Committee Report

March 27, 2024

 

H. 4703

 

Introduced by Reps. Davis, Pope, West, Schuessler, Erickson and Bradley

 

S. Printed 03/27/24--H.

Read the first time January 09, 2024

 

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The committee on House Education and Public Works

To whom was referred a Bill (H. 4703) to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by enacting the "South Carolina Stem Opportunity Act" by adding Article 17 to Chapter 1, Title 13 so as to establish the, etc., respectfully

Report:

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:

 

    Amend the bill, as and if amended, SECTION 2, by striking Section 13-1-2230(B)(1)(a) and inserting:

           (a) the Executive Director of the Department of Employment and Workforce or his designee, who shall serve as chair of the advisory council;

Amend the bill further, SECTION 2, by striking Section 13-1-2230(B)(1)(g), (h), and (i) and inserting:

           (g) one member appointed by the President of the Technical College System to represent the public technical colleges in this State, who shall serve terms of four years and until their successors are appointed and qualified.

           (h) one member appointed by the President of the Commission on Higher Education to represent public higher education institutions in this State not otherwise represented pursuant to subitems (g),(i),  or (j) of item (B)(1) of this section, who shall serve terms of four years and until their successors are appointed and qualified;      

           (i) one member appointed by the President of the University of South Carolina to represent the eight public institutions of the USC system, who shall serve a term of four years and until their successors are appointed and qualify; and

           (j) one member appointed by President of Clemson University to represent the university as the host site of the coalition, who shall serve a term of four years and until their successors are appointed and qualified.

 

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

 

SHANNON ERICKSON for Committee.

 

 

statement of estimated fiscal impact

Explanation of Fiscal Impact

State Expenditure

This bill establishes the South Carolina STEM Coalition from the existing South Carolina's Coalition for Mathematics and Science and S2TEM Centers SC.  The bill's stated purpose of the coalition is to build public and private partnerships among state agencies, state funded entities, not for profits, private businesses, entities, organizations, and industries with the goal of building a technology-ready STEM workforce and ensuring South Carolina students are prepared for STEM career opportunities within the state.  The bill requires the State Treasurer to create a STEM Education Fund, to be held separate and distinct from the General Fund and will consist of appropriations, donations, bequests, or other gifts made to the coalition to be used for the stated purpose.  The bill further states that grants or gifts designated for specific purposes within the coalition's scope of work may be managed by Clemson or the Clemson University Foundation and enumerates several requirements and objectives of the coalition towards the bill's stated purpose.

 

The bill establishes the SC STEM Coalition Advisory Council, the purpose of which includes approving all expenditures from the STEM Education Fund, identifying appropriate outcomes and measures of the coalition's impact, and identifying and promoting activities of the coalition among peer organizations.  The advisory council will consist of the following eleven members:

The Chair of the DEW Coordinating Council or their designee, who will serve as chair of the advisory council,

the State Superintendent of Education or their designee,

one STEM educator appointed by the State Superintendent of Education,

one member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives,

one member appointed by the President of the Senate,

three members appointed by the Governor to represent STEM-related business and industry in the state,

one member appointed by the President of the Tech System to represent the technical colleges in the state,

one member appointed by the President of CHE to represent higher education in the state, and

one member appointed by President of Clemson to represent the university as the host site of the coalition.

The bill provides the term structure and limits for each member of the advisory council, the manner in which vacancies must be filled, and states that members of the council may not receive compensation for service but may receive the usual mileage, subsistence, and per diem as provided by law.  Pursuant to the FY 2023-24 General Appropriations Act, for each meeting of the advisory council, members who are not state employees or members of the General Assembly are entitled to per diem of $50, subsistence of $42, and the mileage reimbursement rate currently set by the IRS of 67 cents per mile.  Appointees to the council who are members of the General Assembly are entitled to per diem of $50, subsistence of $231.73, and 67 cents per mile reimbursement per council meeting on days that the General Assembly is not in session.  The actual expense related to meetings of the advisory council will vary, depending on the types of members of the council, number of council meetings, and total mileage reimbursements. 

