CHAPTER 301
FORMERLY
SENATE SUBSTITUTE NO. 1
FOR
SENATE BILL NO. 334
AS AMENDED BY HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 3
AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 34, TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE RECRUITMENT OF WOMEN AND ETHNIC MINORITIES INTO PROGRAMS OF ENGINEERING AND APPLIED SCIENCE AT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
Section 1. Amend Chapter 34, Title 14, Delaware Code by adding a new Subchapter V to read as follows:
"Subchapter V. ENGINEERING AND APPLIED SCIENCE RECRUITMENT FUND.
Sec. 3430 FINDING AND PURPOSE. The legislature finds that women and members of ethnic minorities are, considering their percentage of the Delaware population, underrepresented In programs of engineering and applied science at Delaware institutions of higher education. The purpose of this subchapter is to support recruitment of women and ethnic minorities into those programs.
Sec. 3431 ADMINISTRATION.
(a) This subchapter shall be administered by the Engineering and Applied Science Careers Subcommittee of the Delaware Postsecondary Education Commission hereinafter referred to as the "Subcommittee". The Subcommittee shall include five members of the
Delaware Postsecondary Education Commission, two representatives appointed by the Delaware Association of School Administrators, and two representatives appointed by the State Board of Education.
(b) The Subcommittee shall adopt such rules and regulations as it deems necessary and proper to the administration of this subchapter.
(c) The Subcommittee shall annually report to the General Assembly the number of recipients, the institutions attended by the recipients and the total amount of
expenditures made under this subchapter.
Sec. 3432 DEFINITIONS.
In this subchapter:
(1) "Fund" means the Engineering and Applied Science Recruitment Fund.
(2) "Director" means the Executive Director of the Delaware Postsecondary Education Commission.
(3) "Under represented minority group" means racial or ethnic minorities who are members of an underrepresented racial or ethnic group in engineering and applied science programs at institutions of higher education such as: blacks, hispanics, native americans, and women.
Sec. 3433 FUND.
(a) The Engineering and Applied Science Recruitment Fund is created as a special fund in the state treasury.
(b) The fund consists of:
(1) donations from private sources;
(2) appropriations; and
(3) grants from the federal government.
(c) For any fiscal year the legislature may not appropriate to the fund an amount that exceeds the amount of donations to eligible organizations from private sources during the preceding fiscal year.
(d) The Director shall administer the fund in accordance with the rules of the Subcommittee.
(e) The Subcommittee may solicit and shall accept donations and grants for the purposes of the fund.
Sec. 3434 USE OF FUND
The Subcommittee shall allocate the fund to eligible nonprofit organizations for the purpose of:
(1) establishing or operating educational programs to assist women and minority group members In preparing for or participating In programs leading to an undergraduate degree In engineering or applied science from an institution of higher education; and
(2) disseminating information concerning:
(A) educational and career opportunities In engineering and applied
science; and
(9) the fund and programs funded under this subchapter.
Sec. 3435 ALLOCATION OF FUND
(a) The Fund shall be allocated In accordance with guidelines adopted by the Subcommittee. The guidelines must ensure that programs approved for funding:
(I) use professional volunteers or qualified staff at each level of instruction; (2) require parental involvement;
(3) coordinate with public school preparation for engineering and applied science careers.
(4) coordinate with post-secondary educational institutions;
(5) Involve organizations of women and minority group members;
(6) initially Involve participants In seventh, eighth, and ninth grades;
(7) provide demonstrated professional leadership In educational activities for women and minority group members; and
(8) are compatible with state and federal laws governing education.
(b) Preference shall be given to programs that stress the development of mathematical and scientific competence.
(c) In making allocations, the Subcommittee may solicit advice from public or private organizations working for the recruitment of women and minority group members Into engineering and applied science careers.
(d) The State Treasurer shall issue warrants drawn on the fund upon receipt of vouchers approved by the Director.
(e) The Subcommittee shall adopt rules establishing procedures by which an agency or organization must apply for funding and account for any funds received.
Sec. 3436 ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS
(a) To be eligible to receive funds under this subchapter, an agency or
organization must:
(1) qualify for exemption from federal income tax under Section 501, Internal Revenue Code, and
(1) not distribute net earnings to any private shareholder or other individual; and
(3) serve groups of women or minority group members who, considering their percentage of the Delaware population, are underrepresented in engineering and applied science programs at Institutions of higher education.
(b) The Director shall determine annually which groups meet the requirements of Subsection 3436 (a).
Sec. 3437 PROGRAM REVIEW
The Superintendent of the Department of Public Instruction shall review annually the eligibility of each program to be funded under this Subchapter in accordance with the guidelines set forth In subsections 1 through 8 of Section 3435 (a) and will certify annually programs meeting these guidelines."
Section 2. In the first fiscal year that this act is in effect donations to qualified
organizations from non-government sources in the preceding year will be the basis for satisfying the requirements specified in Section 3433 (c) of this act.
Section 3. Funding for this program shall be provided annually by an appropriation by the General Assembly.
Approved June 30, 1988.