S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  6649

                       2009-2010 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                             March 11, 2009
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M. of A. TEDISCO, THIELE, MILLER, KOLB, BUTLER, McKEVITT
  -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ALFANO, AMEDORE, BACALLES,  BARCLAY,
  BARRA,  CONTE, CROUCH, ERRIGO, FINCH, GIGLIO, HAWLEY, HAYES, P. LOPEZ,
  OAKS, O'MARA, QUINN, RAIA,  REILICH,  SALADINO,  SAYWARD,  SCOZZAFAVA,
  TOBACCO,  TOWNSEND,  WALKER -- read once and referred to the Committee
  on Education

AN ACT to amend the education law, the state finance  law  and  the  tax
  law, in relation to increasing educational opportunities in the fields
  of  math, science and technology or any high-tech field; and making an
  appropriation therefor

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1.  Short  title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
the "New Edison Project Act".
  S 2. Legislative intent. Today, Americans are feeling the far-reaching
effects  of  economic  globalization  and  the  loss  of  the   American
distinction  as  the  leader in technological innovation. While there is
recognition throughout the United States from  academic,  political  and
business  leaders  of  the  nature of the problem, solutions appear both
varied and isolated. Only recently has government been compelled to  put
forth legislative efforts.
  Here in New York, we have made great efforts to cultivate a new gener-
ation of high tech business, and we have marketed these emerging efforts
with  names such as Tech Valley and Silicon Alley. If we are to continue
to build a future for New York as a technological center for  innovation
and  science,  we  must  be committed to cultivating a new generation of
scientists.
  The New Edison Project does  not  rely  on  a  single  decision-making
factor  to  influence  a  student's career choice, but instead employs a
broad range of programs that seek to influence and inspire a  generation
of high school and college students.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD09989-01-9
              

