AN ACT Relating to technology development and commercialization; amending RCW 28B.20.285; creating new sections; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the development and commercialization of new technology is a vital part of economic development. This state has excellent research facilities in its two state universities, several public and private colleges, and several private research facilities. The Washington technology center, using public and private funds, targets research toward proof of concepts developed from basic research that may have commercial potential.

For positive economic development to occur, the new technology developed in part through public investment must create or maintain jobs in this state through new products or enhancements to existing technology. The key to the success of the commercialization of new technology is creating or expanding businesses to utilize the technology developed. There is a need for improvement in the development and commercialization of new technology and for increased coordination between the various organizations involved.

It is the purpose of this act to provide for the study of what the state's role in the development and commercialization of new technology is and should be, how the public funds invested can be more effectively used, how the state can encourage coordination of the various organizations involved in technology development and commercialization, and how the state can evaluate the effectiveness of its programs. It is also the purpose of this act to improve the involvement of entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized business in the state's technology development efforts, including providing information and technical assistance to obtain resources and capital to develop products through the commercialization of research being done at the universities, colleges, and the Washington technology center.

Sec. 2. Section 11, chapter 72, Laws of 1983 1st ex. sess. and RCW 28B.20.285 are each amended to read as follows:

A Washington high-technology center is created at the University of Washington. The Washington high-technology center shall ((~~provide~~)): (1) Provide an interdisciplinary program to support major high-technology education and research initiatives within the state;

(2) Provide the resources necessary for research and development programs in high technology;

(3) Provide quality training for advanced undergraduate and graduate students throughout the state in high technology; ((~~and~~))

(4) Provide interdisciplinary approaches to instruction and research in high-technology fields;

(5) Provide that unencumbered technology be made available to new or existing businesses in this state first;

(6) Provide technical assistance to new or existing small businesses in this state using technology developed by the Washington technology center;

(7) Coordinate the involvement of higher education schools and businesses throughout this state; and

(8) Provide for the protection of technology developed at the Washington technology center that is owned by the Washington technology center for the benefit of this state.

The Washington high-technology center shall be administered by the board of regents ((~~with the advice of the high-technology coordinating board~~)). The University of Washington shall make the facilities of the Washington high-technology center available to other institutions of higher education when specific program needs so require.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) The legislative budget committee shall conduct a study of technology development, transfer, and commercialization. The study shall review the programs of this state and other states and shall make recommendations to the house of representatives committee on trade and economic development and the senate committee on economic development and labor by January 1, 1990. The recommendations to the legislature shall focus on: (a) How the state can more effectively use public funds spent for the development, transfer, and commercialization of technology for economic development; (b) how the state can better coordinate the public and private efforts in technology development, transfer, and commercialization; (c) how the state can encourage and facilitate a greater number of entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized businesses having input and access to the Washington technology center, as well as access to commercially promising research done at the state's universities and colleges; and (d) how the state can better assist businesses start-up and expand to develop commercially promising technology into products and processes that can result in more jobs and capital in the state.

(2) The legislative budget committee shall consult with the committee chairs of the committee on trade and economic development and the committee on appropriations in the house of representatives and the committee on economic development and labor and the committee on ways and means in the senate regarding parameters of the study; if a consultant is hired to do the study, the committee chairs shall be consulted regarding the hiring of the consultant.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The department of trade and economic development, in conjunction with the Washington technology center, shall:

(1) Develop standards, measures, and other criteria for evaluating the Washington technology center's programs to ensure that the programs are effective, that the primary benefit of the Washington technology center's activities is jobs for the citizens of this state, and that these activities do not subsidize private businesses in this state; and

(2) Utilize the resources in other agencies, including computerized data, and the department's business assistance programs, distressed area programs, business start-up programs, and other programs to market the technology developed by the Washington technology center and to encourage new businesses, modernization, and product development from the technology developed at the Washington technology center.

The department shall take an active role in administering any funds for technology development, transfer, or commercialization that is allocated to or through the department. The department shall be responsible for effectively improving economic development through the management of the funds appropriated to or through the department in this area.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The sum of thirty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the general fund to the legislative budget committee for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, to carry out section 3 of this act.