1 | A bill to be entitled |
2 | An act relating to advanced science and technology |
3 | research; creating s. 1004.226, F.S.; creating the 21st |
4 | Century Technology, Research, and Scholarship Enhancement |
5 | Act; providing legislative findings and intent; providing |
6 | definitions; creating the Florida Technology, Research, |
7 | and Scholarship Board within the Board of Governors of the |
8 | State University System; providing for members of the |
9 | board; providing for terms; providing for board members to |
10 | be reimbursed for per diem and expenses incurred in the |
11 | performance of their duties; requiring that the Board of |
12 | Governors of the State University System provide staff |
13 | support and other support for the board; requiring that |
14 | the board provide recommendations for the 21st Century |
15 | World Class Scholars Program and the Centers of Excellence |
16 | Program; authorizing the board to form committees and |
17 | consult with certain other entities; providing for the |
18 | 21st Century World Class Scholars Program to provide |
19 | matching funds to state universities to pay salaries and |
20 | support research in science and technology; providing |
21 | guidelines for the board in the development of criteria |
22 | for recommendation to the Board of Governors; requiring a |
23 | minimum investment of private funds; specifying the |
24 | purposes of the Centers of Excellence; requiring the board |
25 | to recommend to the Board of Governors criteria for |
26 | approving proposals to create or expand a Center of |
27 | Excellence, to solicit proposals, and to recommend |
28 | proposals that meet such criteria; requiring documentation |
29 | if funds are approved for a Center of Excellence in excess |
30 | of a specified amount; requiring reports by Centers of |
31 | Excellence and the Board of Governors; providing for |
32 | expiration of the act; providing appropriations and |
33 | authorizing positions; providing for carrying forward |
34 | certain unexpended balances; providing an effective date. |
35 |
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36 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
37 |
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38 | Section 1. Section 1004.226, Florida Statutes, is created |
39 | to read: |
40 | 1004.226 The 21st Century Technology, Research, and |
41 | Scholarship Enhancement Act.-- |
42 | (1) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT.-- |
43 | (a) The Legislature finds that diversifying this state's |
44 | economy requires a focus on building a growing base of high-wage |
45 | jobs and on nurturing those technologies and clusters that will |
46 | be the foundation of Florida's growing economic diversity and |
47 | prosperity. |
48 | (b) The Legislature further finds that special programs |
49 | are needed to facilitate the recruitment of exceptional talent |
50 | to Florida's research universities and centers and to provide |
51 | the infrastructure and resources that precipitate joint efforts |
52 | and coinvestment among state research and development |
53 | institutions, private industry, and government. Florida needs |
54 | consistent commitment and investment in order to further the |
55 | state's strategy of capitalizing on innovative research and |
56 | development to build a thriving, technology-rich economy. |
57 | (2) CREATION.--The 21st Century Technology, Research, and |
58 | Scholarship Enhancement Act is created for the purpose of: |
59 | (a) Investing in programs that attract world class |
60 | scholars and building Centers of Excellence as an important |
61 | means of increasing technology-based business in this state; |
62 | (b) Requiring coinvestment as a means of leveraging state |
63 | dollars; |
64 | (c) Aligning research and development efforts with |
65 | established, statewide economic-development strategies, |
66 | including an emphasis on identified economic clusters; |
67 | (d) Facilitating value-added job creation through |
68 | continuous improvement in university research, as well as |
69 | entrepreneurship and capital-development programs; and |
70 | (e) Establishing Florida as a leading state for |
71 | entrepreneurship and innovation, with continued commitment to |
72 | university Centers of Excellence and an expanding base of |
73 | research and development. |
74 | (3) DEFINITIONS.--As used in this section, the term: |
75 | (a) "A 21st Century World Class Scholar" means a principal |
76 | researcher/investigator who has high academic credentials, |
77 | demonstrated competence, and experience that meets the |
78 | requirements established by the board for a 21st Century World |
79 | Class Scholar. |
80 | (b) "Applicant" means any state university, private |
81 | university located in this state, or any private or public |
82 | research center, community college, or training center in this |
