REFERENCE TITLE: appropriation; STEM; learning; workforce development

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-sixth Legislature

First Regular Session

2023

HB 2724

Introduced by

Representatives Marshall: Biasiucci, Gillette, Harris, Martinez, Smith

An Act

appropriating monies to the Arizona commerce authority.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Appropriation; Arizona commerce authority; STEM learning and workforce development opportunities; exemption; intent; report

A. The sum of $3,000,000 is appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2023-2024 to the Arizona commerce authority to administer a grant program charged with cultivating STEM learning and STEM workforce development opportunities in this state.  The purpose of the grant program is to build STEM networks and hubs to leverage assets on every level of a community with this funding that gives priority to rural and semirural areas. The authority shall attempt to maximize and connect STEM learning and STEM workforce development opportunities provided by:

1. Entities in a county that have an established network of cross-institutional partners from business, education, community and government.

2. Schools and school districts for the purpose of teacher training in STEM literacy.

3. Out-of-school programs that cultivate a community STEM network.

4. Museums and science centers with expertise in science, technology, engineering or mathematics.

5. Higher education institutions that offer workforce development in STEM fields.

6. Other entities that recognize the need for STEM competencies as recognized by the authority.

B. The appropriation made in subsection A of this section is exempt from the provisions of section 35-190, Arizona Revised Statutes, relating to lapsing of appropriations.

C. The legislature intends that the appropriation made in subsection A of this section be considered ongoing funding in future years.

D. For the purposes of categorizing rural and semirural areas, the authority shall use the United States department of agriculture's most recent rural-urban continuum code scheme. The authority shall consider codes 1 and 2 as urban, codes 3, 4 and 5 as semirural and codes 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 as rural.

E. On or before December 31, 2023, the authority shall submit a report to the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives on the distribution of grant monies under this section and shall provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state.