[Katy]

...ok so you took care of the starting of teams...and the beginning of the money...so all you need would be...

...a steady supply of fully trained technical mentors/engineers
...I would highly recommend a few non-technical mentors
...a lot more money for the teams (you'll need 5K to even exist and I feel very comfortable projecting you will need at least 2K more.)
...supervision for the students / a way to handle liability
...a workspace for each team (heated and lit are definitely a plus)
...tools
...building material
...a great many more slots at regionals for this sudden burst of new teams
...some incentive for an average of at least one company per county to take a team on
...a way to get the news out to students about these teams and get them signed up
...and probably some big words. Laws have to have big words you know.

When you hear about a team that has financial problems you have to remember they already have a great deal. Most of the time...they have a complete team but just lack a fund-raising segment that is bringing in enough money.

I think it comes back to the "you can lead a horse to water but you can not make it drink" thing. I am not sure it is possible to legislate teams into existence. You can find money for them but when all is said and done you have to have a team ready to run with the opportunity you are giving them.

Personally? If I had to write this bill I would write it so that the government is asked to put a set amount of money aside each year. FIRST teams can then request a part of that grant. The teams in the area present an estimation of all they own and all they need and the government allots pieces of the money to the teams accordingly.