A. 6649                             2

  S  3.  Section  305  of the education law is amended by adding two new
subdivisions 42 and 43 to read as follows:
  42.   THE  COMMISSIONER  SHALL  DEVELOP  GUIDELINES  BY  WHICH  SCHOOL
DISTRICTS MAY ESTABLISH HIGH SCHOOLS OFFERING ADVANCED CURRICULA OF  THE
SCIENCES. SUCH SCHOOLS WOULD BE EITHER DISTINCT HIGH SCHOOLS OR PROGRAMS
WITHIN  HIGH  SCHOOLS  DISTRIBUTED REGIONALLY THROUGHOUT THE STATE WHICH
PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH ENRICHED MATH, SCIENCE AND  TECHNOLOGY  CURRICULA.
EACH  SCHOOL DISTRICT INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING SHALL SUBMIT AN APPLI-
CATION TO THE DEPARTMENT SETTING FORTH ITS PLAN FOR ADVANCED CURRICULUM.
SIX SCHOOL DISTRICTS SHALL BE ACCEPTED FOR ADVANCED  CURRICULUM  FUNDING
OF UP TO ONE MILLION DOLLARS EACH IN ADDITION TO TRADITIONAL SCHOOL AID.
  43.  TO  PROPERLY  ACQUAINT  THE  PUBLIC  WITH  THE  IMPORTANCE OF THE
PROVISIONS OF SUBDIVISION FORTY-TWO OF THIS SECTION,  THE  COMMISSIONER,
WITH   APPROPRIATE  CONSULTATION,  SHALL  ESTABLISH  A  CELEBRITY  MEDIA
CAMPAIGN WHEREBY CELEBRITIES OF TELEVISION, FILM AND  THE  SCIENCES  ARE
INVOLVED TO DRAW ATTENTION TO MATH, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CAREER PATHS.
THIS CAMPAIGN WILL ALSO BE AIMED AT PARENTS OF POTENTIAL STUDENTS OF THE
ADVANCED CURRICULUM.
  S  4.  The  education  law is amended by adding a new section 667-b to
read as follows:
  S 667-B. SUPPLEMENTAL PROGRAM FOR MATH, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY MAJORS.
ANY FULL TIME STUDENT ENTERING HIS OR HER SOPHOMORE YEAR WHO IS ENROLLED
IN A MATH, SCIENCE OR TECHNOLOGY  MAJOR,  AND  WHO  IS  A  RECIPIENT  OF
TUITION  ASSISTANCE  PURSUANT TO SECTION SIX HUNDRED SIXTY-SEVEN OF THIS
SUBPART, SHALL RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL SUM OF FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS  TOWARD
TUITION.
  S  5.  The  education  law is amended by adding a new section 669-e to
read as follows:
  S 669-E. ADDITIONAL INCENTIVES IN THE  FIELDS  OF  MATH,  SCIENCE  AND
TECHNOLOGY.  IN  ADDITION  TO  THE  INCENTIVES  TOWARD A TEACHING CAREER
PURSUANT TO SECTION  SIX  HUNDRED  SIXTY-NINE-D  OF  THIS  SUBPART,  THE
COMMISSIONER  SHALL SELECT UP TO FIVE HUNDRED FULL TIME STUDENTS WHO ARE
MAJORING IN MATH, SCIENCE OR TECHNOLOGY  OR  ANY  OTHER  HIGH-TECHNOLOGY
FIELD  THAT THE COMMISSIONER DEEMS APPROPRIATE, TO RECEIVE LOAN FORGIVE-
NESS OF TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS PER YEAR FOR UP TO FIVE YEARS PROVIDED EACH
SUCH STUDENT AGREES IN WRITING TO WORKING WITHIN THIS STATE FOR AT LEAST
FIVE YEARS AFTER GRADUATION IN AN APPROPRIATE FIELD OF MATH, SCIENCE  OR
TECHNOLOGY  OR  ANY  OTHER  HIGH-TECHNOLOGY  FIELD THAT THE COMMISSIONER
DEEMS APPROPRIATE.
  S 6. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 89-h  to
read as follows:
  S  89-H.  MICROSCOPE FUND. 1. THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED IN THE JOINT
CUSTODY OF THE COMMISSIONER OF TAXATION AND FINANCE AND THE COMPTROLLER,
A SPECIAL FUND TO BE KNOWN AS THE "MICROSCOPE FUND".
  2. SUCH FUND SHALL CONSIST OF ALL REVENUES RECEIVED BY THE  DEPARTMENT
OF  TAXATION  AND  FINANCE FROM GRANTS, CONTRIBUTIONS, DONATIONS AND ALL
OTHER MONEYS CREDITED OR TRANSFERRED THERETO  FROM  ANY  OTHER  FUND  OR
SOURCE  PURSUANT TO LAW. THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION SHALL ESTABLISH A
LOW INTEREST LOAN FUND, TO BE ADMINISTERED BY A PRIVATE FINANCIAL CORPO-
RATION. SUCH FUND SHALL PROVIDE UP TO FIFTY THOUSAND  DOLLARS  PER  HIGH
SCHOOL  GRANTED  A  LOW  INTEREST  LOAN PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.   HIGH
SCHOOLS SHALL QUALIFY FOR SUCH A LOAN BASED ON CRITERIA TO BE DETERMINED
BY THE PRIVATE FINANCIAL CORPORATION ADMINISTERING  THE  LOAN  FUND  AND
PRIORITY SHALL BE GIVEN TO FUNDING FOR SPECIALIZED PROJECTS.
  3.  ON  OR BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF FEBRUARY EACH YEAR, THE COMPTROLLER
SHALL CERTIFY TO THE GOVERNOR, TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, SPEAK-

