STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator VINCENT J. POLISTINA
District 2 (Atlantic)
Senator ANDREW ZWICKER
District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes Scientific Conference Grant Program; appropriates $250,000.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act establishing a Scientific Conference Grant Program, supplementing Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes, and making an appropriation.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. There is established in the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education the Scientific Conference Grant Program. The grant program shall award grants to public institutions of higher education that host scientific conferences and seminars in the State. Grants awarded pursuant to this section shall be used to defray the costs, either in whole or in part, associated with hosting a scientific conference or seminar and may be applied towards the costs of event spaces and speakers, including speaker fees, honoraria, travel, and lodging. Grants shall not be used to defray food costs or other vendor costs not related to the reservation or use of the event space.
b. A public institution of higher education may apply to the secretary for a grant. The application shall include a description and preliminary agenda for the conference or seminar, the names and credentials of all invited speakers, and any relevant information pertaining to the costs of hosting the conference or seminar. The grants shall be awarded in amounts determined by the secretary.
2. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Office of the Secretary of Higher education the sum of $250,000 to effectuate the provisions of this act.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes in the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (office) the Scientific Conference Grant Program (program). The bill also appropriates $250,000 from the General Fund to the office to fund the program.
Under the bill, the program will award grants to public institutions of higher education that host scientific conferences and seminars in the State. Grants awarded through the program are to be used to defray the costs, either in whole or in part, associated with hosting a scientific conference or seminar and may be applied towards the costs of event spaces and speakers, including speaker fees, honoraria, travel, and lodging. Grants cannot be used to defray food costs or other vendor costs not related to the reservation or use of the event space.
Under the bill, a public institution of higher education may apply to the Secretary of Higher Education (secretary) for a grant. The application is required to include a description and preliminary agenda for the conference or seminar, the names and credentials of all invited speakers, and any relevant information pertaining to the costs of hosting the conference or seminar. The grants will be awarded in amounts determined by the secretary