 

The impact of this bill on DEW, SCDE, the House of Representatives, the Senate, the Governor's Office, the Tech System, CHE, and Clemson will depend on the projects or initiatives that the coalition and advisory council undertake towards the stated objectives of the bill, the expenses related to the advisory council and any outside requirements of each agency, as well as the available funding provided to the STEM Education Fund established by the bill.  In FY 2023-24, SCDE received an appropriation in the amount of $2,000,000 directed to Clemson for STEM Centers SC.  Each agency indicates that per diem, mileage, and subsistence expenses could be managed with existing appropriations in the event that funding is not available in future years.  Therefore, the expenditure impact for these entities is undetermined.

 

State Revenue

The bill requires the State Treasurer to create a STEM Education Fund, to be held separate and distinct from the General Fund and will consist of appropriations, donations, bequests, or other gifts made to the coalition to be used for the stated purpose.  In FY 2023-24, SCDE received an appropriation in the amount of $2,000,000 directed to Clemson for STEM Centers SC.  The amount of appropriations in future years to the STEM Education Fund is unknown. Also, we are unable to estimate the potential amount of donations the STEM Education Fund may receive.  Therefore, the Other Funds revenue impact from donations is also undetermined.

 

 

Frank A. Rainwater, Executive Director

Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office

 

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A bill

 

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "SOUTH CAROLINA STEM OPPORTUNITY ACT" BY ADDING ARTICLE 17 TO CHAPTER 1, TITLE 13 SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE SOUTH CAROLINA SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) COALITION, THE SOUTH CAROLINA SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) EDUCATION FUND WITHIN THE STATE TREASURY, AND THE SC STEM COALITION ADVISORY COUNCIL, AND TO PROVIDE THEIR RESPECTIVE PURPOSES AND FUNCTIONS.

 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

 

SECTION 1.  This act may be cited as the "South Carolina STEM Opportunity Act".

   

 

SECTION 2.  Chapter 1, Title 13 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

 

    Article 17

 

    Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Coalition

 

    Section 13-1-2210. The South Carolina Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Coalition (Coalition) is established from the existing South Carolina's Coalition for Mathematics & Science (SCCMS) and S2TEM Centers SC. The purpose of the coalition is to build public/private partnerships among state agencies, state funded entities, not for profits, private businesses, entities, organizations, and industries with the goal of building a technology-ready STEM workforce and ensuring South Carolina students are prepared for STEM career opportunities within this State.

 

    Section 13-1-2220. (A) There is created in the State Treasury the "South Carolina Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Fund" (Fund). The fund is separate and distinct from the general fund of the State and all other funds. The fund shall consist of appropriations and donations, contributions, bequests, or other gifts. Earnings and interest on the fund must be credited to it and any balance in this fund at the end of the fiscal year carries forward in the fund in the succeeding fiscal year.

    (B) Monies in the fund must be expended solely to support the programs and priorities of the State in the advancement of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics for the purposes provided in this article.

    (C)  The coalition may accept funds from other public entities and may accept private donations, contributions, bequests, or other gifts. Such monies not designated for specific purposes must be deposited into the fund.  Grants or gifts designated for specific purposes within the coalition's scope of work may be managed by Clemson University or the Clemson University Foundation.

 

    Section 13-1-2230. (A) There is created the "SC STEM Coalition Advisory Council" (advisory council) whose purpose is to:

       (1) approve all expenditures from the STEM Education Fund;

       (2) identify appropriate outcomes and measures of the coalition's impact;

       (3) ensure equitable, statewide application of coalition resources;

       (4) identify opportunities aligned with the mission of the coalition; and

       (5) promote activities of the coalition among peer organizations, both within and outside this State.

