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Bill > S3901


US S3901

US S3901
AI Scholarship-for-Service Act


summary

Introduced
06/04/2020
In Committee
06/04/2020
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
12/31/2020

Introduced Session

116th Congress

Bill Summary

A bill to establish a Federal artificial intelligence scholarship-for-service program. This bill establishes a federal artificial intelligence (AI) scholarship-for-service program to recruit and train AI professionals to lead and support AI in federal, state, local, and tribal governments. Specifically, the National Science Foundation must establish criteria to designate qualified institutions of higher education (IHEs) as eligible to participate in the program. Such criteria must include (1) measures of an IHE's demonstrated excellence in the education of students in AI; and (2) measures of an IHE's ability to attract and retain a diverse and nontraditional student population in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Further, the program must (1) provide scholarships through qualified IHEs to students who are enrolled in programs of study related to AI, (2) provide scholarship recipients with internship opportunities, (3) prioritize the employment placement of scholarship recipients in executive agencies, (4) identify opportunities to promote multidisciplinary programs of study that integrate basic or advanced AI training with other fields of study, and (5) support education research programs to train AI researchers and practitioners. Additionally, the post-award employment obligations of a scholarship recipient must include three years of work for an executive agency; Congress; an interstate agency; a state, local, or tribal government; or a government-affiliated nonprofit that is considered to be critical infrastructure. A scholarship recipient who completes less than the required three years of service must repay the scholarship, or the scholarship must be treated as a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan that is subject to repayment.

AI Summary

This bill establishes a federal artificial intelligence (AI) scholarship-for-service program to recruit and train AI professionals to lead and support AI in federal, state, local, and tribal governments. The National Science Foundation will establish criteria for qualified institutions of higher education to participate in the program, including measures of excellence in AI education and ability to attract diverse and non-traditional STEM students. The program will provide scholarships, internships, and prioritize employment placement of recipients in executive agencies. Scholarship recipients must commit to 3 years of work in government or government-affiliated organizations after completing their studies. The bill also includes provisions for scholarship repayment, hiring authority, and public reporting on the program's success in recruiting and retaining the public sector AI workforce.

Committee Categories

Health and Social Services

Sponsors (2)

Last Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (on 06/04/2020)

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