HB 1237CS

CHAMBER ACTION



1The Education Council recommends the following:
2
3     Council/Committee Substitute
4     Remove the entire bill and insert:
5
A bill to be entitled
6An act relating to special postsecondary education
7programs; creating s. 1004.226, F.S.; creating the 21st
8Century Technology, Research, and Scholarship Enhancement
9Act; providing legislative findings and intent; providing
10definitions; creating the Florida Technology, Research,
11and Scholarship Board within the Board of Governors of the
12State University System; providing for members of the
13board; providing for terms; providing for board members to
14be reimbursed for per diem and expenses incurred in the
15performance of their duties; requiring that the Board of
16Governors of the State University System provide staff
17support and other support for the board; requiring that
18the board provide recommendations for the 21st Century
19World Class Scholars Program and the Centers of Excellence
20Program; authorizing the board to form committees and
21consult with certain other entities; providing for the
2221st Century World Class Scholars Program to provide
23matching funds to state universities; providing guidelines
24for the board in the development of criteria for
25recommendation to the Board of Governors; requiring a
26minimum investment of funds; specifying the purposes of
27the Centers of Excellence; specifying entities eligible to
28submit proposals; requiring the board to recommend to the
29Board of Governors criteria for approving proposals to
30create or expand a Center of Excellence, to solicit
31proposals, and to recommend proposals that meet such
32criteria; requiring documentation if funds are approved
33for a Center of Excellence in excess of a specified
34amount; requiring reports by Centers of Excellence and the
35Board of Governors; providing for expiration of the act;
36providing appropriations; creating s. 1004.384, F.S.;
37authorizing a College of Medicine at the University of
38Central Florida; creating s. 1004.385, F.S.; authorizing a
39College of Medicine at Florida International University;
40providing an effective date.
41
42Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
43
44     Section 1.  Section 1004.226, Florida Statutes, is created
45to read:
46     1004.226  The 21st Century Technology, Research, and
47Scholarship Enhancement Act.--
48     (1)  LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT.--
49     (a)  The Legislature finds that diversifying this state's
50economy requires a focus on building a growing base of high-wage
51jobs and on nurturing those technologies and clusters that will
52be the foundation of Florida's growing economic diversity and
53prosperity.
54     (b)  The Legislature further finds that special programs
55are needed to facilitate the recruitment of exceptional talent
56to Florida's research universities and centers and to provide
57the infrastructure and resources that precipitate joint efforts
58and coinvestment among state research and development
59institutions, private industry, and government. Florida needs
60consistent commitment and investment in order to further the
61state's strategy of capitalizing on innovative research and
62development to build a thriving, technology-rich economy.
63     (2)  CREATION.--The 21st Century Technology, Research, and
64Scholarship Enhancement Act is created for the purpose of:
65     (a)  Investing in programs that attract world class
66scholars and building Centers of Excellence as an important
67means of increasing technology-based business in this state;
68     (b)  Requiring coinvestment as a means of leveraging state
69dollars;
70     (c)  Aligning research and development efforts with
71established, statewide economic-development strategies,
72including an emphasis on identified economic clusters;
73     (d)  Facilitating value-added job creation through
74continuous improvement in university research, as well as
75entrepreneurship and capital-development programs; and
76     (e)  Establishing Florida as a leading state for
77entrepreneurship and innovation, with continued commitment to
78university Centers of Excellence and an expanding base of
79research and development.
80     (3)  DEFINITIONS.--As used in this section, the term:
81     (a)  "A 21st Century World Class Scholar" means a principal
82researcher/investigator who has high academic credentials,
83demonstrated competence, and experience that meets the
84requirements established by the board for a 21st Century World
85Class Scholar.
86     (b)  "Board" means the Florida Technology, Research, and
87Scholarship Board.
88     (c)  "Center of Excellence" means an organization of
89personnel, facilities, and equipment established to accomplish
90the purposes and objectives of this act.
91     (d)  "Community college" means a Florida public community
92college as defined in s. 1000.21.
93     (e)  "Private university" means a baccalaureate degree-
94granting independent nonprofit university which is accredited by
95the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of
96Colleges and Schools and which is located in and chartered as a
97domestic corporation by the state.
98     (f)  "Research center" means an institute, center, or
99clinic that includes research and development or education as a
100principal mission of the organization.
101     (g)  "State university" means a Florida public university
102as defined in s. 1000.21.
103     (4)  FLORIDA TECHNOLOGY, RESEARCH, AND SCHOLARSHIP
104BOARD.--The Florida Technology, Research, and Scholarship Board
105is created within the Board of Governors of the State University
106System to guide the establishment of Centers of Excellence and
107the attraction of world class scholars.
