AI Scholarship-for-Service Act
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (20 Apr 2021): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
What this bill does
The AI Scholarship-for-Service Act, introduced in the Senate, would create a federal program to recruit and train professionals in artificial intelligence (AI) for government service. The National Science Foundation would identify universities with strong AI programs that can attract diverse students.
The program would offer scholarships to students studying AI, including tuition, fees, and stipends. Recipients would also gain internship experience. After graduation, scholarship recipients would be required to work for an executive agency, Congress, or a state, local, or tribal government for a period equal to their scholarship length, typically three years.
If a recipient fails to complete the required service, they would have to repay the scholarship amount, which could be treated as a federal loan. The bill was introduced in the Senate on April 20, 2021, and has not advanced further in the legislative process.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
AI Scholarship-for-Service Act
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.
Timeline
20 Apr 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Common questions
- What does S. 1257 do?
- The AI Scholarship-for-Service Act, introduced in the Senate, would create a federal program to recruit and train professionals in artificial intelligence (AI) for government service. The National Science Foundation would identify universities with strong AI programs that can attract diverse students. The program would offer scholarships to students studying AI, including tuition, fees, and stipends. Recipients would also gain internship experience. After graduation, scholarship recipients would be required to work for an executive agency, Congress, or a state, local, or tribal government for a period equal to their scholarship length, typically three years. If a recipient fails to complete the required service, they would have to repay the scholarship amount, which could be treated as a federal loan. The bill was introduced in the Senate on April 20, 2021, and has not advanced further in the legislative process.
- Has S. 1257 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for S. 1257. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored S. 1257?
- S. 1257 was sponsored by Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI] (D-MI), with 1 cosponsor.
- What's the latest action on S. 1257?
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (20 Apr 2021).
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