AN ACT CONCERNING REGIONAL TECHNOLOGY DEPLOYMENT CENTERS.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 32-41i of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

As used in [sections 32-41g] this section and sections 32-41j to 32-41o, inclusive:

[(1) "Act" means the Technology Deployment Act of 1993;]

[(2)] (1) "Advanced available technology" means a technology or process that can be applied to a manufacturing operation without substantial modification;

[(3)] (2) "Technology deployment" means (A) activities that assist businesses in applying advanced available technologies in their existing operations, or (B) activities that assist businesses in the development and manufacture of new products derived from advanced available technologies;

[(4)] (3) "Corporation" means Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated;

[(5)] (4) "Eligible institution" means [an institution within the Connecticut State University System] a constituent unit of the state system of higher education which is operating a technology deployment program on July 1, [1993] 2012;

[(6)] (5) "Eligible deployment research consortium" means a [multitown,] nonprofit coalition which is representative of the business, academic and municipal government communities [in an economically distressed area] serving two or more municipalities within a single geographic region of the state which on or before July 1, [1993, is] 2012, are dependent upon labor intensive, less technologically advanced manufacturing;

[(7)] (6) "Eligible business consortium" means a nonprofit business-led consortium organized for the purpose of technology deployment in the fields of biotechnology, ergonomics, environmental and energy technologies or educational and job training technologies;

[(8)] (7) "Eligible grant recipient" means one or more [state institutions] constituent units of the state system of higher education or a nonprofit business-led consortium organized for the purpose of technology deployment in advanced materials, marine sciences, photonics, pharmaceutical and environmental technologies; and

[(9)] (8) "Small [and] or medium-sized business" means a manufacturing business with fewer than five hundred employees.

Sec. 2. Section 32-41j of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) There is established a university-based manufacturing application center program to be administered by the corporation for the purpose of promoting technology deployment by linking [Connecticut's higher education system with small and] constituent units of the state system of higher education with one or more small or medium-sized businesses. [During the three-month period beginning on July 1, 1993] Commencing July 1, 2012, and ending not later than October 1, 2012, the corporation shall accept applications from eligible institutions in a form and manner prescribed by the corporation for state funding for the operation of a manufacturing application center.

(b) On or before January 1, [1994] 2013, the corporation shall review all applications timely received pursuant to this section and shall approve one such application. In approving such application the corporation shall assess scientific and economic factors concerning the proposed manufacturing application center, including but not limited to the following:

(1) The eligible institution's experience with manufacturing applications, including computer-integrated manufacturing, computer-aided drafting and design, just-in-time manufacturing and total quality management;

(2) The center's plan to provide follow-up employee training to center users;

(3) The center's plan to involve urban-based businesses, minority students or minority-owned businesses in its activities; [and]

(4) The adequacy of the center's proposed mechanisms for evaluating its progress; and

(5) The center's business plan, including its sources of revenue and experience managing and operating any program similar to the proposed center.

(c) The center's responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to, providing training for manufacturing businesses in high performance work practices.

Sec. 3. Section 32-41k of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) There is established a nonprofit deployment research program to be administered by the corporation for the purpose of identifying emerging advanced available technologies in [economically distressed] manufacturing or former manufacturing regions of the state. [During the six-month period beginning on July 1, 1993] Commencing July 1, 2012, and ending not later than December 1, 2012, the corporation shall accept applications from eligible deployment research consortia in a form and manner prescribed by the corporation for state funding for technology deployment research.

(b) On or before July 1, [1994] 2013, the corporation shall review all applications timely received pursuant to this section and shall approve one such application. In approving such application the corporation shall assess scientific and economic factors concerning the proposed technology deployment research, including but not limited to the following:

(1) The extent to which the research will identify advanced available technologies for future deployment;

(2) The extent to which the research enhances existing manufacturing in [Connecticut industry] manufacturing or former manufacturing regions of the state;

(3) The eligible research consortium's plan to involve minority students or minority owned businesses in its activities; [and]

(4) The adequacy of the eligible research consortium's proposed mechanisms for evaluating its progress; [.] and

(5) The center's business plan, including its sources of revenue and experience managing and operating any research program similar to the proposed center.