108     (a)  The board shall consist of 11 members. Seven members
109shall be appointed by the Governor, one of whom the Governor
110shall appoint as chair of the board, one of whom must be a
111member of the board of directors of Enterprise Florida, Inc.,
112and one of whom must be a member of the Board of Governors of
113the State University System. Two members shall be appointed by
114the President of the Senate and two members shall be appointed
115by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Appointed
116members must be representative of business leaders, industrial
117researchers, academic researchers, scientists, and leaders in
118the emerging and advanced technology sector. Appointed members
119may not serve for more than 4 years and any vacancy that occurs
120during these appointees' terms shall be filled in the same
121manner as the original appointment. A majority of members
122constitutes a quorum.
123     (b)  Members of the board shall serve without compensation,
124but are entitled to receive reimbursement for per diem and
125travel expenses in accordance with s. 112.061 while in the
126performance of their duties.
127     (c)  The Board of Governors shall provide staff support for
128the activities of the board and per diem and travel expenses for
129board members.
130     (d)  The board is charged with recommending criteria to the
131Board of Governors for the 21st Century World Class Scholars
132Program and with providing guidance to the Board of Governors
133regarding the implementation and administration of the Centers
134of Excellence Program. The board shall recommend to the Board of
135Governors the qualifications, standards, and requirements for
136approval of investments in Centers of Excellence under this act.
137The board may form committees of its members and is encouraged
138to consult with Enterprise Florida, Inc., the Florida Research
139Consortium, Bio-Florida, IT Florida, the Florida Aviation and
140Aerospace Alliance, and any other entity whose input may be
141helpful in determining the requirements and standards for the
142program.
143     (5)  THE 21ST CENTURY WORLD CLASS SCHOLARS PROGRAM.--
144     (a)  This act allocates state matching funds to attract
14521st Century World Class Scholars to state universities.
146     (b)  The 21st Century World Class Scholars Program shall be
147used as a tool to develop the state's capabilities in science
148and high-technology research, emphasizing Florida's identified
149strengths in science and technology while also recognizing new
150technologies as they may emerge.
151     (c)  The board, in consultation with senior administrators
152of state universities, state university foundation directors,
153the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development, the
154board of directors of Enterprise Florida, Inc., and leading
155members of private industry, shall develop and recommend to the
156Board of Governors criteria for the 21st Century World Class
157Scholars Program. Such criteria shall address, at a minimum, the
158following:
159     1.  The presence of distinguished faculty members,
160including whether the university has a substantial history of
161external funding, along with the strong potential for attracting
162a scholar of national or international eminence.
163     2.  The presence of academically outstanding students,
164along with the promise and potential for attracting additional
165highly qualified students.
166     3.  The presence of adequate research and scholarly support
167services.
168     4.  The existence of an academic environment having
169appropriate infrastructure, including buildings, classrooms,
170libraries, laboratories, and specialized equipment, that is
171conducive to the conduct of the highest quality of scholarship
172and research.
173     5.  The demonstration of concordance with Florida's
174strategic plan for economic development or an emphasis on one or
175more emerging sciences or technologies that could favorably
176impact the state's economic future.
177     (d)  A state university must raise a minimum of $1 million
178to be eligible for state matching funds to recruit a 21st
179Century World Class Scholar. Funds raised by the university
180shall be eligible for a one-to-one match from the state.
181Revenues received from state appropriations, student tuition and
182fees, and state-funded contracts or grants are not eligible for
183state match.
184     (e)  Upon the verification by the Board of Governors that a
185state university has met the criteria for a 21st Century World
186Class Scholar, the Board of Governors shall release matching
187funds to the university. Funds shall be used for the purpose of
188recruiting a 21st Century World Class Scholar and shall be
189expended according to an expenditure plan approved by the Board
190of Governors.
191     (f)  Nothing in this act is intended to replace or obviate
192existing programs.
193     (6)  CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.--
194     (a)  The purposes and objectives of a Center of Excellence
195include:
196     1.  Identifying and pursuing opportunities for university
197scholars, research center scientists and engineers, and private
198businesses to form collaborative partnerships to foster and
199promote the research required to develop commercially promising,
200advanced, and innovative science and technology and to transfer
201those discoveries to commercial sectors.
202     2.  Acquiring and leveraging public-sector and private-
203sector funding to provide the totality of funds, personnel,
204facilities, equipment, and other resources needed to support the
205research required to develop commercially promising, advanced,
206and innovative science and technology and to transfer those
207discoveries to commercial sectors.
208     3.  Recruiting and retaining world class scholars, high-
209performing students, and leading scientists and engineers in
210technology disciplines to engage in research in this state and
211to develop commercially promising, advanced, and innovative
212science and technology.