A. 6649                             3

ER OF THE ASSEMBLY, MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE,  MINORITY  LEADER  OF
THE  ASSEMBLY,  CHAIR  OF THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE, RANKING MINORITY
MEMBER OF THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE, CHAIR OF THE ASSEMBLY  WAYS  AND
MEANS  COMMITTEE  AND  RANKING  MINORITY MEMBER OF THE ASSEMBLY WAYS AND
MEANS COMMITTEE, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY DEPOSITED IN SUCH FUND  DURING  THE
PRECEDING CALENDAR YEAR.
  4. MONEYS IN SUCH FUND SHALL BE KEPT SEPARATE AND SHALL NOT BE COMMIN-
GLED  WITH  ANY OTHER MONEYS IN THE CUSTODY OF THE COMMISSIONER OF TAXA-
TION AND FINANCE AND THE COMPTROLLER.
  5. ALL PAYMENTS FROM SUCH FUND SHALL BE  MADE  BY  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF
TAXATION  AND  FINANCE  AFTER  AUDIT  AND  WARRANT OF THE COMPTROLLER ON
VOUCHERS APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION.
  S 7. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 89-i  to
read as follows:
  S  89-I.  FOUNDATION FUND. 1. THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED IN THE JOINT
CUSTODY OF THE COMMISSIONER OF TAXATION AND FINANCE AND THE COMPTROLLER,
A SPECIAL FUND TO BE KNOWN AS THE "FOUNDATION FUND".
  2. SUCH FUND SHALL CONSIST OF ALL REVENUES RECEIVED BY THE  DEPARTMENT
OF  TAXATION  AND FINANCE, FROM MONEYS APPROPRIATED, CREDITED, OR TRANS-
FERRED THERETO FROM ANY OTHER FUND OR SOURCE PURSUANT TO LAW.    NOTHING
CONTAINED IN THIS SECTION SHALL PREVENT THE STATE FROM RECEIVING GRANTS,
GIFTS  OR  BEQUESTS  FOR  THE  PURPOSES  OF  THE FUND AS DEFINED IN THIS
SECTION AND DEPOSITING THEM INTO SUCH FUND ACCORDING TO LAW.
  3. ON OR BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF FEBRUARY EACH YEAR,  THE  COMPTROLLER
SHALL CERTIFY TO THE GOVERNOR, TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, SPEAK-
ER  OF  THE  ASSEMBLY, MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE, MINORITY LEADER OF
THE ASSEMBLY, CHAIR OF THE SENATE FINANCE  COMMITTEE,  RANKING  MINORITY
MEMBER  OF  THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE, CHAIR OF THE ASSEMBLY WAYS AND
MEANS COMMITTEE AND RANKING MINORITY MEMBER OF  THE  ASSEMBLY  WAYS  AND
MEANS COMMITTEE, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY DEPOSITED IN SUCH FUND.
  4. MONEYS IN SUCH FUND SHALL BE KEPT SEPARATE AND SHALL NOT BE COMMIN-
GLED  WITH  ANY OTHER MONEYS IN THE CUSTODY OF THE COMMISSIONER OF TAXA-
TION AND FINANCE AND THE COMPTROLLER.
  5. ALL PAYMENTS FROM SUCH FUND SHALL BE  MADE  BY  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF
TAXATION  AND  FINANCE  AFTER  AUDIT  AND  WARRANT OF THE COMPTROLLER ON
VOUCHERS APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION.
  6. THE MONIES FROM THIS FUND SHALL BE DISTRIBUTED BY THE  COMMISSIONER
OF  EDUCATION  TO  GRADUATE STUDENTS IN ALL SECTORS TO PURSUE SCIENTIFIC
RESEARCH RELATED TO THEIR GRADUATE OR DOCTORAL STUDIES.   EACH  GRADUATE
STUDENT,  SELECTED USING CRITERIA TO BE ESTABLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION, SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE UP TO TWENTY  THOUSAND  DOLLARS.
SUCH AWARD SHALL BE TO HELP SUCH STUDENTS SECURE INCUBATOR SPACE AND PAY
FOR  COSTS  ASSOCIATED  WITH  DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF SCIENTIFIC
PROTOTYPES. SUCH AWARDS SHALL BE GRANTED  ON  A  COMPETITIVE  BASIS  AND
SHALL BE AVAILABLE TO INDIVIDUALS ONLY ONCE.
  S 8. Section 210 of the tax law is amended by adding a new subdivision
41 to read as follows:
  41.  MICROSCOPE  FUND TAX CREDIT. A TAXPAYER SHALL BE ALLOWED A CREDIT
AGAINST THE TAX IMPOSED BY THIS ARTICLE. THE AMOUNT OF THE CREDIT  SHALL
BE  EQUAL  TO  FIFTY PERCENT OF THE SUM OF THE FOLLOWING INVESTMENTS AND
CONTRIBUTIONS MADE DURING THE TAXABLE YEAR AND CERTIFIED BY THE  COMMIS-
SIONER  OF  EDUCATION  FOR  TAXABLE YEARS BEGINNING ON AND AFTER JANUARY
FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TEN, CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE FORM OF DONATIONS MADE  TO
THE MICROSCOPE FUND ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION EIGHTY-NINE-H OF THE
STATE  FINANCE  LAW.  THE  AMOUNT OF SUCH CREDIT ALLOWABLE TO A TAXPAYER
UNDER THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL NOT EXCEED TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS.

