Appropriates $4,676,600 to the STEM Action Center for fiscal year 2019; limits the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions to 6.00; and provides for an appropriation and transfer of moneys to the STEM Education Fund.

This is the FY 2019 original appropriation bill for the STEM Action Center. It appropriates $4,676,600 and caps the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions at 6.00. For benefit costs, the bill removes $1,450 per eligible FTP to bring the annual employer contribution for health insurance down to $11,650 by including a two-month employee and employer premium holiday, adds a 6.8% increase for life insurance, andadjustsfundingforworkers'compensationinamountsthatvarybyagency. Forstatewidecostallocation, $1,200isprovided,StateControllerfeeswillincreaseby$800andStateTreasurerfeeswillincreaseby$400. The bill also provides funding for a 3% ongoing merit-based salary increase for permanent employees, to be distributed at the discretion of the agency head and a 3% increase in the compensation schedule. The bill funds four line items, which provide: 1.00 FTP and $85,100 from the General Fund ($78,500 ongoing, $6,600 onetime) for a financial officer position that would have responsibilities for the agency's budget, grants, and financial inquiries currently handled by the Division of Financial Management; 1.00 FTP for a senior research analyst that would conduct research and project development as well as analyze collected data; and $1,800 from the General Fund ($900 ongoing, $900 onetime) for IT and telecommunication support services provided by the Department of Administration. The budget also includes the transfer of $2,000,000 onetime from the General Fund to the STEM Education Fund for the Computer Science Initiative to promote computer science activities in schools and communities.