SE1 AB21: Bill Text

This bill creates the Wisconsin Next Generation Reserve Board (Reserve Board). The Reserve Board is an independent agency in the executive branch of state government. The primary functions of the Reserve Board are to make grants and loans to, and make direct investments in, Wisconsin bioscience companies.

Wisconsin Next Generation Reserve Board

The Reserve Board is composed of 12 members as follows:

1. One member, appointed by the governor for a four-year term, who has expertise in agriculture and who is recognized for outstanding knowledge and leadership in bioscience or bioscience research.

2. Three members, appointed by the governor for four-year terms, who serve in senior management positions at Wisconsin bioscience companies and have responsibilities related to the financing of their respective companies, two of whom are from companies that employ less than 50 employees, and one of whom is from a company that employs 50 or more employees.

3. Two members, appointed by the governor for four-year terms, who serve in senior management positions at Wisconsin companies that develop or manufacture medical devices and have responsibilities related to the financing of their respective companies, one of whom is from a company that employs less than 50 employees, and one of whom is from a company that employs 50 or more employees.

4. One member, appointed by the governor for a four-year term, who either has at least five years of experience directly investing in bioscience companies in Wisconsin, or represents a group of individual investors that has that experience as a group.

5. One member, appointed by the governor for a four-year term, who has at least three years of experience in the merger and acquisition of bioscience companies.

6. One member who is appointed by BioForward, Inc., a private bioscience association in Wisconsin, for a four-year term.

7. Two nonvoting members who have expertise in bioscience or bioscience research, one of whom is appointed by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and serves at the pleasure of the Board of Regents, and one of whom is appointed by the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and serves at the pleasure of the association.

8. The executive director of the Investment Board, or his or her designee, who serves as a nonvoting member.

The bill requires that the Reserve Board hire an executive director who has expertise in private equity investment. The executive director and all of the members of the Reserve Board are subject to state ethics laws.

The bill authorizes the Reserve Board to execute any contract necessary or convenient to the Reserve Board's exercise of its powers and duties, including a contract with the Investment Board for the Investment Board's advice and services related to the Reserve Board's grants, loans, and investments, discussed below, and for facilities provided by the Investment Board. Under the bill, the Investment Board may also make a loan to the Reserve Board for the Reserve Board's initial operations and administrative expenses.

Additional contracting authority for the Investment Board

The bill further authorizes the Investment Board to provide advice, services, and facilities to any state agency or authority or a business entity owned by an agency or authority. Under the bill, the Investment Board may provide advice or services related to the management or administration, for any purpose, including economic development, of money or property that an agency, authority, or eligible business entity controls. The agency, authority, or eligible business entity must contract with the Investment Board and pay the Investment Board for any advice, services, or facilities the Investment Board provides.

Wisconsin Next Generation Reserve Fund

The bill creates a nonlapsable fund to be known as the "Wisconsin next generation reserve fund" (fund). From the fund, the Reserve Board may make grants, loans, and investments, as set forth below. For short-term management, the fund is included in the state investment fund managed by the Investment Board.

In addition to any donations, gifts, or bequests made to the fund, any moneys transferred to the fund, any moneys deposited in the fund by the Reserve Board, and any income or interest earned by the fund, the fund consists of moneys generated from tax revenue collected from a specific class of companies, referred to in the bill as "qualifying companies." Under the bill, a qualifying company is identified by the company's principal business activity code under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). The bill directs the Department of Revenue (DOR) to determine in July 2012 the total amount of withholding taxes due and payable from qualifying companies for the period July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012. Then, in each fiscal year, beginning with the fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2012, DOR must deposit in the fund an amount equal to 95 percent of the withholding taxes due and payable from qualifying companies that exceeds that total amount for that period. DOR may not make any deposits into the fund on or after December 31, 2026. In addition, DOR may not deposit more than $50,000,000 into the fund in any fiscal year and may not deposit more than $500,000,000 in total into the fund.