213     4.  Enhancing and expanding science and technology
214curricula and laboratory resources at universities and research
215centers in this state.
216     5.  Increasing the number of high-performing students in
217science and technology disciplines who graduate from
218universities in this state and pursue careers in this state.
219     6.  Stimulating and supporting the inception, growth, and
220diversification of science and technology-based businesses and
221ventures in Florida and increasing employment opportunities for
222the workforce needed to support such businesses.
223     (b)  The following entities are eligible to submit
224proposals for a Center of Excellence:
225     1.  Any state university.
226     2.  Any private university.
227     3.  The H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research
228Institute.
229     4.  The Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition,
230Inc..
231     5.  Any community college, training center, or other public
232or private research center in the state that coordinates with a
233state university for purposes of this act.
234     (c)  The board shall recommend to the Board of Governors
235criteria for approving proposals to create or expand a Center of
236Excellence. Such criteria shall consider:
237     1.  The maturity of the applicant's existing programs
238relating to a proposed Center of Excellence.
239     2.  The comprehensiveness and effectiveness of site plans
240relating to a proposed Center of Excellence.
241     3.  The existing amount of the applicant's resources
242dedicated to activities relating to a proposed Center of
243Excellence.
244     4.  The regional economic structure and climate.
245     5.  The degree to which the applicant identifies and seizes
246opportunities to collaborate with other public or private
247entities for research purposes.
248     6.  The presence of a comprehensive performance and
249accountability measurement system.
250     7.  The use of an integrated research and development
251strategy using multiple levels of the educational system.
252     8.  The ability of the applicant to raise research funds
253and leverage public and private investment dollars to support
254advanced and emerging scientific and technological research and
255development projects.
256     9.  The degree to which the applicant transfers advanced
257and emerging sciences and technologies from its laboratories to
258the commercial sector.
259     10.  The degree to which the applicant stimulates and
260supports the creation of new ventures.
261     11.  The existence of a plan to enhance academic curricula
262by improving communication between academia and industry.
263     12.  The existence of a plan to increase the number,
264quality, and retention rate of faculty and graduate students in
265advancing and emerging science and technology-based disciplines.
266     13.  The existence of a plan to increase the likelihood of
267faculty and graduate students pursuing private-sector careers in
268the state.
269     14.  The ability of the applicant to provide capital
270facilities necessary to support research and development.
271     (d)  The board shall periodically solicit proposals for
272Centers of Excellence. To call for proposals, the board shall
273notify the president or chief executive officer of the eligible
274entities identified in paragraph (b).
275     (e)  The board shall recommend to the Board of Governors
276for approval and funding those proposals that meet the criteria
277approved by the Board of Governors.
278     (f)  If no proposal is judged worthy of approval during a
279solicitation cycle, an approval need not be made. This act does
280not establish a limit for an investment amount; however, any
281approval for a single Center of Excellence exceeding $20 million
282must be documented to have superior prospects for success in its
283field of research and offer outstanding opportunities to
284leverage state dollars.
285     (7)  ANNUAL REPORT.--
286     (a)  Any Center of Excellence receiving funding pursuant to
287this section shall provide at least annual reports to the board
288and the Board of Governors concerning its achievement of
289objectives as identified and presented in the approved proposal.
290     (b)  The Board of Governors shall issue an annual report by
291December 31 each year of the activities conducted, including the
292accomplishments and overall economic benefits to the state, the
293number of 21st Century World Class Scholars attracted, the
294number of Centers of Excellence created or expanded, the success
295of collaborations with related industries, and the success of
296these programs. The annual report shall be presented to the
297Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
298House of Representatives. The annual report must include a copy
299of an independent audit of the board and a review of the
300progress of programs established pursuant to this section.
301     (8)  EXPIRATION.--This section shall expire June 30, 2011.
302     Section 2.  For the 2006-2007 fiscal year, the sum of $100
303million is appropriated from nonrecurring general revenue to the
304Board of Governors of the State University System, of which $50
305million shall be allocated for the 21st Century World Class
306Scholars Program and $50 million for the Centers of Excellence
307Program.
308     Section 3.  Section 1004.384, Florida Statutes, is created
309to read:
310     1004.384  University of Central Florida College of
311Medicine.--As approved by the Board of Governors of the State
312University System on March 23, 2006, a College of Medicine is
313authorized at the University of Central Florida.
314     Section 4.  Section 1004.385, Florida Statutes, is created
315to read:
316     1004.385  Florida International University College of
317Medicine.--As approved by the Board of Governors of the State
318University System on March 23, 2006, a College of Medicine is
319authorized at Florida International University.
320     Section 5.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2006.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.