S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
2710
2011-2012 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
January 31, 2011
___________
Introduced by Sens. GRISANTI, KENNEDY -- read twice and ordered printed,
and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Commerce, Econom-
ic Development and Small Business
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to establishing
the biosciences commercialization assistance fund within the founda-
tion for science, technology and innovation
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 3150 of the public authorities law, as amended by
section 4 of part C of chapter 63 of the laws of 2005, is amended to
read as follows:
S 3150. Definitions. As used in this [section] TITLE:
1. "Foundation" shall mean the New York state foundation for science,
technology and innovation created by this title;
2. "Executive director" shall mean the executive director of the foun-
dation;
3. "Board" shall mean the New York state foundation for science, tech-
nology and innovation board;
4. "Regional partnerships" shall mean any association or group which
is: (a) comprised of local economic development organizations and a
center of excellence as defined by section three of part T of chapter
eighty-four of the laws of two thousand two, or in the absence of such
center in the region, at least one institution of higher education
involved in commercialization efforts similar to such centers of excel-
lence and may include a combination of private businesses, business
support organizations, commercial lending institutions, venture capital
companies, angel investor networks or foundations; (b) formed for the
creation and administration of regional partnership programs; and (c)
certified by the foundation as the regional partnership;
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07604-01-1
S. 2710 2
5. "Regional partnership coordinator" shall mean a nonprofit organiza-
tion chosen by a regional partnership and certified by the foundation to
administer the regional partnership programs;
6. "Partnership" shall mean regional partnerships; [and]
7. "Coordinator" shall mean regional partnership coordinator[.];
8. "RESEARCH ENTITY" SHALL MEAN A NOT-FOR-PROFIT COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY,
MEDICAL CENTER, LABORATORY OR OTHER INSTITUTION THAT CONDUCTS AN INTEN-
SIVE, ONGOING PROGRAM OF STUDY DIRECTED TOWARD GREATER KNOWLEDGE OF A
SCIENTIFIC FOCUS AREA OR TOWARD APPLYING NEW SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE TO
MEET A RECOGNIZED NEED;
9. "FOCUS AREA" SHALL MEAN BIOSCIENCES RESEARCH INCLUDING, BUT NOT
LIMITED TO, THE BASIC, APPLIED, OR TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH THAT LEADS TO
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THERAPEUTICS, DIAGNOSTICS, OR DEVICES, TO IMPROVE
HUMAN HEALTH OR AGRICULTURE AND THAT REQUIRE FEDERAL FOOD AND DRUG
ADMINISTRATION APPROVAL.
S 2. The public authorities law is amended by adding a new section
3154-a to read as follows:
S 3154-A. BIOSCIENCES COMMERCIALIZATION ASSISTANCE FUND. 1. THE BIOS-
CIENCES COMMERCIALIZATION ASSISTANCE FUND IS HEREBY CREATED FOR THE
PURPOSE OF:
(A) ADVANCING THE EARLY-STAGE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMERCIALLY PROMISING
INVENTIONS IN THE FOCUS AREA OWNED BY RESEARCH ENTITIES LOCATED IN NEW
YORK STATE;
(B) ENCOURAGING ENTREPRENEURS TO FORM NEW COMPANIES LOCATED IN NEW
YORK STATE TO MANUFACTURE AND MARKET SUCH INVENTIONS;
(C) ENABLING SMALL BUSINESSES RESIDENT IN THE STATE TO CONDUCT APPLIED
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT NECESSARY TO COMMERCIALIZE RESEARCH ENTITY
INVENTIONS; AND
(D) ENCOURAGING BUSINESSES RESIDENT IN THE STATE TO DEVELOP NEW
PRODUCTS OR PROCESSES BASED ON PROMISING INVENTIONS OR TECHNOLOGIES
OWNED BY SUCH BUSINESSES THROUGH GRANTS OR LOANS TO SUCH RESIDENT BUSI-
NESSES.