Grants, loans, and investments

Under the bill, the Reserve Board may make, from the fund, grants and loans to, and direct investments in, bioscience companies certified by the Reserve Board. The Reserve Board may certify a bioscience company if the Reserve Board determines that the company meets all of the following conditions, in addition to any further conditions established by the Reserve Board:

1. The company is a qualifying company that does not operate a hospital.

2. The company's headquarters and principal business operations are located in Wisconsin.

3. The company, including any affiliate, employs at least 75 percent of its employees in Wisconsin.

4. The company is in need of capital.

5. The company is developing biotechnology or bioscience or bioscience research methods, as determined by the Reserve Board by rule, and demonstrates to the Reserve Board that the company has the potential to generate high levels of successful investment performance and increase employment in this state.

Before providing any moneys from the fund to a certified bioscience company in the form of a grant, loan, or investment, the Reserve Board must enter into a contract with the company that includes all of the following requirements:

1. The certified bioscience company must use a grant, loan, or investment from the fund for research and development related to biotechnology or bioscience or bioscience research methods.

2. The certified bioscience company must match the amount of any grant, loan, or investment from the fund with moneys the company has raised from other sources.

3. During the term of the contract, the certified bioscience company may not relocate its headquarters outside of Wisconsin without the Reserve Board's approval.

Under the bill, any moneys paid to the Reserve Board by a certified bioscience company must be deposited in the fund and may be re-used by the Reserve Board for continued grants, loans, and investments subject to the provisions of the bill.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB21, s. 1 Section 1. 15.07 (1) (a) 7. of the statutes is created to read:

AB21,4,3 15.07 (1) (a) 7. The members of the Wisconsin next generation reserve board appointed under s. 15.77 (1) (h) to (j) shall be appointed as provided in that section.

AB21, s. 2 Section 2. 15.07 (4) of the statutes, as affected by 2011 Wisconsin Act 10, is amended to read:

AB21,4,12 15.07 (4) Quorum. A majority of the membership of a board constitutes a quorum to do business and, unless a more restrictive provision is adopted by the board, a majority of a quorum may act in any matter within the jurisdiction of the board. This subsection does not apply to actions of the government accountability board or the school district boundary appeal board as provided in ss. 5.05 (1e) and 117.05 (2) (a) or the Wisconsin next generation reserve board as provided in s. 15.77 (3).

AB21, s. 3 Section 3. 15.07 (5) (am) of the statutes is created to read:

AB21,4,15 15.07 (5) (am) Members of the Wisconsin next generation reserve board, $50 per day.

AB21, s. 4 Section 4. 15.77 of the statutes is created to read:

AB21,5,3 15.77 Wisconsin next generation reserve board; creation. (1) There is created a Wisconsin next generation reserve board. The board shall consist of the following members:

AB21,5,5 (a) One member who has expertise in agriculture and is recognized for outstanding knowledge and leadership in bioscience or bioscience research.

AB21,5,9 (b) Two members who, at the time of appointment, serve in senior management positions at bioscience companies headquartered in this state that employ fewer than 50 employees, including any affiliate, and who, in addition to any other responsibilities, have responsibilities related to the financing of the companies.

AB21,5,13 (c) One member who, at the time of appointment, serves in a senior management position at a bioscience company headquartered in this state that employs at least 50 employees, including any affiliate, and who, in addition to any other responsibilities, has responsibilities related to the financing of the company.

AB21,5,18 (d) One member who, at the time of appointment, serves in a senior management position at a company headquartered in this state that develops or manufactures medical devices and employs fewer than 50 employees, including any affiliate, and who, in addition to any other responsibilities, has responsibilities related to the financing of the company.

AB21,5,23 (e) One member who, at the time of appointment, serves in a senior management position at a company headquartered in this state that develops or manufactures medical devices and employs at least 50 employees, including any affiliate, and who, in addition to any other responsibilities, has responsibilities related to the financing of the company.

