BILL REQ. #:  S-0590.2 

Read first time 02/09/11.   Referred to Committee on Economic Development, Trade & Innovation.

     AN ACT Relating to promoting economic development through commercialization and sharing of technologies; amending RCW 28B.20.287; and adding new sections to chapter 28B.20 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 28B.20.287 and 2004 c 151 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout RCW 28B.20.285 and 28B.20.289 through 28B.20.295 and sections 2 through 4 of this act.
     (1) "Technology center" means the Washington technology center or successor organization, including the affiliated staff, faculty, facilities, and research centers operated by the technology center.
     (2) "Board" means the board of directors of the Washington technology center or successor organization.
     (3) "High technology" or "technology" includes but is not limited to the modernization, miniaturization, integration, and computerization of electronic, hydraulic, pneumatic, laser, mechanical, robotics, nuclear, chemical, telecommunication, and other technological applications to enhance productivity in areas including but not limited to manufacturing, communications, medicine, bioengineering, renewable energy and energy efficiency, and commerce.
     (4) "Innovation database" means a database of in-state technologies and inventions available for commercialization and licensing.
     (5) "Enewsletter" means an electronically published newsletter that is accessible and distributable via the internet.
     (6) "Collaborative funding mechanism" means a technology center-managed financing campaign assisted by institutions of higher education and private organizations.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) The technology center, in conjunction with institutions of higher education and private organizations, shall:
     (a) Develop, maintain, and provide access to the innovation database;
     (b) Publish a quarterly enewsletter to promote the innovation database and commercialization and licensing activities;
     (c) Develop a collaborative funding mechanism to finance the innovation database project; and
     (d) Report to the legislature on an annual basis on the impact of the innovation database, enewsletter, and related commercialization and licensing activities.
     (2) The technology center may charge a fee for service in this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   (1) The technology center, in collaboration with institutions of higher education, shall solicit gifts, grants, and endowments from public or private sources that are made in trust or otherwise, for the use and benefit of the purposes of the innovation database.
     (2) The board or the board's designee shall:
     (a) Deposit moneys received under this section and section 2 of this act into the innovation database account created in section 4 of this act;
     (b) Disburse the funds for development and maintenance of the innovation database and enewsletter, and for related commercialization and licensing activities.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   The innovation database account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts from public and private contributions to the innovation database must be deposited into the account. Expenditures from the account may be used only for the purposes of section 3 of this act. The department of commerce, upon receipt of the board's recommendation, shall authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   Sections 2 through 4 of this act are each added to chapter 28B.20 RCW.