Proposed Legislation

Goal: Obtain funding for every FIRST team in Indiana, regardless of whether they are a school team or a non-profit affiliated team.

Progress Towards the Goal: In the summer 0f 2019, we met with Senator Linda Rogers for the first time and by 2020, she had introduced the first bill on the issue. Unfortunately, the issue got lost in the Covid-19 shuffle, but we are dedicated to bringing this back and working until legislation is passed.

Why FIRST Robotics?

FIRST Robotics Structure (in Indiana)

Parent Organization (FIRST Indiana Robotics)
FIRST Lego League Discover (Grades PK-1) (FLL Discover)
Number of teams in Indiana fluctuates year to year
FIRST Lego League Explore (Grades 1-3) (FLL Explore)
Number of teams in Indiana fluctuates year to year
FIRST Lego League Challenge (Grades 4-8) (FLL)
~400 teams currently
FIRST Tech Challenge (Grades 7-12) (FTC)
64 teams currently
FIRST Robotics Competition (Grades 9-12) (FRC)
52 teams currently

Our Request:

Provide funding to FIRST teams in Indiana to cover:

A kit of parts and their registration fees during their first season
Their registration fees during their subsequent seasons
Available to teams affiliated with schools and teams affiliated with registered non-profits
Funds needed for each program (estimated based on preliminary research):
FIRST Lego League Discover (Grades PK-1) (FLL Discover)
$175 registration fee
$60 event fee
$171 class pack (yearly cost)
$406 total/per team yearly
FIRST Lego League Explore (Grades 1-3) (FLL Explore)
$99 registration fee
$60 event fee
$265 kit of parts (first year only)
$424 total/per team first year
$159 total/per team yearly
FIRST Lego League Challenge (Grades 4-8) (FLL)
$99 registration fee
$60 event fee
$500 kit of parts (first year only)
$785 per team first year
$285 per team yearly
FIRST Tech Challenge (Grades 7-12) (FTC)
$275 registration fee
$250 event fee
$580 kit of parts (first year only)
$1105 total/per team first year
$525 total/per team yearly
FIRST Robotics Competition (Grades 9-12) (FRC)
$1000 kit of parts (first year only)
$5000 registration fee
$6000 total/per team first year
$5000 total/per team yearly

Where This Has Worked: Michigan!

Summary of our perspective on the Michigan legislation:

Michigan bill provided teams with money for registration fees and a kit of parts their rookie year
Focused on FRC at FIRST but expanded to FTC, FLL, FLL Explore/Discover
Allowed FIRST to prosper in Michigan

Summary of problems we saw with the Michigan legislation:

Michigan restricts FTC to middle school only
- This limits a student’s ability to choose between FRC and FTC
  - FRC requires upwards of $50k and almost 6 day a week practices
  - FTC only requires around $5k and only three times a week (more if wanted)

Some students fit better with FTC and some with FRC and should retain the choice
Mentoring FRC is incredibly draining and not for everybody whereas FTC is much more doable for mentors
FIRST itself allows for some overlap in ages in each division so each student can do what is best for them. Some students stay in FLL for longer before joining FTC and FRC, for example
- Michigan has restricted this access
Michigan restricts access to public schools only