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SB-237 California Laureate of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM): establishment of new position.(2019-2020)

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Date Published: 05/17/2019 01:12 PM
SB237:v97#DOCUMENT

Amended  IN  Senate  May 17, 2019
Amended  IN  Senate  April 01, 2019

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill
No. 237

Introduced by Senator Hertzberg

February 11, 2019

An act to add Chapter 9.6 (commencing with Section 8770) 8766) to Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code, relating to state government.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 237, as amended, Hertzberg. California Laureate of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM): establishment of new position.
Existing law establishes the position of California Poet Laureate, who is appointed for a specified term by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate from a list of nominees provided by the Arts Council through a specified process, and who performs certain duties.
This bill would establish the position of California Laureate for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, who would be appointed for a specified term by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate from a list of nominees provided by the Office of the President of the University of California. California Council on Science and Technology. The bill would require the laureate to perform various duties, including undertaking a specific project. The bill, upon appropriation of funds by the Legislature, would authorize the payment of an appropriate stipend and payment for expenses incurred in fulfilling these duties to as the California Laureate of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. laureate.
The bill would also permit the laureate to fundraise for their own stipend. The bill would also authorize the solicitation and receipt of gifts, donations, bequests, grants of funds, or any other revenues from public or private sources and the expenditure of those moneys to increase the stipend of the California Laureate of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics laureate and for any other purpose necessary to implement this bill.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) For centuries, research and advancement in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) have been an engine of progress for human civilization.
(b) STEM research and practice have saved, improved, and extended lives, increased the standard of living, expanded economic opportunity, and advanced human understanding.
(c) Promoting the STEM fields holds the promise of continuing this progress, protecting the environment, creating jobs, growing the economy through innovative ideas and discoveries, and generally advancing all humankind.
(d) Spreading awareness and understanding of STEM advancements is a critical element of preparing California citizens of all ages for a technology-intensive future and ensuring that the State of California remains a global leader in innovation and high-tech success.
(e) A spokesperson who can embody, demonstrate, and articulate the importance and excitement of STEM research and education will improve the current and future state of STEM-related fields to the benefit of California and its citizens.
SEC. 2.Chapter 9.6 (commencing with Section 8770) is added to Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code, to read:

SEC. 2.

 Chapter 9.6 (commencing with Section 8766) is added to Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code, to read:
CHAPTER  9.6. California Laureate for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

8770.8766.
 For purposes of this chapter:
(a) “Laureate” means the California Laureate for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics appointed pursuant to this chapter.
(b) “Council” means the California Council on Science and Technology.

(b)

(c) “Office” means the Office of the President of the University of California.

(c)

(d) “STEM” means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

8771.8766.1.
 (a) The position of California Laureate for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics is hereby established within state government.
(b) The laureate shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate from a list of three nominees provided by the office council through the following process:
(1) The office council shall establish a selection panel of at least four experts, one from each STEM field. Each member of the panel shall have demonstrated experience in that member’s respective STEM field. The office council may reselect the panel members from any of the following:
(A) University and college professors.
(B) Elementary and secondary teachers.
(C) Members of public agencies.
(D) Individuals from private industry.
(2) (A) The panel shall solicit nominations from a broad array of STEM-related sources and individuals, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(i) University and college science, technology, engineering, and mathematics departments.
(ii) Public agencies.
(iii) Scientific organizations, including organizations providing research in STEM fields.
(iv) Professional organizations involved in STEM fields.
(v) Nobel laureates in STEM fields.
(B) The panel shall make every effort to ensure that information regarding the solicitation of nominations is broadly distributed.
(3) The office council, in collaboration with the office, may establish other rules and regulations regarding the nomination process pursuant to consistent with the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3).
(c) Each nominee for the laureate shall meet the following minimum qualifications:
(1) The nominee has resided in California for at least one year.
(2) The nominee has contributed significantly to the advancement of the nominee’s STEM field.
(3) The nominee is regarded by the nominee’s colleagues as an excellent communicator.
(4) The nominee is widely considered to be an expert or prominent figure in the nominee’s STEM field.
(d) A laureate appointed pursuant to this section shall serve a term of two years, and may not serve more than two terms.

8772.8766.2.
 The office council may establish an appropriate stipend for the laureate and upon laureate. Upon appropriation of funds by the Legislature shall provide for the payment of the laureate’s Legislature, the laureate shall be paid for their expenses incurred in fulfilling their responsibilities as set forth in this chapter and as established by the office. chapter. The laureate may also fundraise for their own stipend. Additionally, the office council may make available other funds for activities that the office council and the laureate mutually agree to undertake, including, but not limited to, the lease of facilities for educational events and the acquiring of insurance therefor, and other similar activities.

8773.8766.3.
 The laureate shall, as a condition of the appointment, assume the following minimum responsibilities:
(a) Organize and provide a minimum of four educational events during the laureate’s two-year term. The laureate shall take all reasonable efforts to ensure that people in all geographic regions of the state have reasonable access to at least one such event during the course of the laureate’s term.
(b) Undertake a specific project that shall last through the term but whose goal will be to expose the STEM fields to Californians and California students who might otherwise have little opportunity for that exposure. The office council shall approve the specific project proposed by the laureate to ensure compliance with this chapter. The laureate may coordinate their project with any similar project being undertaken by a science or technology laureate at the federal level, if a position of that nature is established.
(c) Any other reasonable activities that further the purposes of this chapter as agreed to mutually by the California Laureate for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics and the office. council.

8774.8766.4.
 The office council may solicit and receive gifts, donations, bequests, grants of funds, or any other revenues, from public or private sources. The office, upon Upon appropriation by the Legislature, may expend those moneys may be expended to increase the stipend of the California Laureate for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics or for any other purpose it deems necessary to implement this chapter.