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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST SPECIAL SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 1740H.P. 1158House of Representatives, April 22, 2025
An Act to Establish the Maine Science, Technology, Engineering,
Arts and Mathematics Matching Grant Program
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative SAYRE of Kennebunk.
Cosponsored by Representatives: DUCHARME of Madison, GERE of Kennebunkport, KUHN
of Falmouth, NUTTING of Oakland, ROBERTS of South Berwick, SARGENT of York,
Senator: CURRY of Waldo. Page 1 - 132LR2389(01)
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2 is enacted to read:
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7 For the purposes of this chapter, unless context indicates otherwise, the following terms
8 have the following meanings.
9 "Grant program" means the Science, Technology, Engineering,
10 Arts and Mathematics Education Matching Grant Program established in section 9942.
11 "STEAM" means an activity or program of study involving science,
12 technology, engineering, the arts or mathematics.
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15 The Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics Education Matching
16 Grant Program is established within the department for the purpose of providing grant
17 funding for activities and programs offering hands-on learning experiences in science,
18 technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics for students in this State in kindergarten
19 to grade 12.
20 The department shall administer the grant program. In
21 administering the grant program, the department may consult with:
22 A. A nonprofit organization representing and advocating for manufacturers in this
23 State; and
24 B. A nonprofit organization dedicated to providing opportunities to middle school and
25 high school students to explore robotics in a competitive and supportive environment.
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27 criteria and procedures for eligibility, the application process, applicant selection and
28 awarding grants consistent with the requirements of this chapter. In developing criteria,
29 the department shall review and evaluate comparable programs in other states.
30 The department may adopt rules to implement this chapter.
31 Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5,
32 chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
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34 The department shall award grants through the grant program to eligible applicants.
35 The department shall award grants through the grant program,
36 for an activity or program as described in subsection 2, to entities and organizations
37 including, but not limited to:
38 A. Schools serving students in any of the grades between kindergarten and grade 12; Page 2 - 132LR2389(01)
1 B. Public libraries;
2 C. Museums;
3 D. Local groups within a nationwide network of youth development and engagement
4 organizations;
5 E. Community groups; and
6 F. Nonprofit organizations.
7 Grants may be awarded only to
8 support activities or programs that offer hands-on learning experiences in science,
9 technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics for students in this State in kindergarten
10 to grade 12. Grants may support both activities and programs that are noncompetitive and
11 activities and programs that include a competitive component under which a team attends
12 a competition on a specific date and presents a specific completed project. Grant funds
13 may be used to support both formal and informal activities and programs as long as those
14 activities or programs otherwise meet the requirements of this chapter. Activities or
15 programs that may be supported by the grant program include, but are not limited to:
16 A. Robotics competition teams, including those that incorporate robot design and
17 building and other engineering challenges;
18 B. Interconnecting toy-block building competitions designed to guide youth in STEAM
19 learning;
20 C. Competitive teams that promote creativity, problem solving and teamwork and
21 challenge children to think critically and solve open-ended problems with a STEAM
22 focus;
23 D. One-act play competition teams;
24 E. Film competitions with a STEAM focus, including a STEAM film challenge hosted
25 by the University of Maine; and
26 F. Competition programs with a STEAM focus that explore innovation with ocean
27 resources and in the ocean economy.
28 A grant recipient is required to match 33% of the
29 amount of the grant received through the grant program. The matching funds must be used
30 for the same purposes for which the grant would be awarded if the applicant is selected.
31 To be eligible for the grant program, an applicant must demonstrate on the application for
32 the grant program the applicant's commitment to providing the required matching funds.
33 An applicant may satisfy the matching requirement by any combination of the following:
34 A. Documentation of funds already raised; and
35 B. Incorporating into the program budget submitted with the application the applicant's
36 intention to provide funding for certain expenses, mitigate certain expenses using
37 existing resources or receive additional funds, including, but not limited to:
38 (1) Payment of insurance, federal payroll taxes and other expenses associated with
39 retaining coaches or other educators or supervisors administering the STEAM
40 activity or program;
41 (2) Provision of travel to competitions via school transportation; Page 3 - 132LR2389(01)
1 (3) Providing a space for the program to operate within an existing space within
2 the applicant's organization; and
3 (4) Sponsorship from a local business.
