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S.B. 105 Enrolled

             1     

ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE

             2     
INITIATIVE AMENDMENTS

             3     
2009 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Lyle W. Hillyard

             6     
House Sponsor: Fred R Hunsaker

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill makes adjustments to the engineering and computer science initiative.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    modifies duties of the Technology Initiative Advisory Board;
             14          .    changes the engineering, computer science, and related technology student loan
             15      program to a scholarship program; and
             16          .    makes technical changes.
             17      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             18          None
             19      Other Special Clauses:
             20          None
             21      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             22      AMENDS:
             23          53B-6-105, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 382
             24          53B-6-105.5, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2002, Chapter 210
             25          53B-6-105.7, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 382
             26     
             27      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             28          Section 1. Section 53B-6-105 is amended to read:
             29           53B-6-105. Engineering and Computer Science Initiative.


             30          (1) The Legislature recognizes that a significant increase in the number of engineering,
             31      computer science, and related technology graduates from the state system of higher education
             32      is required over the next several years to advance the intellectual, cultural, social, and
             33      economic well-being of the state and its citizens.
             34          (2) (a) (i) The State Board of Regents shall therefore develop, establish, and maintain
             35      an Engineering and Computer Science Initiative within the state system of higher education to
             36      double the number of graduates in engineering, computer science, and related technology by
             37      2006 and triple the number of graduates by 2009.
             38          (ii) The board shall make a rule in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
             39      Administrative Rulemaking Act, providing the criteria for those fields of study that qualify as
             40      "related technology" under this section and Sections 53B-6-105.7 and 53B-6-105.9 .
             41          (b) The initiative shall include components that:
             42          (i) improve the quality of instructional programs in engineering, computer science,
             43      and related technology by providing supplemental monies for equipment purchases; and
             44          (ii) provide incentives to:
             45          (A) students through a [loan and loan forgiveness] scholarship program under Section
             46      53B-6-105.7 ; and
             47          (B) institutions to hire and retain faculty under Section 53B-6-105.9 .
             48          (3) The increase in program capacity under Subsection (2)(a) shall include funding for
             49      new and renovated capital facilities and funding for new engineering and computer science
             50      programs.
             51          (4) The Legislature shall provide an annual appropriation to fund the initiative as a
             52      budget line item for the State Board of Regents.
             53          Section 2. Section 53B-6-105.5 is amended to read:
             54           53B-6-105.5. Technology Initiative Advisory Board -- Composition -- Duties.
             55          (1) There is created a Technology Initiative Advisory Board to assist and make
             56      recommendations to the State Board of Regents in its administration of the Engineering and
             57      Computer Science Initiative established under Section 53B-6-105 .


             58          (2) (a) The advisory board shall consist of individuals appointed by the governor from
             59      business and industry who have expertise in the areas of engineering, computer science, and
             60      related technologies.
             61          (b) The advisory board shall select a chair and cochair.
             62          (c) The advisory board shall meet at the call of the chair.
             63          (d) The State Board of Regents, through the commissioner of higher education, shall
             64      provide staff support for the advisory board.
             65          (3) Members of the advisory board shall receive no compensation for their service on
             66      the board, but may receive per diem and expenses incurred in the performance of their duties
             67      at rates established by the Division of Finance under Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107 .
             68          (4) The advisory board shall:
             69          (a) make recommendations to the State Board of Regents on the allocation and
             70      distribution of monies appropriated to fund:
             71          (i) the faculty incentive program established in Section 53B-6-105.9 ; [and]
             72          (ii) equipment purchases required to improve the quality of instructional programs in
             73      engineering, computer science, and related technology; and
             74          (iii) the scholarship program established in Section 53B-6-105.7 .
             75          (b) prepare a strategic plan that details actions required by the State Board of Regents
             76      to meet the intent of the Engineering and Technology Science Initiative;
             77          (c) review and assess engineering, computer science, and related technology programs
             78      currently being offered at higher education institutions and their impact on the economic
             79      prosperity of the state;
             80          (d) provide the State Board of Regents with an assessment and reporting plan that:
             81          (i) measures results against expectations under the initiative, including verification of
             82      the matching requirements for institutions of higher education to receive monies under Section
             83      53B-6-105.9 ; and
             84          (ii) includes an analysis of market demand for technical employment, program
             85      articulation among higher education institutions in engineering, computer science, and related


             86      technology, tracking of student placement, student admission to the initiative program by
             87      region, transfer rates, and retention in and graduation rates from the initiative program; and
             88          (e) make an annual report of its activities to the State Board of Regents, the
             89      Legislature through the Education Interim Committee and the Higher Education
             90      Appropriations Subcommittee, and the governor.
             91          (5) The annual report of the Technology Initiative Advisory Board shall include the
             92      summary report of the institutional matches described in Section 53B-6-105.9 .
             93          Section 3. Section 53B-6-105.7 is amended to read:
             94           53B-6-105.7. Initiative student scholarship program.
             95          (1) (a) There is established an engineering, computer science, and related technology
             96      [student loan] scholarship program as a component of the initiative created in Section
             97      53B-6-105 .
             98          (b) The program is established to recruit, retain, and train engineering, computer
             99      science, and related technology students to assist in providing for and advancing the
             100      intellectual and economic welfare of the state.
             101          (2) (a) The board:
             102          (i) may make rules for the overall administration of the scholarship program in
             103      accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act; and
             104          (ii) shall administer the program [consistent with the general student loan provisions
             105      outlined in Title 53B] in consultation with the Technology Initiative Advisory Board created
             106      in Section 53B-6-105.5 .
             107          (b) The board shall also use the following policies and procedures in administering the
             108      student [loan] scholarship program:
             109          (i) students may use [their loans] scholarship monies at any institution within the state
             110      system of higher education that offers an engineering, computer science, or related technology
             111      [baccalaureate] degree;
             112          (ii) [loans] scholarships shall be given to students who declare an intent to complete a
             113      prescribed course of instruction in one of the areas referred to in Subsection (2)(b)(i) and to


             114      work in the state [for a period of four years] after graduation in one of those areas; and
             115          (iii) a [loan] scholarship may be cancelled at any time by the institution of attendance,
             116      if the student fails to make reasonable progress towards obtaining the [baccalaureate] degree
             117      or there appears to be a reasonable certainty that the student does not intend to work in the
             118      state upon graduation[, and the board shall require repayment together with interest; and].
             119          [(iv) (A) a loan recipient who does not work in the state in one of the areas listed in
             120      Subsection (1)(a) for a term equal to the number of years of the loan within a reasonable
             121      period of time after graduation shall repay a graduated portion of the loan based upon the
             122      uncompleted term together with appropriate interest, unless waived for good cause; and]
             123          [(B) one year of employment as an engineer or in the field of computer science or
             124      related technologies is credit for a one-year loan for tuition and fees.]
             125          (3) (a) By June 1 of each year, the Technology Initiative Advisory Board shall
             126      recommend to the board a distribution of the scholarship funds to institutions in the state
             127      system of higher education, based on a formula.
             128          (b) The Technology Initiative Advisory Board shall develop the formula for
             129      distribution of total scholarship funds to the institutions, which shall contain the following
             130      components:
             131          (i) the number of graduates of engineering, computer science, and related technology
             132      degrees from the previous year;
             133          (ii) the number and level of engineering, computer science, and related technology
             134      degrees offered at an institution; and
             135          (iii) the length of each engineering, computer science, and related technology degree
             136      offered at an institution.
             137          [(3)] (4) The Legislature shall make an annual appropriation to the board to fund the
             138      student [loan] scholarship program created in this section.


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