2. MONIES IN THE BIOSCIENCES COMMERCIALIZATION ASSISTANCE FUND SHALL
BE AVAILABLE TO ELIGIBLE RESEARCH ENTITIES, START-UPS, SMALL COMPANIES,
AND OTHER BUSINESSES IN NEW YORK STATE, WITH ANTICIPATED COMMERCIALIZA-
TION TIME FRAMES OF UP TO FIFTEEN YEARS, FOR DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCIAL-
IZATION OF PRODUCTS. THE FOUNDATION SHALL USE THE MONIES AVAILABLE IN
THE BIOSCIENCES COMMERCIALIZATION ASSISTANCE FUND FOR:
(A) GRANTS TO RESEARCH ENTITIES LOCATED IN NEW YORK STATE TO DEVELOP
COMMERCIALLY PROMISING RESEARCH DISCOVERIES IN THE FOCUS AREA BEYOND THE
CONCEPTUAL STAGE IN ORDER TO FURTHER THE CHANCE OF COMMERCIALIZATION AND
INCREASE MARKET VALUE. THE FOUNDATION MAY APPROVE GRANTS FOR ELIGIBLE
PROJECTS, PROVIDED SUCH GRANTS DO NOT EXCEED ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND
DOLLARS AND ARE USED EXCLUSIVELY TO ACCELERATE THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF
DISCOVERIES THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO POSITIVELY IMPACT EXISTING COMPA-
NIES LOCATED IN NEW YORK OR LEAD TO THE FORMATION OF NEW COMPANIES
LOCATED IN NEW YORK. GRANTS MAY NOT BE USED TO COMMERCIALIZE DISCOVERIES
THAT WILL BE LICENSED TO FIRMS THAT DO NOT HAVE THEIR RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT AND MANUFACTURING FACILITIES AND AT LEAST EIGHTY PERCENT OF
THEIR EMPLOYEES LOCATED IN NEW YORK STATE. THE FOUNDATION SHALL APPROVE
GRANTS ONLY TO THOSE RESEARCH ENTITIES THAT CAN DEMONSTRATE THE ABILITY
TO GUIDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DISCOVERIES TOWARD SUCCESSFUL COMMER-
CIALIZATION IN THE STATE. ANY REVENUES EARNED BY THE RESEARCH ENTITY
FROM THE LICENSING OF AN INVENTION DEVELOPED WITH A FOUNDATION GRANT
MUST BE REINVESTED IN THE RESEARCH ENTITY'S EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH
PROGRAMS OR TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER ACTIVITIES;
S. 2710 3
(B) INVESTMENTS IN START-UP COMPANIES FORMED BY ENTREPRENEURS TO
COMMERCIALIZE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY IN THE FOCUS AREA LICENSED FROM
RESEARCH ENTITIES LOCATED IN NEW YORK STATE. THE FOUNDATION MAY APPROVE
INVESTMENTS IN NEW COMPANIES BEING FORMED TO FURTHER DEVELOP, PRODUCE,
AND SELL INVENTIONS LICENSED FROM RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS IN NEW YORK
STATE, PROVIDED THAT THE COMPANY'S RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND/OR MANU-
FACTURING FACILITIES WILL BE LOCATED IN NEW YORK STATE; THE COMPANY
COMMITS TO REMAINING IN THE STATE; THE INVESTMENT DOES NOT EXCEED ONE
HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS PER COMPANY; AND, THE INVESTMENT IS USED
SOLELY FOR OPERATING EXPENSES APPROVED BY THE FOUNDATION. IN RETURN FOR
INVESTMENT BY THE FOUNDATION, THE FOUNDATION SHALL TAKE AN EQUITY POSI-
TION IN THE COMPANY OR NEGOTIATE ROYALTY PAYMENTS BASED ON THE SALE OF
ANY PRODUCTS RESULTING FROM THE LICENSED INVENTION. IN THE EVENT THAT A
COMPANY MOVES ITS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OR MANUFACTURING FACILITIES
OR MORE THAN TWENTY PERCENT OF ITS EMPLOYEES OUT OF THE STATE, THE FOUN-
DATION SHALL REQUIRE THE COMPANY TO REPAY AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO AT LEAST
FIVE TIMES THE FOUNDATION'S TOTAL INVESTMENT;
(C) MATCHING GRANTS TO SMALL BUSINESSES IN NEW YORK STATE FOR COOPER-
ATIVE APPLIED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN THE FOCUS AREA WITH
RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS TO TRANSLATE PROMISING DISCOVERIES OF THE RESEARCH
INSTITUTION INTO COMMERCIALLY VIABLE PRODUCTS. THE FOUNDATION MAY
APPROVE MATCHING GRANTS FOR PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN JOINTLY BY A RESEARCH
ENTITY AND A BUSINESS INCORPORATED IN NEW YORK STATE FOR UP TO HALF OF
THE COST OF PROJECTS THAT WILL APPLY DISCOVERIES OR USE THE INTELLECTUAL
RESOURCES OF THE RESEARCH ENTITY TO DEVELOP NEW, OR TO IMPROVE EXISTING,
COMMERCIAL MATERIALS, DEVICES, SYSTEMS, PROCESSES, OR PROTOTYPES,
PROVIDED THAT THE GRANTS DO NOT EXCEED ONE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND
DOLLARS; THE COMPANY HAS LESS THAN ONE HUNDRED FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES, AT
LEAST EIGHTY PERCENT OF WHOM WORK IN THE STATE; AND, THE COMPANY HAS ITS
PRINCIPAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND MANUFACTURING FACILITIES LOCATED
