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2000 Session

Budget Amendments - HB30 (Conference Report)

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CA - Technology Research Fund

Item 548 #2c

Item 548 #2c

First Year - FY2001 Second Year - FY2002
Central Appropriations
Central Appropriations FY2001 $0 FY2002 $13,000,000 GF
FY2001 $0 FY2002 $13,000,000 NGF

Language
Page 374, line 48, strike "$1,250,000" and insert "$27,250,000".
Page 377, after line 14, insert:
"J.  
1. Out of this appropriation, $13,000,000 the second year from the general fund
and $13,000,000 million the second year from higher education operating funds is designated to create the Commonwealth Technology Research Fund.  The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller, the balance of which shall not revert to the general fund at the end of the fiscal year but shall be reappropriated for expenditure in the succeeding year.  Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request bearing the signature of the Director, Department of Planning and Budget.
2. The purpose of the fund shall be to attract public and private research funding for institutions of higher education, in order to increase technological and economic development in Virginia.
3. The Fund shall be administered by the Department of Planning and Budget. Awards from the Fund shall be made to Virginia public institutions of higher education.
4. a. For purposes of awards, the Fund shall have three components:
1) A matching funds program to leverage federal and private research dollars.
2) A strategic enhancement program to upgrade the research capacity of those academic departments that have demonstrated the ability to perform innovative research in technology fields that has strong potential to contribute to economic development in the Commonwealth.
3) A program to upgrade research capacity in key departments of the institutions in order to attract specific companies to locate or expand in Virginia.
b. Awards for the matching funds component shall be contingent upon the approval of the institution's grant proposal for federal or private funds.
c. Awards from the Commonwealth Technology Research Fund pursuant to paragraphs 1 through 5 of this Item shall be matched on at least a dollar-for-dollar basis by the respective institution of higher education or combinations thereof.  However, for good cause, this requirement may be waived, in whole or in part, by the decision-making authority described in paragraph 5d of this Item, provided that such action is reported to the Director, Department of Planning and Budget and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees at least ten days prior to the award or disbursement of funds for such purpose.
5.a. Awards shall be based on scientific merit and economic development potential of research programs in the following fields: aerospace, biotechnology, energy, environmental and information technologies, high performance manufacturing, telecommunications, and transportation. However, for good cause, awards supporting research in other relevant fields or disciplines may be made by the decision-making authority described in paragraph 5d of this Item, provided that such action is reported to the Director, Department of Planning and Budget and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees at least ten days prior to the award or disbursement of funds for such purpose.
b.  Specific guidelines for the award of funds from this program shall be developed by the Department of Planning and Budget, the Innovative Technology Authority, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, and the State Council of Higher Education, in consultation with representatives of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees, or their designees, and three representatives of higher education institutions.  These guidelines shall address, at minimum, the application process, and the composition and operation of proposal review panels, and give special emphasis to fostering collaboration between institutions of higher education and partnerships between institutions of higher education and business and industry.  The agreed upon guidelines shall be reported to the Governor and to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees by September 1, 2000.  No proposals shall be considered for funding under the program before these guidelines have been reported to the Governor and Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees, and distributed to the institutions of higher education.
c. The Director, Department of Planning and Budget shall coordinate the evaluation of proposals, to be conducted by review panels with the appropriate science and technology expertise, drawn from federal agencies and academic and industrial research institutions across the country.
d. Recommendations on the grants shall be made by representatives from the Innovative Technology Authority, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, and the State Council of Higher Education based on the recommendations of the review panels.
6.a. Effective January 1, 2001, the Director, Department of Planning and Budget, shall provide the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees with a quarterly report to include a detailed list of awards committed, the amount of each approved award, a description of the approved proposals and the amount of federal or private matching funds anticipated where applicable.
b. Not later than June 30, 2002, the Department of Planning and Budget shall submit to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees an evaluation of the Fund. The evaluation shall include an assessment of the effectiveness of the Fund in attracting public and private research funding and increasing technological and economic development in Virginia, and an assessment of the administration of the program including the effectiveness of the decision-making process."


Explanation
(This amendment provides funding for a competitive research grant program for institutions of higher education.)