Brief (1)
Sub. for HB 2524 establishes a framework to initiate an enhancement in the research capabilities of the state universities. The bill directs the Board of Regents to authorize the state universities to plan and develop proposals for new and enhanced research activities, programs, and facilities. The proposals developed by the universities are to be presented to the Legislature, the Joint Committee on State Building Construction, the House Appropriations Committee, the Senate Ways and Means Committee, and other appropriate public and private entities.
The bill also creates the Regents Research Facilities Enhancement Fund to be used for transfers or other allocations of funds to the state universities under the provisions of appropriation acts for debt service payments on approved research facilities, with the provision that any such payments for each capital improvement project would be for a specified period not to exceed five years.
The bill does not itself authorize the issuance of any bonds nor commits any state funding to support enhanced research capabilities at the state universities.
A floor amendment to the bill bans research activities on human cloning at any state university.
Background
Representatives of the State Board of Regents and Senator Pat Roberts testified in support of the bill. Senator Roberts' representative testified that there is little federal money available for the construction of research facilities but that federal funding opportunities for research activities and programs is increasing.
No one testified against the bill.
The bill as introduced dealt with transfers to the Abandoned Oil and Gas Well Fund. Committee testimony indicated that this issue was being addressed in SB 321. The House Committee removed the original provisions of HB 2524 and replaced them with the substitute provisions.
No fiscal note from the Division of the Budget was available on the substitute bill.
The House Committee of the Whole adopted the amendment banning human cloning research.
1. *Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.ink.org/public/legislative/fulltext.cgi