83 | state which coordinates with a state university for purposes of |
84 | this act. |
85 | (c) "Board" means the Florida Technology, Research, and |
86 | Scholarship Board. |
87 | (d) "Center of Excellence" means an organization of |
88 | personnel, facilities, and equipment established at or in |
89 | collaboration with one or more state universities to accomplish |
90 | the purposes and objectives of this act. |
91 | (e) "Research center" means an institute, center, or |
92 | clinic that includes research and development or education as a |
93 | principal mission of the organization. |
94 | (f) "State university" means a Florida public university |
95 | as defined in s. 1000.21. |
96 | (4) FLORIDA TECHNOLOGY, RESEARCH, AND SCHOLARSHIP |
97 | BOARD.--The Florida Technology, Research, and Scholarship Board |
98 | is created within the Board of Governors of the State University |
99 | System to guide the establishment of Centers of Excellence and |
100 | the attraction of world class scholars. |
101 | (a) The board shall consist of 11 members. Seven members |
102 | shall be appointed by the Governor, one of whom the Governor |
103 | shall appoint as chair of the board, and one of whom must be a |
104 | member of the board of directors of Enterprise Florida, Inc., |
105 | and one of whom must be a member of the Board of Governors of |
106 | the State University System. Two members shall be appointed by |
107 | the President of the Senate and two members shall be appointed |
108 | by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Appointed |
109 | members must be representative of business leaders, industrial |
110 | researchers, academic researchers, scientists, and leaders in |
111 | the emerging and advanced technology sector. Appointed members |
112 | may not serve for more than 4 years and any vacancy that occurs |
113 | during these appointees' terms shall be filled in the same |
114 | manner as the original appointment. A majority of members |
115 | constitutes a quorum. |
116 | (b) Members of the board shall serve without compensation, |
117 | but are entitled to receive reimbursement for per diem and |
118 | travel expenses in accordance with s. 112.061 while in the |
119 | performance of their duties. |
120 | (c) The Board of Governors shall provide staff support for |
121 | the activities of the board and per diem and travel expenses for |
122 | board members. |
123 | (d) The board is charged with recommending criteria to the |
124 | Board of Governors for the 21st Century World Class Scholars |
125 | Program and with providing guidance to the Board of Governors |
126 | regarding the implementation and administration of the Centers |
127 | of Excellence Program. The board shall recommend to the Board of |
128 | Governors the qualifications, standards, and requirements for |
129 | approval of investments in Centers of Excellence under this act. |
130 | The board may form committees of its members, and is encouraged |
131 | to consult with Enterprise Florida, Inc., the Florida Research |
132 | Consortium, Bio-Florida, IT Florida, the Florida Aviation and |
133 | Aerospace Alliance, and any other entity whose input may be |
134 | helpful in determining the requirements and standards for the |
135 | program. |
136 | (5) THE 21ST CENTURY WORLD CLASS SCHOLARS PROGRAM.-- |
137 | (a) This act allocates resources to attract 21st Century |
138 | World Class Scholars to state universities by cofunding |
139 | endowments for salaries and operating funds and cofunding the |
140 | purchase of equipment in support of the scholar's research. |
141 | (b) The 21st Century World Class Scholars Program shall be |
142 | used as a tool to develop the state's capabilities in science |
143 | and high-technology research, emphasizing Florida's identified |
144 | strengths in science and technology disciplines while also |
145 | recognizing new technologies as they may emerge. |
146 | (c) The board, in consultation with senior administrators |
147 | of state universities, state university foundation directors, |
148 | the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development, the |
149 | board of directors of Enterprise Florida, Inc., and leading |
150 | members of private industry, shall develop and recommend to the |
151 | Board of Governors criteria for the 21st Century World Class |
152 | Scholars Program. |
153 | (d) In developing the recommended criteria for the 21st |
154 | Century World Class Scholars Program, the board shall consider |
155 | the following guidelines to judge a state university's |
156 | qualification for an award: |
157 | 1. The presence of distinguished faculty members, |
158 | including whether the university has a substantial history of |
159 | external funding, along with the strong potential for attracting |
160 | a scholar of national or international eminence. |
161 | 2. The presence of academically outstanding graduate |
162 | students, along with the promise and potential for attracting |