4 When selecting an eligible applicant for the
5 award of a grant under the grant program, the department must give first priority to:
6 A. Newly established activities or programs; and
7 B. Activities or programs that are based in a municipality or county of greater economic
8 need, as measured by the percentage of households in that municipality or county that
9 have an income below the federal poverty level or the supplemental poverty measure
10 determined by the United States Department of Commerce, United States Census
11 Bureau or are considered asset-limited, income-constrained, employed households by
12 an international charitable fund-raising network.
13 After consideration of the factors in
14 subsection 4, the department may consider and give priority to a program that:
15 A. Provides access to STEAM programs to underserved and underrepresented
16 populations;
17 B. Provides STEAM opportunities for students in free or reduced-price lunch
18 programs;
19 C. Has committed supporters, such as businesses, institutions of higher education or
20 parent or teacher volunteers;
21 D. Has a proven sustainability plan; or
22 E. Has a clear and appropriate budget outline.
23 Using the criteria as directed in subsections 4 and 5, the
24 department shall award an equal number of grants to applicants from each of the State's 2
25 congressional districts.
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27 The following provisions govern the use of grant funding received through the grant
28 program and reporting obligations applying to the recipients of those funds.
29 Funds received through the grant program must be used by a
30 grant recipient for the activity or program for which the grant was awarded to cover costs
31 associated with any of the following:
32 A. Operating a competitive team, including supporting the team's advancement in a
33 competition;
34 B. Operating a noncompetitive program;
35 C. Registration fees for events;
36 D. Materials and equipment needed for a specific project;
37 E. Transportation costs associated with travel to and from any competitions;
38 F. Developing a scholarship fund to assist students with the cost of participation;
39 G. Stipends provided to coaches, mentors or other supervisors; Page 4 - 132LR2389(01)
1 H. Professional development; and
2 I. Any costs associated with using a space for the operation of an activity or program
3 supported by the grant that are in excess of the cost the grant recipient customarily
4 expends for use of the space.
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6 according to a time frame established by the department, a report that includes the
7 following:
8 A. An outline of the budget of the activity or program for which the grant was awarded,
9 including a report of how the grant funds were used;
10 B. A written summary of the results of the competition season, if applicable; and
11 C. Basic demographic information of the students who participated in the activity or
12 program. This paragraph does not require the inclusion of any student's personal
13 identifying information.
14 The following appropriations and
15 allocations are made.
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19 Initiative: Provides one-time funding for grants to entities and organizations that offer
20 hands-on learning experiences in science, technology, engineering, the arts and
21 mathematics for students in this State from kindergarten to grade 12. Funds appropriated
22 in fiscal year 2025-26 do not lapse but must be carried forward into fiscal year 2026-27 to
23 be used for the same purpose.
GENERAL FUND
2025-26 2026-27All Other $3,000,000 $0
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GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$3,000,000 $0
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25 This bill establishes the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics
26 Education Matching Grant Program within the Department of Education to provide grant
27 funding to schools, museums and other entities that apply to support programs that offer
28 hands-on learning experiences in science, technology, engineering, the arts and
29 mathematics for students in this State in kindergarten to grade 12. Applicants for the grant
30 program are required to demonstrate ability to provide matching funds in the amount of
31 33% of the grant requested. The bill provides methods by which the matching fund
32 requirement can be satisfied and outlines the types of expenses that a grant recipient can
33 cover with the grant funds.
38 The bill outlines criteria that the department must apply when awarding grants. The
39 department is required to develop further criteria and procedures for eligibility, the
40 application process, applicant selection and awarding grants. The department is authorized
41 to adopt routine technical rules to implement the program.
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1 The bill provides a nonlapsing appropriation in the amount of $3,000,000 to the
2 program for fiscal year 2025-26, any unused portion of which must be carried forward to
3 fiscal year 2026-27.