OH HB501

Appropriates $3,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Chancellor of Higher Education in fiscal year 2017 (no funding in FY 2016) to support the Believe in Ohio Youth STEM Commercialization and Entrepreneurship Program of the Ohio Academy of Science.

Program shall conduct regional STEM forums for students and educators and develop regional online STEM commercialization and entrepreneurship content and courses for high school, middle school, and collegiate levels.

Program shall create STEM mentoring networks for high school and middle school students throughout Ohio and conduct local and statewide STEM Commercialization and Entrepreneurship Plan competitions with incentive awards, scholarships for students, and professional development incentives for teachers.

Program activities and competitions shall be open to all Ohio high school and middle school students with specific initiatives to engage minority, rural, urban, and economically disadvantaged students.

Program shall collaborate with Ohio colleges, universities, existing STEM and entrepreneurship programs, and STEM professional associations to create new products and services, advance job creation, and encourage student enrollment and workforce participation in Ohio.