An Act to Establish a Grant Program to Provide for Statewide and Equitable Access to Experiential Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1291
Committee: Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business
Sponsors: POULIOT, CROCKETT, GROHOSKI, MOORE, RENY, DODGE
Amends: 5 MRSA §15312

Legislative Document
No. 1291
S.P. 528
In Senate, March 23, 2023
An Act to Establish a Grant Program to Provide for Statewide and 
Equitable Access to Experiential Science, Technology, Engineering 
and Mathematics Education
Reference to the Committee on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and 
Business suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator POULIOT of Kennebec.
Cosponsored by Representative CROCKETT of Portland and
Senators: GROHOSKI of Hancock, MOORE of Washington, RENY of Lincoln, 
Representative: DODGE of Belfast.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §15312 is enacted to read:
§15312.  Grants for statewide science, technology, engineering and math programs
1.  Grant purposes.  The institute may award a grant through a competitive process to 
an organization or school based in this State that demonstrates that the organization or 
school is going to use the funds for a statewide experiential program for high school 
students in science, technology, engineering and math and that:
A.  Maintains a formal affiliation with a national program to provide opportunities for 
students to present Maine-based research to a national audience and facilitates 
participation in the national program by students who meet qualification standards, at 
no cost to the students;
B. Demonstrates a plan to broaden participation in student-led experiential science and 
engineering projects by creating professional development opportunities for educators 
and learning opportunities for students who have not historically participated in 
student-led experiential science and engineering projects;
C. Maintains a formal partnership with the University of Maine System to provide high 
school students increased access to college-level courses and consideration for 
scholarship opportunities;
D. Implements strategies for sustaining and growing engagement with science, 
technology, engineering and math at participating high schools; and
E. Demonstrates efforts to make student-led experiential science and engineering 
projects accessible to an increasingly diverse student population, including individuals 
typically underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and math professions.
2. Grant requirements.  An organization or school that receives a grant under this 
section shall:
A. Provide matching funds in the amount of the grant to be used for the same purpose 
for which the grant was awarded; and
B. Deliver to the institute a report on the use of the grant money, including measurable 
outcomes.
Sec. 2.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, DEPARTMENT OF
Office of Innovation 0995
Initiative: Provides ongoing funds to the Maine Technology Institute to award grants to an 
organization or school for certain activities related to statewide science, technology, 
engineering and math programs.
GENERAL FUND
2023-24
2024-25
All Other
$75,000
$75,000
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$75,000
$75,000
SUMMARY
This bill directs the Maine Technology Institute to provide grants to organizations or 
schools that  engage in certain activity related to statewide science, technology, engineering 
and math programs.