S 379: Establishes a high school robotics grant program; provides funding to high schools for participation in robotics competitions; sets forth eligibility requirements; provides for the application and awards process.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 379 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN SENATE (Prefiled) January 8, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sens. BROUK, CLEARE, PALUMBO, RHOADS, SKOUFIS, TEDISCO, WEBER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology ("FIRST") grant program The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 3641-c 2 to read as follows: 3 § 3641-c. For inspiration and recognition of science and technology 4 robotics league participation ("FIRST") grant program. 1. The commis- 5 sioner shall establish the FIRST grant program and the FIRST robotics 6 competition pursuant to this section and regulations of the commissioner 7 adopted for such purpose. Within the amounts appropriated for this 8 purpose, the commissioner shall award grants on a competitive basis to 9 public and private high schools for the purpose of encouraging study in 10 the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. 11 2. Eligibility. a. Applicants must be a public or private high school 12 in the state that has a school sponsored robotics club or a team partic- 13 ipating, or intending to participate, in a FIRST robotics competition. 14 b. Applicants must establish a partnership for the purposes of design- 15 ing, building and/or programming the team's robot with at least one 16 other sponsor, which shall be a business, institution of higher learning 17 or technological school. 18 3. Applications. Applications must be submitted to the commissioner by 19 June first of each year for grants to be made for the following academic 20 year. All grants shall be subject to the applicant obtaining matching 21 funds from other sources of at least fifty percent of the grant. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD01192-01-5 
 S. 379 2 1 4. Awards. a. The commissioner shall grant awards in the amount of 2 five thousand dollars to schools that are eligible, pursuant to subdivi- 3 sion two of this section. Awards shall be within the amounts appropri- 4 ated for such purpose and based on availability of funds. 5 b. Preference shall be given to teams at Title I schools, then to 6 teams at schools that have not previously participated in robotics 7 competitions or received grants through this program, on a first-come 8 first-served basis, and if there are funds remaining thereafter to other 9 previously established programs. 10 c. Funds awarded under this grant shall be used for: registration 11 costs; materials; travel costs; and other expenses associated with the 12 preparation for, and attendance at, FIRST robotics competitions. 13 d. Additional grants shall also be made pursuant to such other rules 14 and regulations as may be promulgated by the commissioner. 15 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day 16 after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, 17 amendment, and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the 18 implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be 19 made and completed on or before such date.