A. 6649                             4

  S 9. The commissioner of education shall create and sponsor a  science
fair  intended  to  lead the nation in participation and prizes awarded.
Such fair shall be designed to challenge and inspire the state's bright-
est and most inventive high school students to attempt to solve a timely
societal  challenge,  such  as  our reliance on fossil fuels.  After the
challenge is announced in September, each participating high school will
have six months to solve the problem and host a science fair to be  held
by February, qualifying one team for the regional competition.  The team
will  win a $2,500 award to aid with additional costs of the project and
travel expenses.  Each award shall be presented by  the  school's  state
senate  representative  and  assembly  representative. Each winning team
will then compete in one of 10 regional competitions. Each region  shall
qualify the three top teams to compete in the final state competition to
be  held  in Albany in the spring. The awards for the 30 teams competing
in the final:
  First Place: The New Edison Medal presented by the governor,  $500,000
to  the  winning  high school, $5,000 to each team member to be used for
attending a New York state college, and an agreement  that  seventy-five
percent  of the award to the school be used to improve math, science and
technology programs at the school.
  Second Place: $50,000 for the high school, $2,000 for each team member
to be used for attending a New York state college, and an agreement that
seventy-five percent of the award to the school be used to improve math,
science and technology programs at the school.
  Third Place and Fourth Place: $10,000 for the high  school,  and  $500
for each team member to be used for attending a New York state college.
  S  10.  Commission on science, math and technology. 1. There is hereby
established a temporary state commission on science, math and  technolo-
gy.  The commission shall investigate and make recommendations regarding
strengthening science, math  and  technology  education  throughout  the
state;  including, but not limited to, identifying ways to utilize guid-
ance counselors as a means of encouraging  careers  and  activities  for
grades six through twelve that are geared toward math, science and tech-
nology.
  2.  The  commission  shall report each year to the governor, temporary
president of the senate, minority leader of the senate, speaker  of  the
assembly  and the minority leader of the assembly as to engaging elemen-
tary school children in the study of math, science and technology; iden-
tifying internships and fellowships for middle  school  through  college
age  students high-tech areas; and designing curriculum for kindergarten
through twelve and higher education in the science, math and  technology
areas.
  3.  The  commissioner  of education or his or her designee shall chair
the commission. In addition, the governor shall appoint  three  members;
one  representative  of  private  schools,  one representative of public
schools and one representative of private industry, the temporary presi-
dent of the senate, the speaker of  the  assembly  and  the  comptroller
shall each appoint one member of the commission.
  4.  The  members  of the commission shall not be compensated for their
service but shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary  expenses
in providing such service.
  5.  The  department  of education and any other state agency shall, if
called upon, provide the members with cooperation, information and staff
support.
  S 11. The sum of two million dollars ($2,000,000), or so much  thereof
as  may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the foundation fund from

A. 6649                             5

any moneys in the state treasury in the general fund to  the  credit  of
the  state  purposes account not otherwise appropriated for the purposes
of carrying out the provisions of section seven of this  act.  Such  sum
shall  be  payable  on the audit and warrant of the state comptroller on
vouchers certified or approved by the commissioner of education, or  his
or  her duly designated representative in the manner provided by law. No
expenditure shall be made from this appropriation until a certificate of
approval of availability shall have been issued by the director  of  the
budget  and  filed  with the state comptroller and a copy filed with the
chairman of the senate finance committee and the chairman of the  assem-
bly  ways and means committee. Such certificate may be amended from time
to time by the director of the budget and a copy of each such  amendment
shall  be  filed  with the state comptroller, the chairman of the senate
finance committee and the  chairman  of  the  assembly  ways  and  means
committee.
  S  12. This act shall take effect January 1, 2010. The commissioner of
education shall immediately develop necessary guidelines and  promulgate
necessary  rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this act
on or before such effective date.