AB21,6,2 (f) One member who, at the time of appointment, either has at least 5 years of experience directly investing in bioscience companies in this state, or represents a group of individual investors that has at least 5 years of experience directly investing in bioscience companies in this state.

AB21,6,4 (g) One member who, at the time of appointment, has at least 3 years of experience in the merger and acquisition of bioscience companies.

AB21,6,5 (h) One member appointed by BioForward, Inc.

AB21,6,8 (i) One member who has expertise in bioscience or bioscience research, who shall be appointed by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and who shall serve as a nonvoting member at the pleasure of the Board of Regents.

AB21,6,12 (j) One member who has expertise in bioscience or bioscience research, who shall be appointed by the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and who shall serve as a nonvoting member at the pleasure of the association.

AB21,6,14 (k) The executive director of the investment board, or his or her designee, who shall serve as a nonvoting member.

AB21,6,16 (2) The members of the board identified in sub. (1) (a) to (h) shall be appointed for 4-year terms.

AB21,6,19 (3) A majority of the voting members of the board constitutes a quorum for the purpose of conducting its business and exercising its powers and for all other purposes. Action may be taken by the board upon a vote of a majority of a quorum.

AB21, s. 5 Section 5. 19.42 (10) (Lm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB21,6,25 19.42 (10) (Lm) The members of the Wisconsin next generation reserve board who are appointed by BioForward, Inc., by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, and by the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and the executive director of the Wisconsin next generation reserve board.

AB21, s. 6 Section 6. 19.42 (13) (km) of the statutes is created to read:

AB21,7,6 19.42 (13) (km) The members of the Wisconsin next generation reserve board who are appointed by BioForward, Inc., by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, and by the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and the executive director of the Wisconsin next generation reserve board.

AB21, s. 7 Section 7. 20.195 of the statutes is created to read:

AB21,7,9 20.195 Wisconsin next generation reserve board. There is appropriated to the Wisconsin next generation reserve board for the following program:

AB21,7,16 (1) Assistance to certified bioscience companies. (q) General program operations and loans, grants, and investments. From the Wisconsin next generation reserve fund, a sum sufficient to make loans and provide grants to, and make investments in, certified bioscience companies as provided in ch. 555 and for general program operations and administrative expenses. Not more than the following amounts may be expended under this paragraph for general program operations and administrative expenses:

AB21,7,18 1. In fiscal year 2012-13, 5 percent of the moneys in the Wisconsin next generation reserve fund.

AB21,7,20 2. In fiscal year 2013-14, 5 percent of the moneys in the Wisconsin next generation reserve fund.

AB21,7,22 3. In fiscal year 2014-15, 2 percent of the moneys in the Wisconsin next generation reserve fund.

AB21,7,24 4. In fiscal year 2015-16 and in each fiscal year thereafter, 0.5 percent of the moneys in the Wisconsin next generation reserve fund.

AB21, s. 8 Section 8. 20.536 (1) (k) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB21,8,4 20.536 (1) (k) General program operations. All moneys received from assessments made under s. 25.187 (2) and, from charges made under s. 25.17 (9), and from assessments or charges made under s. 25.17 (72) or (73), for the purpose of conducting general program operations.

AB21, s. 9 Section 9. 25.14 (1) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB21,8,10 25.14 (1) (a) (intro.) There is created a state investment fund under the jurisdiction and management of the board to be operated as an investment trust for the purpose of managing the securities of all funds that are required by law to be invested in the state investment fund, the Wisconsin next generation reserve fund, and all of the state's funds specified in s. 25.17 (1), except all of the following:

AB21, s. 10 Section 10. 25.17 (72) of the statutes is created to read:

AB21,8,25 25.17 (72) Have authority to provide advice and services requested by a state agency, as defined in s. 20.001 (1), or authority, as defined in s. 16.417 (1) (b), or business entity owned or controlled by a state agency or authority, relating to managing or administering money and property controlled by the agency, authority, or business entity for any purpose, including economic development in this state. The scope of any advice or services provided to a state agency, authority, or business entity under this subsection shall be defined by agreement between the board and the agency, authority, or business entity. This agreement shall require the cost of any advice or services provided by the board to be paid by the agency, authority, or business entity and the agreement may authorize the board to make assessments against the money and property controlled by the agency, authority, or business entity or to charge the agency, authority, or business entity for the cost of any advice or services provided. All moneys received by the board under this subsection shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.536 (1) (k).

