PRINTER'S NO. 66
No. 52 Special Session No. 1 of 2007-2008
INTRODUCED BY MOYER, HUTCHINSON, HARPER, ROSS, FLECK, GINGRICH,
HELM, HERSHEY, HORNAMAN, MILLARD, MURT, PICKETT, SAYLOR,
STERN, SWANGER, TURZAI, WATSON AND YOUNGBLOOD,
JANUARY 15, 2008
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON FINANCE, JANUARY 15, 2008
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of June 22, 2001 (P.L.569, No.38), entitled "An
2 act creating the Ben Franklin Technology Development
3 Authority; defining its powers and duties; establishing the
4 Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority Fund; and
5 making a repeal," defining "alternative or renewable energy
6 technology project"; and further providing for the Ben
7 Franklin Technology Development Authority and for the Ben
8 Franklin Technology Partners.
9 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
10 hereby enacts as follows:
11 Section 1. Section 2 of the act of June 22, 2001 (P.L.569,
12 No.38), known as the Ben Franklin Technology Development
13 Authority Act, is amended by adding a definition to read:
14 Section 2. Definitions.
15 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
16 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
17 context clearly indicates otherwise:
18 "Alternative or renewable energy technology project." A
19 project that utilizes waste coal, biofuels, biomass, cellulosic
20 ethanol, solar power, wind energy, geothermal energy, clean
1 coal, waste energy technologies or other alternative energy
2 sources as defined in the act of November 30, 2004 (P.L.1672,
3 No.213), known as the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards
4 Act, to produce or distribute renewable energy.
5 * * *
6 Section 2. Sections 3(e) and 5 of the act are amended by
7 adding paragraphs to read:
8 Section 3. Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority.
9 * * *
10 (e) Duties.--The authority shall encourage and coordinate
11 programs and investments which advance the competitiveness of
12 Commonwealth companies in the global economy. The authority
13 shall:
14 * * *
15 (9) Of the funds appropriated to the authority, allocate
16 30% to the Ben Franklin Technology Partners for the purpose
17 of carrying out the activities under section 5(7). These
18 funds shall be in addition to those funds allocated to the
19 Ben Franklin Technology Partners to carry out their
20 activities delineated in section 5(1) through (6).
21 * * *
22 Section 5. Ben Franklin Technology Partners.
23 The Ben Franklin Technology Partners shall be independent
24 nonprofit institutions, working individually and in partnership
25 with each other, to advance the development of new technologies
26 in this Commonwealth. The partners will be overseen by regional
27 boards of directors comprised of economic development,
28 university or nonprofit research institutions and private
29 industry representatives, with at least 50% representation from
30 private industry. The activities of the partners may include,
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1 but not be limited to, the following:
2 * * *
3 (7) Directly provide, and serve as conduit to, support
4 early-stage activities for existing and emerging companies
5 involved in the development and commercialization of
6 alternative or renewable energy technology projects in this
7 Commonwealth. This support shall include incubator support
8 services, management support, early stage and translational
9 research and capital investment. The Ben Franklin Technology
10 Partners shall follow the guidelines approved by the
11 authority in making these investments.
12 Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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