
27 meetings under the rules of the respective house in which they serve.
28 E. The council shall be chaired by the commissioner of higher education
29 or his designee. The secretary of the Department of Economic Development, or
30 his designee, shall serve as the initial vice chairman of the council. Thereafter,
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1 the vice chairmanship shall alternate on a triennial basis between the state
2 superintendent of education, or his designee, the secretary of the Department
3 of Economic Development, or his designee, and the executive director of the
4 Louisiana Workforce Commission, or his designee. The council may elect such
5 other officers as it deems necessary.
6 F. The council shall meet monthly and at such other times as called by
7 the chairman. Beginning August 31, 2018, the council shall be required to meet
8 only quarterly. The commissioner of higher education shall convene the first
9 meeting of the council not later than September 15, 2017.
10 G. A majority of the total membership shall constitute a quorum for the
11 transaction of business and all actions taken by the council shall require the
12 affirmative vote of the majority of the members present and voting.
13 H. As funding allows, the council shall:
14 (1) Create a comprehensive, statewide STEM plan that contains clear
15 objectives to guide the development of STEM education and STEM career
16 opportunities and aligns elementary, secondary, and postsecondary STEM
17 curricula, programs, initiatives, and activities.
18 (2) Coordinate all state STEM education-related programs and
19 activities.
20 (3) Create a new STEM culture and promote activities that raise
21 awareness of STEM education and STEM career opportunities.
22 (4) Integrate employers and educators by engaging business and
23 industry, employers, professional and community-based organizations, and
24 other stakeholders in STEM education and career and talent programs and
25 activities.
26 (5) Encourage industry and business entities to provide funding,
27 resources, and technical assistance to elementary, secondary, and postsecondary
28 schools to promote interest in STEM discipline courses and career
29 opportunities.
30 (6) Connect STEM education resources, initiatives, and programs
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1 regionally and throughout the state.
2 (7) Establish an information clearinghouse, to be housed at the Board
3 of Regents, to identify and provide best practice resources for both the
4 secondary and postsecondary educational systems and to review and acquire
5 STEM education-related instructional materials.
6 (8) Empower STEM teachers and provide support for high quality
7 professional development for teachers of STEM subjects.
8 (9) As appropriate, join and participate in a national STEM network
9 and collaborate with other states in STEM education program development.
10 (10) Establish a competitive grants program to fund robotics
11 competitions to provide students at all appropriate grade levels opportunities
12 to improve science, technology, engineering, and mathematics skills by
13 participating in events sponsored by a science and technology development
14 program known as FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and
15 Technology) Robotics. The program may be funded through the Science,
16 Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education Fund and any other
17 available public or private funds.
18 I. The council may:
19 (1) Establish such subcommittees and workgroups as the council deems
20 necessary and appropriate to carry out its duties and responsibilities.
21 (2) Solicit funds, contributions, and grants from any allowable source
22 to implement the provisions of this Section and to further STEM education in
23 the state.
24 (3) Seek the expertise and services of individuals and entities outside its
25 membership for research, advice, and other needs as required to carry out the
26 council's mission.
27 J. The council, through the Board of Regents, shall submit a status
28 report regarding all actions taken to implement the provisions of this Section,
29 including metrics that measure the success of implementing council activities
30 and initiatives and any recommendations for legislation or policy changes, to the
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1 Senate Committee on Education and the House Committee on Education by
2 January thirtieth of each year.
3 §4072. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education Fund
4 A. The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
5 Education Fund is hereby created in the state treasury for the purpose of
6 conducting student-focused, project-based, programs and competitions in
7 STEM subjects, including robotics, coding, and design-build test projects, in
8 grades prekindergarten through college level.
9 B.(1) The source of monies deposited into the fund shall be legislative
10 appropriations. Monies in the fund shall be subject to appropriation by the
11 legislature and shall be available exclusively for programs and initiatives
12 prescribed by the Louisiana Science, Technology, Engineering, and
13 Mathematics Advisory Council.
14 (2) The treasurer is hereby authorized to establish a separate account
15 within the fund for the deposit of grants and donations received by the
16 Louisiana Science, Technoloy, Engineering, and Mathematics Advisory Council.
17 If the terms and conditions of the grant or donation or the agreements
18 pertaining thereto require that the monies not be deposited into the treasury,
19 the grant or donation may nevertheless be deposited into the fund. Monies in
20 this separate account shall not be subject to legislative appropriation but shall
21 be used by the council only to further their mission.
22 C. All unexpended and unencumbered monies in the fund at the end of
23 the fiscal year shall remain in the fund. Such monies shall be invested by the
24 state treasurer in the same manner as monies in the state general fund, and
25 interest earned on the investment of these monies shall be credited to the fund,
26 after compliance with the requirements of Article VII, Section 9(B) of the
27 Constitution of Louisiana, relative to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund.
28 D. The council shall adopt a resolution stating which members or
29 officers are authorized to withdraw money from the fund and the separate
30 account in the fund, which resolution shall be submitted to the state treasury.
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1 Monies in the fund and the separate account shall only be used by the council
2 to further their mission.
3 §4073. Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; diploma
4 endorsement program
5 A. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, in
6 consultation with the Louisiana Science, Technology, Engineering, and
7 Mathematics Advisory Council, shall establish a Science, Technology,
8 Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) diploma endorsement to recognize a
9 high school student who exhibits superior academic achievement in STEM
10 discipline subjects.
11 B. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall
12 establish the minimum course, proficiency, and other requirements the board
13 deems necessary and appropriate for a student to earn the STEM diploma
14 endorsement.
15 C. The state Department of Education and each public school governing
16 authority shall provide information regarding the requirements for STEM
17 diploma endorsement to all students enrolled in grades six through twelve and
18 their parents.
19 D. The governing authority of each public high school shall maintain the
20 records needed to identify students who have earned the STEM diploma
21 endorsement and shall note such on the transcript of each student who earns the
22 endorsement.
23 E. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall adopt
24 rules in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act to implement the
25 provisions of this Section.
26 Section 2. R.S. 36:651(T)(6) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
27 §651. Transfer of boards, commissions, departments, and agencies to Department of
28 Education; boards, commissions, and agencies within Department of
29 Education
30 * * *
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1 T. The following agencies are placed within the Department of Education and
2 shall perform and exercise their powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities as
3 provided by law:
4 * * *
5 (6) The Louisiana Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
6 Advisory Council (R.S. 17:4071).
7 * * *
8 Section 3. Nothing in this Act shall be construed in a manner as to supersede the
9 constitutionally and statutorily prescribed powers, duties, and responsibilities of the State
10 Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Board of Regents, or a postsecondary
11 education management board.
12 Section 4. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
13 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
14 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
15 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
16 effective on the day following such approval.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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