The bill aims to consolidate the career and technical education demonstration project grants and the career and technical education equipment grants into a single program under W.S. 21-13-337. It repeals the existing provisions of W.S. 21-12-105, which previously governed the demonstration project grants, and specifies that school districts may apply for state assistance to fund expenses related to career and technical education programs. The amended language allows for grants to cover the purchase of supplies, materials, and equipment, as well as planning, development, and implementation costs for new or expanded programs. The maximum grant amount is set at $50,000 per year for a two-year period.

Additionally, the bill outlines the application process and criteria for grant approval, including the requirement for districts to demonstrate the need for the requested grant and its alignment with workforce and economic needs in Wyoming. It also establishes a preference for districts that have not received a grant in the past five years and mandates that the Department of Education will notify applicants of grant awards by August 15 of the applicable school year. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, to align with the upcoming budget requests and grant cycles.

Statutes affected:
25LSO-0098 v1.0: 21-13-337, 21-12-105