163 | additional highly qualified students. |
164 | 3. The presence of adequate research and scholarly support |
165 | services. |
166 | 4. The existence of an academic environment having |
167 | appropriate infrastructure, including buildings, classrooms, |
168 | libraries, laboratories, and specialized equipment, which is |
169 | conducive to the conduct of the highest quality of scholarship |
170 | and research. |
171 | 5. The demonstration of concordance with Florida's |
172 | strategic plan for economic development or an emphasis on one or |
173 | more emerging sciences or technologies that could favorably |
174 | impact the state's economic future. |
175 | (e) A minimum amount of private funds, no less than $1 |
176 | million, must be coinvested with state dollars to recruit a 21st |
177 | Century World Class Scholar. State appropriations may not be |
178 | used for this purpose. |
179 | (f) Upon the verification by the Board of Governors that a |
180 | state university has met the criteria for a 21st Century World |
181 | Class Scholar, the Board of Governors shall immediately release |
182 | matching funds to the university's endowment in support of the |
183 | scholar. Private funding shall be eligible for a one-to-one |
184 | match from the state. Endowment proceeds may be used for the |
185 | salary or to supplement the salary of the 21st Century World |
186 | Class Scholar or for individuals directly associated with the |
187 | scholar's research and for expenses related to the research. |
188 | (g) This act does not replace or obviate existing |
189 | programs. (6) CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.-- |
190 | (a) The purposes and objectives of a Center of Excellence |
191 | include: |
192 | 1. Identifying and pursuing opportunities for university |
193 | scholars, research center scientists and engineers, and private |
194 | businesses to form collaborative partnerships to foster and |
195 | promote the research required to develop commercially promising, |
196 | advanced, and innovative science and technology and to transfer |
197 | those discoveries to commercial sectors. |
198 | 2. Acquiring and leveraging public-sector and private- |
199 | sector funding to provide the totality of funds, personnel, |
200 | facilities, equipment, and other resources needed to support the |
201 | research required to develop commercially promising, advanced, |
202 | and innovative science and technology and to transfer those |
203 | discoveries to commercial sectors. |
204 | 3. Recruiting and retaining world class scholars, high- |
205 | performing students, and leading scientists and engineers in |
206 | technology disciplines to engage in research in this state and |
207 | to develop commercially promising, advanced, and innovative |
208 | science and technology. |
209 | 4. Enhancing and expanding science and technology |
210 | curricula and laboratory resources at universities and research |
211 | centers in this state. |
212 | 5. Increasing the number of high-performing students in |
213 | science and technology disciplines who graduate from |
214 | universities in this state and pursue careers in this state. |
215 | 6. Stimulating and supporting the inception, growth, and |
216 | diversification of science and technology-based businesses and |
217 | ventures in Florida and increasing employment opportunities for |
218 | the workforce needed to support such businesses. |
219 | (b) The board shall recommend to the Board of Governors |
220 | criteria for approving proposals to create or expand a Center of |
221 | Excellence. Such criteria must consider: |
222 | 1. The maturity of the applicant's existing programs |
223 | relating to a proposed Center of Excellence. |
224 | 2. The comprehensiveness and effectiveness of site plans |
225 | relating to a proposed Center of Excellence. |
226 | 3. The existing amount of the applicant's resources |
227 | dedicated to activities relating to a proposed Center of |
228 | Excellence. |
229 | 4. The regional economic structure and climate. |
230 | 5. The degree to which the applicant identifies and seizes |
231 | opportunities to collaborate with other public or private |
232 | entities for research purposes. |
233 | 6. The presence of a comprehensive performance and |
234 | accountability measurement system. |
235 | 7. The use of an integrated research and development |
236 | strategy using multiple levels of the educational system. |
237 | 8. The ability of the applicant to raise research funds |
238 | and leverage public and private investment dollars to support |
239 | advanced and emerging scientific and technological research and |
240 | development projects. |
241 | 9. The degree to which the applicant transfers advanced |
242 | and emerging sciences and technologies from its laboratories to |
243 | the commercial sector. |
244 | 10. The degree to which the applicant stimulates and |
