ASSEMBLY SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 1625

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  AUGUST 10, 2020

      The Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 1625.

      As reported, this bill directs the Department of Education (department), in consultation with the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education and the Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology, to develop and administer an outreach program to encourage young women and minorities to pursue post-secondary degrees and careers in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. In developing and administering the outreach program, the department is to, at a minimum: 1) provide elementary and secondary school students, especially young women and minorities, with opportunities to increase their exposure to the STEM fields; 2) distribute various printed materials to schools, encouraging young women and minorities to pursue post-secondary degrees and careers in the STEM fields; 3) organize and conduct STEM mentoring sessions; 4) establish a STEM mentoring program; and 5) create programs to increase the recruitment and retention of underrepresented faculty in STEM subject areas.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2020-2021 session pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.