HLS 22RS-215 ORIGINAL
2022 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 196
BY REPRESENTATIVE NELSON
HIGHER EDUCATION: Creates the Stimulating More Advanced Research and
Technology (SMART) Program and the SMART Fund for the purpose of awarding
grants to support research at public postsecondary education institutions
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 17:3138.10, relative to postsecondary education; to create the Stimulating
3 More Advanced Research and Technology Program for the purpose of awarding
4 grants to support research in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics at
5 public postsecondary education institutions; to provide for program administration
6 by the Board of Regents; to specify the purposes for which grants are awarded; to
7 create the Stimulating More Advanced Research and Technology Fund for the
8 purpose of funding the program; to direct the state treasurer to deposit certain monies
9 into the fund; to require the Board of Regents to report annually relative to the
10 program; to require the Board of Regents to adopt rules relative to the program; and
11 to provide for related matters.
12Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
13 Section 1. R.S. 17:3138.10 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
14 ยง3138.10. Stimulating More Advanced Research and Technology (SMART)
15 Program and Fund
16 A.(1) The Stimulating More Advanced Research and Technology Program,
17 referred to in this Section as the "SMART Program" or the "program", is hereby
18 established for the purpose of awarding grants to support research in the fields of
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HB NO. 196
1 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, collectively referred to in this
2 Section as "STEM", at public postsecondary education institutions.
3 (2) For purposes of this Section, STEM does not include psychology or other
4 behavioral sciences.
5 B. The SMART Program shall be administered by the Board of Regents,
6 referred to in this Section as the "board", which shall provide for application
7 requirements, evaluation criteria, and selection.
8 C. Grants awarded through the program shall be used to support STEM
9 disciplines for the following purposes:
10 (1) Matching research grants from federal agencies and other sources.
11 (2) Awarding hiring bonuses and startup packages for the purpose of
12 attracting distinguished faculty.
13 (3) Construction, improvement, or procurement of research facilities,
14 laboratories, equipment, and supplies.
15 (4) Scholarships and stipends for graduate students.
16 D.(1) As funding allows, the board shall award grants on a competitive basis
17 among the four purposes provided for in Subsection C of this Section with a
18 preference for those purposes related to research that has the opportunity for
19 commercialization.
20 (2) At least twenty percent of the grants shall be awarded to public
21 postsecondary education institutions outside of the Baton Rouge and New Orleans
22 metropolitan regions.
23 (3) The board shall not use more than three percent of the funding available
24 for the program for costs associated with administering the program.
25 E.(1) The "Stimulating More Advanced Research and Technology Fund",
26 referred to in this Section as the "SMART fund" or the "fund", is hereby created
27 within the state treasury for the purpose of providing funding for the SMART
28 program.
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HB NO. 196
1 (2) Beginning July 1, 2026, the state treasurer is authorized and directed to
2 transfer one hundred fifty million dollars from the state general fund into the
3 SMART fund at the beginning of each fiscal year.
4 (3) Monies in the fund shall be subject to appropriation by the legislature and
5 shall be available exclusively for use by the board for purposes of the SMART
6 program.
7 (4) All unexpended and unencumbered monies in the fund at the end of the
8 fiscal year shall remain in the fund and be available for appropriation the next fiscal
9 year. The monies shall be invested by the treasurer in the same manner as monies
10 in the state general fund, and all interest earned shall be credited to the fund
11 following compliance with the requirements of Article VII, Section 9(B) of the
12 Constitution of Louisiana, relative to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund.
13 E. The board shall annually conduct a return on investment analysis for the
14 program and shall submit a written report relative to this analysis to the House
15 Committee on Education, the Senate Committee on Education, the House Committee
16 on Appropriations, and the Senate Committee on Finance not later than January
17 thirty-first annually.
18 F. The board shall adopt rules and regulations for the implementation of this
19 Section.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 196 Original 2022 Regular Session Nelson
Abstract: Creates the Stimulating More Advanced Research and Technology (SMART)
Program and SMART fund for the purpose of awarding grants to support research
in science, technology, engineering, and math at public postsecondary education
institutions.
Proposed law establishes the Stimulating More Advanced Research and Technology
(SMART) Program for the purpose of awarding grants to support research in the fields of
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) at public postsecondary
education institutions. Provides for program administration by the Bd. of Regents. Proposed
law further:
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HB NO. 196
(1)Provides that grants shall be used for the following purposes:
(a)Matching research grants from federal agencies and other sources.
(b)Awarding hiring bonuses and startup packages for the purpose of attracting
faculty.
(c)Construction, improvement, or procurement of research facilities,
laboratories, equipment, or supplies.
(d)Scholarships and stipends for graduate students.
(2)Requires the board, as funding allows, to award grants on a competitive basis among
the four categories above with a preference for those purposes related to research that
has the opportunity for commercialization.
(3)Requires at least 20% of the grants to be awarded to institutions outside of the Baton
Rouge and New Orleans metro regions.
Proposed law creates the SMART Fund within the state treasury for the purpose of providing
funding for the SMART program and:
(1)Authorizes and directs the state treasurer, beginning July 1, 2026, to transfer $150
million from the state general fund into the fund.
(2)Provides that monies in the fund are subject to legislative appropriation and shall be
available exclusively for use by the Bd. of Regents for the SMART program.
Proposed law requires the board to submit a written report containing a return on investment
analysis to the House and Senate education committees, the House Committee on
Appropriations, and the Senate Committee on Finance not later than Jan. 31st annually and
to adopt rules and regulations for the implementation of proposed law.
(Adds R.S. 17:3138.10)
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