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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, First Regular Session
appropriation; STEM internships
Purpose
Appropriates $2,000,000 in FY 2022 from the state General Fund (GF) to the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) internships. Establishes guidelines and procedures for awarding stipends to students and teachers.
Background
The ACA was established to provide private sector leadership in growing the economy and creating high quality employment through the attraction, expansion and retention of business (A.R.S. § 41-1502). The ACA is required to: 1) set and collect application fees, registry fees and security deposits; 2) establish full-time positions; 3) educate entrepreneurs about licensure requirements; 4) post annual website reports; 5) administer grants; and 6) disclose requested information to the Office of Economic Opportunity (A.R.S. § 41-1504).
STEM is science, technology, engineering and mathematics (A.R.S. § 15-782.01).
S.B. 1174 appropriates $2,000,000 from the state GF to the ACA in FY 2022.
Provisions
1. Appropriates $2,000,000 in FY 2022 from the state GF to the ACA for matching monies for stipends for STEM internships, allocated as follows:
a) 55 percent for high school, undergraduate college and university students, with preference given to high school students in rural and Title 1 schools;
b) 20 percent for graduate-level college and university students;
c) 20 percent for Arizona kindergarten through grade 12 teachers; and
d) 5 percent for administration and outreach costs incurred during implementation.
2. Requires the ACA to establish guidelines and procedures for awarding stipends to students and teachers and a student evaluation form.
3. Requires a business in Arizona to sponsor a student or teacher to participate in the STEM internship at the business.
4. Requires the participating business, with an ACA-sponsored STEM internship, to:
a) sponsor an additional student or teacher to participate in the STEM internship at the business's expense, unless the business has fewer than 100 employees;
b) demonstrate that the STEM internship includes meaningful and subject-relevant assignments with clear outcomes and expectations aligned to industry needs;
c) provide work-learning experiences for the internship through challenging projects and tasks with appropriate supervision and sufficient workspace; and
d) provide to the ACA, upon completion of the internship, an evaluation of the student's performance.
5. Requires the ACA to award, with consideration of the duration of internship:
a) up to $4,000 for a high school, undergraduate college or university student;
b) up to $6,000 for Arizona kindergarten through grade 12 teachers;
c) up to $7,000 for a graduate-level college or university student; and
d) an additional $500 if the internship results in an industry certification.
6. Requires the ACA to create a website for individuals and businesses to apply for the stipend program and STEM internships, even if the individuals and businesses do not qualify under this program.
7. Requires the ACA, by December 1 2022, to submit a report to the Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives that includes:
a) the number of stipends awarded;
b) the total awards by recipient category;
c) the average amount awarded by category;
d) the number of STEM internships that led to industry certification or employment; and
e) the number of STEM internships posted on the website.
8. Exempts the appropriation from lapsing.
9. Terminates the internship program on January 1, 2023.
10. Defines STEM as science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
11. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 28, 2021
JO/gs