IN THE STATE. IN THE EVENT THAT A COMPANY MOVES ITS RESEARCH AND DEVEL-
OPMENT OR MANUFACTURING FACILITIES OR MORE THAN TWENTY PERCENT OF ITS
EMPLOYEES OUT OF THE STATE, THE FOUNDATION SHALL REQUIRE THE COMPANY TO
REPAY AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO AT LEAST FIVE TIMES THE FOUNDATION'S TOTAL
INVESTMENT;
(D) MATCHING GRANTS AND/OR LOANS TO SMALL BUSINESSES IN NEW YORK STATE
FOR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR INNOVATIONS OR TECHNOLOGIES IN THE
FOCUS AREA INTO NEW PRODUCTS OR PROCESSES TO BE MANUFACTURED IN NEW
YORK. ANY REPAYMENTS OF LOANS OR EARNINGS ON INVESTMENTS MADE BY THE
FOUNDATION FROM THE BIOSCIENCES COMMERCIALIZATION ASSISTANCE FUND SHALL
BE DEPOSITED IN SUCH FUND. THE FOUNDATION MAY APPROVE GRANTS AND/OR
LOANS TO BUSINESSES INCORPORATED IN NEW YORK STATE FOR UP TO ONE-THIRD
OF THE COSTS, INCLUDING WORKFORCE TRAINING, ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOP-
MENT OF NEW PRODUCTS OR PROCESSES FROM INVENTIONS OR TECHNOLOGIES OWNED
BY SUCH BUSINESSES, PROVIDED THAT THE GRANT DOES NOT EXCEED TWO HUNDRED
FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS; THE COMPANY HAS LESS THAN ONE HUNDRED FULL-TIME
EMPLOYEES, AT LEAST EIGHTY PERCENT OF WHOM WORK IN THE STATE; AND, THE
COMPANY HAS ITS PRINCIPAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND MANUFACTURING
FACILITIES LOCATED IN THE STATE. IN THE EVENT THE COMPANY MOVES ITS
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OR MANUFACTURING FACILITIES OR MORE THAN TWENTY
PERCENT OF ITS EMPLOYEES OUT OF THE STATE, THE FOUNDATION SHALL REQUIRE
THE COMPANY TO REPAY AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO AT LEAST FIVE TIMES THE FOUNDA-
TION'S TOTAL INVESTMENT; AND
(E) GRANTS TO BUSINESSES IN NEW YORK STATE TO OFFSET SOME OR ALL OF
THE COSTS OF FILING FOR FEDERAL REGULATORY APPROVAL FOR NEW OR MODIFIED
PRODUCTS OR PROCESSES WITHIN THE FOCUS AREA. THE FOUNDATION MAY APPROVE
S. 2710 4
GRANTS TO BUSINESSES INCORPORATED IN NEW YORK STATE PROVIDED THAT THE
COMPANY HAS ITS PRINCIPAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND MANUFACTURING
FACILITIES LOCATED IN THE STATE. IN THE EVENT THE COMPANY MOVES THE
MANUFACTURE OF THE PRODUCT OUT OF NEW YORK STATE WITHIN A PERIOD OF FIVE
YEARS, THE FOUNDATION SHALL REQUIRE THE COMPANY TO REPAY AN AMOUNT EQUAL
TO AT LEAST FIVE TIMES THE FOUNDATION'S TOTAL INVESTMENT. THE FOUNDATION
SHALL GIVE PRIORITY TO COMPANIES WITH LESS THAN ONE HUNDRED FULL-TIME
EMPLOYEES.
3. PURSUANT TO SECTION THIRTY-ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-ONE OF THIS TITLE, THE
FOUNDATION SHALL PROMULGATE REGULATIONS ESTABLISHING THE APPLICATION
PROCESS AND THE CRITERIA THAT WILL BE USED TO EVALUATE APPLICATIONS FOR
GRANTS AND INVESTMENTS FROM THE BIOSCIENCES COMMERCIALIZATION ASSISTANCE
FUND. SUCH REGULATIONS SHALL ALLOW A COMMERCIALIZATION TIME FRAME OF UP
TO FIFTEEN YEARS. SUCH APPLICATIONS SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED
TO, A DESCRIPTION OF THE EXPECTED SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROJECT TO NEW
YORK STATE, INCLUDING THE ESTIMATED NUMBER OF JOBS THAT COULD BE CREATED
AS A RESULT OF THE PROJECT. IN SELECTING APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDING THE
FOUNDATION SHALL GIVE PRIORITY TO THOSE PROJECTS THAT HAVE THE GREATEST
POTENTIAL FOR COMMERCIAL SUCCESS AND EVENTUAL JOB CREATION IN NEW YORK
STATE OR THAT WILL HAVE THE LARGEST POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE HEALTH AND
WELFARE OF THE STATE'S CITIZENS OR ON THE NATURAL OR BUILT ENVIRONMENT.
S 3. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, any appropriations
to the New York state foundation for science, technology and innovation
board from the general fund, local assistance account for the incentive
program part of the research development program established pursuant to
section 209-p of the executive law that have not been expended or
committed, as well as any other appropriations that may be so desig-
nated, may be made available for the purposes of the biosciences commer-
cialization assistance fund.
S 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediate-
ly, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation
necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date is
authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such
effective date.