Senate Bill S8727

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S8727

SPONSOR: KAPLAN
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act in relation to directing the commissioner of education to conduct
a study regarding the assistance needed to encourage women and minori-
ties to pursue technology careers in science, technology, engineering
and mathematics (STEM)

 
PURPOSE:

This legislation requires SED to conduct a study to determine the amount
of assistance including but not limited to financial and technical
assistance needed to encourage women and minorities to purse technology
careers in the STEM fields.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 requires SED to conduct a study to determine the amount of
assistance including but not limited to financial and technical assist-
              

ance needed to encourage women and minorities to purse technology
careers in the STEM fields. The study shall determine the amount of each
assistance needed in school districts, charter schools, BOCES, and
private schools to develop new and enhance current STEM programs in
grades 612 including career exploration, opportunities for technical
skills attainment and partnerships with postsecondary education and
training programs. This study shall include data on the number of women
and minorities in this state that are currently in STEM related
programs, the availability of STEM grants to women and minorities, and
the number of women and minority applicants applying for STEM grants.

Section 2 requires a report that includes the findings and conclusions
of this study to be completed and submitted no later than December 31,
2021. Further requires the report to be updated annually thereafter

Section 3 is the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

In today's high-tech, global economy, most well-paying jobs require a
basic understanding of math and science. The most recent 10-year employ-
ment: projections by the U.S. Labor Department show that of the 20
fastest-growing occupations projected for 2014, 15 of them require
significant mathematics or science preparation to successfully compete
for, a job: Today, large numbers of jobs are going unfilled, and many of
them require a background in science, technology, engineering and math-
ematics. While some of the fastest-growing and highest-paying jobs
involve STEM skills, the number of women and minorities in these fields
lags significantly behind white males. For example, in a 2010 survey by
the Bayer Corporation of female and minority chemists and chemical engi-
neers, 77 percent said significant numbers of women and minorities are
missing from the U.S. STEM work force because "they were not identified,
encouraged or nurtured to pursue STEM studies early on."  Increasing the
participation of under-represented groups in STEM education is not only
educationally sound, it also will fill a critical need for workers
skilled in the areas of demand in today's economy.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Minimal.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.