AN ACT

 

1Transferring funds from the Oil and Gas Lease Fund to the Ben
2Franklin Technology Development Authority Fund for
3investments in Pennsylvania-related companies that promote
4the development of next-generation infrastructure
5technologies or technology-related investments to support
6development of life science, information technology or green
7energy industries.

8The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
9hereby enacts as follows:

10Section 1. Short title.

11This act shall be known and may be cited as the Technology
12Infrastructure Investment Act.

13Section 2. Definitions.

14The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
15have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
16context clearly indicates otherwise:

17"Authority." The Ben Franklin Technology Development
18Authority.

19"Ben Franklin Technology Partners." As defined in section 2
20of the act of June 22, 2001 (P.L.569, No.38), known as The Ben

1Franklin Technology Development Authority Act.

2"Next-generation infrastructure technology." Technologies
3applicable to directly improving the characteristics, longevity
4and performance of infrastructure and those that help monitor,
5detect, inspect and evaluate the state of infrastructure. The
6term shall include technologies relating to:

7(1) Traffic monitoring and flow control technologies.

8(2) Sensors, including load, stress, acceleration,
9displacement and vibration detection and monitoring sensors,
10crack detection and monitoring sensors and seismic sensors.

11(3) Wastewater and hazardous waste treatment
12technologies, including nanotechnologies.

13(4) Robotics.

14(5) Three dimensional imaging, laser scanning,
15ultrasonic testing, infrared detection and sensor systems.

16(6) Tracking technologies.

17(7) Geospatial information technologies.

18(8) Power grid monitoring software and hardware.

19(9) Security applications.

20(10) Other projects approved by the Ben Franklin
21Technology Partners.

22"Pennsylvania-related company." An entity with operations
23located in this Commonwealth or an entity willing to locate
24significant business operations in this Commonwealth.

25Section 3. Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority Fund.

26(a) Transfer.--For fiscal years 2013-2014, 2014-2015 and
272015-2016, the sum of $8,000,000 per year shall be transferred
28from the Oil and Gas Lease Fund to the Ben Franklin Technology
29Development Authority Fund for use by the authority under
30subsection (b). Funds transferred under this subsection shall be

1distributed equally among the Ben Franklin Technology Partners.

2(b) Use.--Funds transferred under subsection (a) shall be
3transferred to the Ben Franklin Technology Partners for
4investments in Pennsylvania-related companies that promote the
5development of next-generation infrastructure technologies or
6technology-related investments to support development of life
7science, information technology or green energy industries.

8(c) Guidelines.--Funds allocated to businesses under
9subsection (b) shall be used in accordance with guidelines
10developed by the Board of Directors of the Ben Franklin
11Technology Development Authority Board. The guidelines shall
12seek to ensure that minority-owned, women-owned and other
13disadvantaged businesses have the opportunity to substantially
14participate in funding activities undertaken pursuant to this
15section. The guidelines shall be posted on the authority's
16official Internet website.

17(d) Application.--An applicant for funds under this section
18shall submit an application including any supporting information
19as required by the authority.

20(e) Administrative costs.--Not more than 1% of funds
21transferred under subsection (a) shall be used for
22administrative costs.

23Section 4. Annual report.

24By April 1 of each year, the authority shall provide an
25annual report to the chairman and minority chairman of the
26Appropriations Committee of the Senate and the chairman and
27minority chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the House
28of Representatives. The report shall be posted and maintained on
29its official Internet website. The report shall include a list
30of all funds allocated under section 3(b), the recipients of the

1funds, the technology to be developed and a description of how
2the investments of the partners through this program will
3achieve the goals of this act.

4Section 10. Effective date.

5This act shall take effect in 60 days.