Applied Engineering and Technology Center Investment Act of 1998

Summary: Applied Engineering and Technology Center Investment Act of 1998 - Authorizes the Director of the National Science Foundation to make grants to organizations that provide postsecondary education in applied engineering and technology for equipment and capital improvements needed to ensure that such education is provided using state-of-the-art instructional equipment and facilities.  Permits amounts made available through such grants to be used in support of applied engineering and technology programs for specified purposes, including:  (1) the purchase, rental, or lease of scientific laboratory equipment, including computer hardware and software, for educational purposes, including instructional and research purposes; (2) construction, maintenance, and renovation in classroom, library, laboratory, and other instructional facilities; (3) acquisition of library books, periodicals, microfilm, databases, software, and other educational materials; (4) funds and administrative management, and acquisition of equipment for use in strengthening funds management; (5) joint use of facilities, such as laboratories and libraries; and (6) establishing community outreach programs which will encourage elementary and secondary students to develop the academic skills and the interest to pursue postsecondary applied engineering and technology education. 
Prohibits an organization from receiving any grant unless that organization submits an application to the Director at such time, in such manner, and containing or accompanied by such information as the Director may require.  States that each grant application shall:  (1) provide that the payments will be used for the purposes set forth under this Act; and (2) provide for making an annual report to the Director and for conducting (subject to a stated exception), at least once every two years, a financial and compliance audit of the organization regarding any funds obtained by it under this Act which covers the period since the most recent audit.  Requires the Director to:  (1) approve any application which meets the above requirements; and (2) not disapprove any application submitted under this Act, or any modification thereof, without first affording the applicant reasonable notice and opportunity for a hearing. 
Requires any grant application to describe measurable goals for the organization's financial management and applied engineering and technology academic programs and include a plan of how the applicant intends to achieve those goals.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Applied Engineering and Technology 
Center Investment Act of 1998''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds that--
            (1) fully accredited bachelor's degree academic programs in 
        plastics, electronic, mechanical, manufacturing, construction, 
        wood, and automotive engineering technology, and in technology 
        management, are a significant asset for the State and region in 
        which they are located, and for the Nation;
            (2) graduates of academic programs described in paragraph 
        (1) are experiencing a nearly 100 percent placement rate, 
        entering the work force making significant contributions to the 
        productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness of their 
        particular companies;
            (3) the future preparation of America's workers, industrial 
        managers, and technicians depends on the use of modern, state-
        of-the-art instructional equipment that is very expensive and 
        has a rather short relevant life span; and
            (4) it is sound educational policy to invest Federal 
        dollars in programs and projects that directly benefit and 
        enhance the preparation of tomorrow's leaders in technology and 
        related industries which make the United States more 
        competitive in world markets.

SEC. 3. GRANT AUTHORITY.

    The Director of the National Science Foundation (in this Act 
referred to as the ``Director'') may make grants to organizations that 
provide postsecondary education in applied engineering and technology 
for equipment and capital improvements needed to ensure that such 
education is provided using state-of-the-art instructional equipment 
and facilities. Amounts made available through such grants may be used 
in support of applied engineering and technology programs for any of 
the following purposes:
            (1) Purchase, rental, or lease of scientific or laboratory 
        equipment, including computer hardware and software, for 
        educational purposes, including instructional and research 
        purposes.
            (2) Construction, maintenance, renovation, and improvement 
        in classroom, library, laboratory, and other instructional 
        facilities.
            (3) Acquisition of library books, periodicals, microfilm, 
        data bases, software, and other educational materials.
            (4) Tutoring, counseling, and student service programs 
        designed to improve academic success.
            (5) Funds and administrative management, and acquisition of 
        equipment for use in strengthening funds management.
            (6) Joint use of facilities, such as laboratories and 
        libraries.
            (7) Establishing or improving a development office to 
        strengthen or improve contributions from alumni and the private 
        sector.
            (8) Establishing community outreach programs which will 
        encourage elementary and secondary students to develop the 
        academic skills and the interest to pursue postsecondary 
        applied engineering and technology education.
            (9) Other activities proposed in the application submitted 
        pursuant to section 4 that--
                    (A) contribute to carrying out the purposes of this 
                Act; and
                    (B) are approved by the Director as part of the 
                review and acceptance of such application.

SEC. 4. APPLICATIONS.

    (a) Contents.--
            (1) In general.--No organization shall receive any grant 
        under section 3 unless that organization submits an application 
        to the Director at such time, in such manner, and containing or 
        accompanied by such information, as the Director may reasonably 
        require. Each such application shall--
                    (A) provide that the payments under this Act will 
                be used for the purposes set forth in section 3; and
                    (B) provide for making an annual report to the 
                Director and for conducting, except as provided in 
                paragraph (2), a financial and compliance audit of the 
                organization, with regard to any funds obtained by it 
                under this Act, at least once every 2 years and 
                covering the period since the most recent audit, to be 
                conducted by a qualified, independent organization or 
                person in accordance with standards established by the 
                Comptroller General for the audit of governmental 
                organizations, programs, and functions, and as 
                prescribed in regulations of the Director, the results 
                of which shall be submitted to the Director.
            (2) Audit exception.--An organization which is audited 
        under chapter 75 of title 31, United States Code, shall not be 
        required to perform an audit under paragraph (1)(B) of this 
        subsection for the period covered by such chapter 75 audit.
    (b) Approval.--The Director shall approve any application which 
meets the requirements of subsection (a) and shall not disapprove any 
application submitted under this Act, or any modification thereof, 
without first affording the applicant reasonable notice and opportunity 
for a hearing.
    (c) Goals for Financial Management and Academic Programs.--Any 
application for a grant under this Act shall describe measurable goals 
for the organization's financial management and applied engineering and 
technology academic programs and include a plan of how the applicant 
intends to achieve those goals.