(c) The center's responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to, providing training for businesses in high performance work practices.

Sec. 4. Section 32-41l of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) There is established a Connecticut energy and environmental technologies deployment center program to be administered by the corporation for the purpose of promoting a nonprofit business consortium for technology deployment in [two] critical technologies where the state possesses unique scientific and human resources. [During the three-month period beginning on July 1, 1993] Commencing July 1, 2012, and ending not later than October 1, 2012, the corporation shall accept applications from eligible business consortia in a form and manner prescribed by the corporation for state funding for the operation of an energy and environmental technologies application center.

(b) On or before January 1, [1994] 2013, the corporation shall review all applications timely received pursuant to this section and shall approve one such application. In approving such application the corporation shall assess scientific and economic factors concerning the proposed Connecticut energy and environmental technologies deployment center, including but not limited to the following:

(1) Participation in the center by multiple private enterprises including defense and non-defense-based firms with an expertise in environmental [and] or energy technologies;

(2) Participation in the center by more than one [public or private institution] constituent unit of the state system of higher education;

(3) The center's plan to involve minority students or minority-owned businesses in its activities; [and]

(4) The adequacy of the center's proposed mechanisms for evaluating its progress; and

(5) The center's business plan, including its sources of revenue and experience managing and operating any program similar to the proposed center.

Sec. 5. Section 32-41m of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) There is established a Connecticut educational and job training technologies deployment center program to be administered by the corporation for the purpose of promoting a nonprofit business-led consortium for technology deployment in a critical technology in which the state possesses unique scientific and human resources. [During the three-month period beginning on July 1, 1993] Commencing on July 1, 2012, and ending not later than October 1, 2012, the corporation shall accept applications from eligible business consortia in a form and manner prescribed by the corporation for state funding for the operation of an educational and job training technologies deployment center.

(b) On or before January 1, [1994] 2013, the corporation shall review all applications timely received pursuant to this section and shall approve one such application. In approving such application the corporation shall assess scientific and economic factors concerning the proposed Connecticut educational and job training technologies deployment center, including but not limited to the following:

(1) The center's plan to provide educational and job training technologies to industry, the state's public schools, and state agencies;

(2) The center's plan to deploy educational and job training software, hardware and state of the art telecommunications technologies;

(3) The center's plan to involve minority students or minority-owned businesses in its activities; [and]

(4) The adequacy of the center's proposed mechanisms for evaluating its progress; and

(5) The center's business plan, including its sources of revenue and experience managing and operating any program similar to the proposed center.

Sec. 6. Section 32-41n of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) There is established a critical technologies grant program to be administered by the corporation for the purpose of promoting technology deployment in advanced materials, marine sciences, photonics, pharmaceutical and environmental technologies. [During the twelve-month period beginning on July 1, 1993] Commencing July 1, 2012, and ending not later than July 1, 2013, the corporation shall accept applications from eligible grant recipients in a form and manner prescribed by the corporation for state grants for the purpose of promoting technology deployment in such technologies.

(b) On or before January 1, [1995] 2014, the corporation shall review all applications timely received pursuant to this section, may approve such applications and provide approved grant recipients such financial assistance as it may determine will promote technology deployment in advanced materials, nanotechnology, marine sciences, photonics, pharmaceutical and environmental technologies. In approving such application the corporation shall assess scientific and economic factors concerning the uses of the proposed grant, including but not limited to the following:

(1) The formal participation in the program proposed by businesses actively engaged in the commercial use of advanced materials, marine sciences, photonics, pharmaceutical and environmental technologies;

(2) The likelihood that the program proposed will result in substantial and timely deployment of advanced available technologies in one or more of the following: Advanced materials, marine sciences, photonics, pharmaceutical and environmental technologies;

(3) The proposal's plan to involve minority students or minority-owned businesses in its activities; and

(4) The adequacy of the program's mechanisms for evaluating its progress.

Sec. 7. Sections 32-41g and 32-41h of the general statutes are repealed. (Effective from passage)

Statement of Purpose:

To promote certain technology deployment by linking representatives of businesses, constituent units of higher education and municipal governments within single geographic regions of the state.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]