245 | supports the creation of new ventures. |
246 | 11. The existence of a plan to enhance academic curricula |
247 | by improving communication between academia and industry. |
248 | 12. The existence of a plan to increase the number, |
249 | quality, and retention rate of faculty and graduate students in |
250 | advancing and emerging science and technology-based disciplines. |
251 | 13. The existence of a plan to increase the likelihood of |
252 | faculty and graduate students pursuing private-sector careers in |
253 | the state. |
254 | 14. The ability of the applicant to provide capital |
255 | facilities necessary to support research and development. |
256 | (c) The board shall periodically solicit proposals for |
257 | Centers of Excellence. The board may issue broad solicitations |
258 | for applicants to establish a Center of Excellence, including |
259 | entities other than state universities. All applicants must |
260 | submit and demonstrate coordination with one or more state |
261 | universities in order to be eligible for funding. The board may |
262 | solicit proposals for a more defined Center of Excellence that |
263 | is intended to meet identified needs or capitalize on perceived |
264 | technology and research opportunities. The board shall notify |
265 | the president of each state university and applicable research |
266 | centers in this state of the call for proposals. |
267 | (d) The board shall recommend to the Board of Governors |
268 | for approval and funding those proposals that meet the criteria |
269 | approved by the Board of Governors. |
270 | (e) If no proposal is judged worthy of approval during a |
271 | solicitation cycle, an approval need not be made. This act does |
272 | not establish a limit for an investment amount; however, any |
273 | approval for a single Center of Excellence exceeding $20 million |
274 | must be documented to have superior prospects for success in its |
275 | field of research and offer outstanding opportunities to |
276 | leverage state dollars. |
277 | (7) ANNUAL REPORT.-- |
278 | (a) Any Center of Excellence receiving funding pursuant to |
279 | this section shall provide at least annual reports to the board |
280 | and the Board of Governors concerning its achievement of |
281 | objectives as identified and presented in the approved proposal. |
282 | (b) The Board of Governors of the State University System |
283 | shall issue an annual report by December 31 each year of the |
284 | activities conducted, including the accomplishments and overall |
285 | economic benefits to the state, the number of 21st Century World |
286 | Class Scholars attracted, the number of Centers of Excellence |
287 | created or expanded, the success of collaborations with related |
288 | industries, and the success of these programs. The annual report |
289 | shall be presented to the Governor, the President of the Senate, |
290 | and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The annual |
291 | report must include a copy of an independent audit of the board |
292 | and a review of the progress of programs established pursuant to |
293 | this section. |
294 | (8) EXPIRATION.--This section shall expire June 30, 2011. |
295 | Section 2. For the 2006-2007 fiscal year, the sum of $200 |
296 | million is appropriated from nonrecurring general revenue to the |
297 | Board of Governors of the State University System, of which $100 |
298 | million shall be allocated for the 21st Century World Class |
299 | Scholars Program and $100 million for the Centers of Excellence |
300 | Program. Notwithstanding s. 216.301, Florida Statutes, and |
301 | pursuant to s. 216.351, Florida Statutes, any unexpended balance |
302 | from this appropriation shall be carried forward at the end of |
303 | each fiscal year until the 2009-2010 fiscal year. At the end of |
304 | the 2009-2010 fiscal year, any remaining balance of this |
305 | appropriation which has not been disbursed by the Board of |
306 | Governors shall revert unallocated to the General Revenue Fund. |
307 | Section 3. The following sums of money and full-time |
308 | equivalent positions are appropriated to the Board of Governors |
309 | of the State University System for the 2006-2007 fiscal year for |
310 | the purpose of administering this act: |
311 | (1) Two full-time equivalent positions and 130,000 in |
312 | approved annual salary rate; |
313 | (2) The sum of $162,959 from recurring general revenue |
314 | funds for salaries and benefits; |
315 | (3) The sum of $101,892 from recurring general revenue |
316 | funds for expenses; |
317 | (4) The sum of $3,800 from nonrecurring general revenue |
318 | funds for operating capital outlay; and |
319 | (5) The sum of $786 from recurring general revenue funds |
320 | for transfer to the Department of Management Services for the |
321 | Human Resource Services Statewide Contract. |
322 | Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2006. |