AB21, s. 11 Section 11. 25.17 (73) of the statutes is created to read:

AB21,9,8 25.17 (73) Have authority to provide facilities to any state agency, as defined in s. 20.001 (1), or authority, as defined in s. 16.417 (1) (b), or business entity owned or controlled by a state agency or authority, in accordance with any agreement between the board and the agency, authority, or business entity. This agreement shall require the cost of facilities provided by the board to be paid by the agency, authority, or business entity. All moneys received by the board under this subsection shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.536 (1) (k).

AB21, s. 12 Section 12. 25.90 of the statutes is created to read:

AB21,9,15 25.90 Wisconsin next generation reserve fund. There is established a separate nonlapsible trust fund designated as the Wisconsin next generation reserve fund. The fund shall consist of all moneys deposited in the fund under ss. 73.16, 555.02 (2) (c) and 555.03 (3), together with all donations, gifts, or bequests made to the fund, all moneys transferred to the fund from other funds, and all income or interest earned by the fund.

AB21, s. 13 Section 13. 73.16 of the statutes is created to read:

AB21,9,23 73.16 Wisconsin next generation reserve fund. (1) In this section, "qualifying company" means a person whose principal business activity code in the North American Industry Classification System, 2007 edition, published by the federal office of management and budget, is one of the following: 311221, 311222, 311223, 325193, 325199, 325221, 325311, 325312, 325314, 325320, 325411, 325412, 325413, 325414, 334510, 334516, 334517, 339112, 339113, 339114, 339115, 339116, 541380, 541711, 541712, 621491, 621493, 621511, 621512, or 622110.

AB21,9,25 (2) (a) In July 2012, the department of revenue shall determine the total amount of withholding taxes due and payable under subch. X of ch. 71 from qualifying companies during the period beginning on July 1, 2011, and ending on June 30, 2012.

AB21,10,9 (b) Subject to par. (d), in each fiscal year, beginning with the fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2012, the department of revenue shall deposit into the Wisconsin next generation reserve fund an amount equal to 95 percent of the amount of withholding taxes due and payable under subch. X of ch. 71 from qualifying companies in that fiscal year that exceeds the amount determined under par. (a). The department may make such deposits on a quarterly basis based on the department's estimate of the withholding taxes due and payable by qualifying companies.

AB21,10,12 (c) A person who is subject to withholding taxes under subch. X of ch. 71 shall indicate to the department of revenue whether it is a qualifying company for purposes of this section in the manner determined by the department.

AB21,10,16 (d) The department of revenue shall not deposit into the Wisconsin next generation reserve fund more than $50,000,000 in any fiscal year, and the total amount deposited may not exceed $500,000,000. The department shall not make deposits under this section on or after December 31, 2026.

AB21, s. 14 Section 14. 230.08 (2) (yo) of the statutes is created to read:

AB21,10,19 230.08 (2) (yo) The executive director and administrative assistant of the Wisconsin next generation reserve board.

AB21, s. 15 Section 15. Chapter 555 of the statutes is created to read:

AB21,10,21 CHAPTER 555

AB21,10,23 Wisconsin next generation RESERVE board

AB21,10,24 555.01 Definitions. In this chapter:

AB21,10,25 (1) "Board" means the Wisconsin next generation reserve board.

AB21,11,2 (2) "Certified bioscience company" means a person certified by the board under s. 555.03 (2).