ASSEMBLY, No. 5540
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED APRIL 10, 2025
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman CHRIS TULLY
District 38 (Bergen)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes Artificial Intelligence Grant Program in Office of Secretary of Higher Education.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing the Artificial Intelligence Grant Program and supplementing Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
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 Artificial Intelligence Grant Program. The purpose of the program shall be to make funds available to nonprofit entities providing education and training in artificial intelligence.
b. A nonprofit entity that wishes to participate in the grant program shall submit an application to the Secretary of Higher Education in a manner and form determined by the secretary.
c. In order to receive a grant, a nonprofit entity shall demonstrate that it is providing comprehensive education and training programs in artificial intelligence.
d. In awarding grants to a nonprofit entity, the secretary shall consider the following factors:
(1) the number of artificial intelligence educational and mentorship initiatives offered by the nonprofit entity;
(2) whether the nonprofit entity conducts artificial intelligence startup challenges to promote and identify budding entrepreneurs;
(3) whether the nonprofit entity organizes events that provide a platform for the exchange of ideas, networking, and educational opportunities concerning the ethical use of artificial intelligence;
(4) whether the nonprofit entity has established partnerships with government agencies to ensure collaborative growth and streamlined efforts between the State and the private sector; and
(5) whether the nonprofit entity's board members include representatives from the State, such as public institutions of higher education, women and minority owned businesses, and financial institutions.
e. Under the program, the secretary shall annually select four nonprofit entities to receive grants in an amount not to exceed $25,000 per grant.
2. A nonprofit entity participating in the grant program shall submit a report at the conclusion of the grant period to the Secretary of Higher Education, the Governor, and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), the Legislature containing information on the use and impact of grant funds.
3. a. There is established within the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education the "Artificial Intelligence Education Fund." The fund shall be used to provide grants to nonprofit entities pursuant to section 1 of this act.
b. There shall be appropriated each State fiscal year to the "Artificial Intelligence Education Fund" such funds as are necessary to effectuate the provisions of this act.
4. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes the Artificial Intelligence Grant Program, the purpose of which is to make funds available to nonprofit entities providing education and training in artificial intelligence.
Under the bill, a nonprofit entity that wishes to participate in the grant program is to submit an application to the Secretary of Higher Education in a manner and form determined by the secretary. In order to receive a grant, a nonprofit entity is required to demonstrate that it provides comprehensive education and training programs in artificial intelligence. The bill directs the secretary to consider a number of listed factors when awarding grants, including, among others, whether the nonprofit entity organizes events that provide a platform for the exchange of ideas, networking, and educational opportunities concerning the ethical use of artificial intelligence and whether the nonprofit entity has established partnerships with government agencies to ensure collaborative growth and streamlined efforts between the State and the private sector. The secretary is to annually select four nonprofit entities to receive grants in an amount not to exceed $25,000 per grant. A nonprofit entity that receives a grant under the provisions of the bill is to submit a report to the secretary, Governor, and Legislature on the use and impact of the grant funds.
The bill also establishes the "Artificial Intelligence Education Fund," which is to be used to provide grants to nonprofit entities pursuant to the provisions of the bill. The bill provides that there is to be appropriated each State fiscal year to the "Artificial Intelligence Education Fund" such funds as are necessary to effectuate the provisions of the bill.