    (B)(1)  The advisory council consists of eleven members consisting of:

           (a) the Chair of the Department of Employment and Workforce Coordinating Council or designee, who shall serve conterminously with the appointing Secretary and who shall serve as chair of the advisory council;

           (b) the State Superintendent of Education or designee, who shall serve conterminously with the appointing superintendent;

           (c) one STEM educator appointed by the State Superintendent of Education who shall serve conterminously with the appointing superintendent;

           (d) one member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives who shall serve a term of four years or until his successor is appointed and qualified;

           (e) one member appointed by the President of the Senate who shall serve a term of four years or until his successor is appointed and qualified;

           (f) three members appointed by the Governor to represent STEM-related business and industry in this State who shall serve terms of four years and until their successors are appointed and qualified;

           (g) one member appointed by the President of the Technical College System to represent the technical colleges in this State, who shall serve terms of four years and until their successors are appointed and qualified.

           (h) one member appointed by the President of the Commission on Higher Education to represent higher education in this State, who shall serve terms of four years and until their successors are appointed and qualified; and

           (i) one member appointed by President of Clemson University to represent the university as the host site of the coalition, who shall serve a term of four years and until their successors are appointed and qualified.

       (2)   Initial appointments must be made before August 1, 2024, at which time the chair of the Department of Employment and Workforce Coordinating Council or designee shall call the first meeting.

       (3) A member of the advisory council may not receive compensation for service but may receive the usual mileage, subsistence, and per diem as provided by law for members of state boards, committees, and commissions. Vacancies must be filled in the manner of original appointment and, in the case of members appointed pursuant to item (1)(e) and (f), for the unexpired portion of the term and until successors are appointed and qualified.

 

    Section 13-1-2240. The coalition shall:

    (1)   be administered by a director approved by the advisory council and hired through Clemson University, which has historically supported the SCCMS and the S2TEM Centers;

    (2)   provide a coordination point for STEM education programs in K-12 and higher education throughout South Carolina;

    (3)   promote STEM education statewide in coordination with business and industry in support of the long-term economic prosperity of South Carolinians;

    (4)   ensure the development of a South Carolina STEM workforce with better access to competitive employment opportunities;

    (5)   collaborate with institutions of higher education, to expand STEM opportunities in the State for high quality professional development for STEM educators with special emphasis on improving student learning outcomes in mathematics;

    (6)   collaborate in the research and development of tools and best practices in STEM education with K-12 schools, institutions of higher education, state and federal agencies, business/industry partners and other entities as appropriate;

    (7)   facilitate participation in interscholastic, STEM-related competitions;

    (8)   promote STEM teaching as a career opportunity;

    (9)   annually identify and provide seed funding to school-based pilot STEM programs equitably distributed across the State;

    (10) annually advocate for a SC STEM Education Month and a SC STEM Education Day at the State Capitol and associated activities to promote STEM education;

    (11) annually promote and support a SC STEM Educator of the Year award and regional finalists for the award;

    (12) promote public awareness of STEM career opportunities through regional festivals and other community engagement strategies;

    (13) promote business and industry involvement in the actions and activities of the coalition;

    (14) develop and maintain a statewide database of STEM education assets;

    (15) perform gap analysis and assessments to identify industry and business needs and the resulting requirements for teacher professional development activities and initiatives;

    (16) support high quality professional learning focused on career readiness and talent development and provide other assistance for educators and students;

    (17) engage business and industry in support of STEM activities for schools to enhance career readiness;

    (18) develop and maintain statewide, regional, and national partnerships with not-for-profit, STEM-missioned entities to promote STEM learning and career opportunities in underserved communities; and

    (19) annually before July first report appropriate outcomes and measures of the impact of the coalition to these entities:

       (a)   the Office of the Governor through the Department of Employment and Workforce;

       (b)   the State Superintendent of Education;

       (c)   the General Assembly through the Senate Education Committee and the House Education and Public Works Committee;

       (d)   the Education Oversight Committee; and

       (e)   the advisory council.

 

SECTION 3.  This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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