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2002 SESSION

020340868
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 206
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the House Committee on Rules
on February 10, 2002)
(Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate Nixon)
Requesting the Secretary of Technology in conjunction with the Secretary of Commerce and Trade to establish a task force to study best practices for assisting the development of technology-based businesses that will produce jobs and other economic benefits throughout the Commonwealth.

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia is recognized as a leader in technology innovation and commercialization; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth has enjoyed substantial job growth and economic benefit resulting from technology development; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth has experienced a major portion of the job creation and economic prosperity in the northern regions of the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, the need exists to enable all areas of the Commonwealth to receive the benefit of technology commercialization and development; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth must act proactively to realize the maximum benefit from its public and private research institutions and the economic opportunities they present; and

WHEREAS, intellectual property developed within the Commonwealth's public sector institutions has not been financially leveraged in its commercialization; and

WHEREAS, the commercialization of the Commonwealth's intellectual property within the Commonwealth will provide significant economic benefit; and

WHEREAS, for the Commonwealth to derive economic benefit from its research capabilities, it must provide an environment that promotes technological innovation, the transfer of technology into the marketplace and the growth and development of businesses that use the technology; and

WHEREAS, there exists a competitive global environment competing for the development, attraction and retention of technology-based businesses; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth must compete with other states and countries to attract technology-based businesses; and

WHEREAS, to effectively compete, the Commonwealth must provide a strong technology business environment; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Secretary of Technology in conjunction with the Secretary of Commerce and Trade be requested to establish a task force to study best practices for assisting the development of technology-based businesses that will produce jobs and other economic benefits throughout the Commonwealth. The task force shall focus on best practices designed to assist in the development of a business environment and infrastructure conducive to the discovery and commercialization of new technologies and the development and growth of technology-based businesses throughout the Commonwealth. The task force shall review existing initiatives in other states, including best practices being defined and followed in those states.

The task force shall seek the voluntary participation of representatives of the House of Delegates and Senate of Virginia, Virginia-based technology businesses, Virginia-based investors, and Virginia's institutions of higher education.

All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Secretary of Technology, the Secretary of Commerce and Trade and the task force, upon request.

The task force shall submit periodic progress reports to the Joint Commission on Technology and Science (JCOTS) and a final progress report in time for JCOTS to finalize its legislative recommendations for the 2003 Session of the General Assembly. The task force shall complete its work by November 30, 2002, and shall submit its written findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 2003 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.