AB145: Bill Text

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

AB145,1 Section 1. 238.14 of the statutes is created to read:

AB145,2,3 238.14 Grants to recipients of federal grants for research and innovation. (1) Definitions. In this section:

AB145,2,6 (a) "Phase I federal grant" means a grant awarded by the federal government under Phase I of the federal Small Business Innovation Research Program or Phase I of the federal Small Business Technology Transfer Program.

AB145,2,8 (b) "Phase I matching grant" means a grant awarded by the corporation under sub. (3).

AB145,2,11 (c) "Phase II federal grant" means a grant awarded by the federal government under Phase II of the federal Small Business Innovation Research Program or Phase II of the federal Small Business Technology Transfer Program.

AB145,2,13 (d) "Phase II matching grant" means a grant awarded by the corporation under sub. (4).

AB145,3,3 (2) Grant program implementation. The corporation shall develop and implement an economic development program to award Phase I and Phase II matching grants under this section.

AB145,3,5 (3) Phase I matching grants. (a) A Phase I federal grant recipient may apply for a Phase I matching grant on a form provided by the corporation.

AB145,3,8 (b) Subject to par. (c) and the limitations under sub. (5), the corporation may award a Phase I matching grant to an applicant under par. (a) if the applicant meets all of the following conditions:

AB145,3,12 1. The applicant submits to the corporation a copy of the applicant's executed Phase I federal grant agreement with the federal government or evidence satisfactory to the corporation that the applicant has received at least one payment of Phase I federal grant moneys.

AB145,3,17 2. The applicant's business is located in this state and will not relocate outside of this state during the 3 years after it receives a Phase I matching grant. For the purposes of this subdivision, a business relocates outside of this state when the business locates more than 51 percent of its employees, its total payroll, or the activities of its headquarters, as determined by the corporation, outside of this state.

AB145,3,21 3. The applicant submits evidence satisfactory to the corporation that the research to be conducted in connection with the Phase I federal grant will benefit the economy of this state and that at least 51 percent of that research will be conducted in this state.

AB145,3,22 4. The applicant intends to apply for a Phase II federal grant.

AB145,3,25 5. The applicant submitted its application under par. (a) within 180 days after the applicant first received any moneys from the federal government under the applicant's Phase I federal grant.

AB145,4,2 6. The applicant satisfies any other requirements established by the corporation.

AB145,4,7 (c) Before the corporation awards a Phase I matching grant, the corporation shall contract with the Phase I federal grant recipient. The corporation shall determine the contract's terms, including the amount of the Phase I matching grant, after negotiation with the Phase I federal grant recipient. The contract shall include all of the following provisions:

AB145,4,13 1.   That, at a time determined by the corporation and specified in the contract, the Phase I federal grant recipient shall file with the corporation a report that shows the Phase I federal grant recipient's expenditures of the Phase I federal grant and the Phase I matching grant; and that, if the Phase I federal grant recipient fails to submit a report under this subdivision that is acceptable to the corporation, the corporation may order repayment of all or a portion of the Phase I matching grant.

AB145,4,15 2.   That the Phase I federal grant recipient may assign the contract only upon the prior written consent of the corporation.

AB145,4,18 3. That, in addition to any other purposes for which the Phase I federal grant may be expended, the Phase I matching grant may be used for patenting, market research, and marketing.

AB145,4,20 (4) Phase II matching grants. (a) A Phase I matching grant recipient may apply for a Phase II matching grant on a form provided by the corporation.

AB145,4,23 (b) Subject to par. (c) and the limitations under sub. (5), the corporation may award a Phase II matching grant to an applicant under par. (a) if the applicant meets all of the following conditions:

AB145,5,2 1. The applicant submits evidence satisfactory to the corporation that the federal government approved the applicant's final report for its Phase I federal grant, the applicant has satisfied any other applicable requirements for its Phase I federal grant, and the applicant has been awarded a Phase II federal grant.

AB145,5,4 2. The applicant submitted its application under par. (a) within 90 days after the applicant completed its research under the applicant's Phase I federal grant.

AB145,5,6 3. The applicant satisfies any other requirements established by the corporation.

AB145,5,11 (c) Before the corporation awards a Phase II matching grant, the corporation shall contract with the Phase II federal grant recipient. The corporation shall determine the contract's terms, including the amount of the Phase II matching grant, after negotiation with the Phase II federal grant recipient. The contract shall include all of the following provisions:

AB145,5,17 1.   That, at a time determined by the corporation and specified in the contract, the Phase II federal grant recipient shall file with the corporation a report that shows the Phase II federal grant recipient's expenditures of the Phase II federal grant and the Phase II matching grant; and that, if the Phase II federal grant recipient fails to submit a report under this subdivision that is acceptable to the corporation, the corporation may order repayment of all or a portion of the Phase II matching grant.

AB145,5,19 2.   That the Phase II federal grant recipient may assign the contract only upon the prior written consent of the corporation.

AB145,5,22 3. That, in addition to any other purposes for which the Phase II federal grant may be expended, the Phase II matching grant may be expended for patenting, market research, and marketing.

AB145,5,25 (5) Limitations. (a) The corporation may not award a Phase I or Phase II matching grant that exceeds $50,000 or the amount of the Phase I or Phase II federal grant, whichever is less.

AB145,6,2 (b) The corporation may not award grants under this section totalling more than $300,000 per state fiscal year.

AB145,6,3 (End)