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2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
2023 SENATE BILL 894
January 5, 2024 - Introduced by Senators STROEBEL, BALLWEG, FELZKOWSKI, QUINN,
SMITH and SPREITZER, cosponsored by Representatives NEDWESKI, ZIMMERMAN,
GUSTAFSON, C. ANDERSON, ARMSTRONG, DITTRICH, DUCHOW, GOEBEN, GUNDRUM,
KITCHENS, MACCO, MAXEY, MURPHY, MURSAU, PETRYK, RETTINGER, SAPIK and
STEFFEN. Referred to Committee on Economic Development and Technical
Colleges.
***AUTHORS SUBJECT TO CHANGE***
AN ACT to repeal 20.192 (1) (ar); and to create 20.192 (1) (ar) of the statutes;
relating to: a technology and innovation hub grant to BioForward, Inc., and
making an appropriation.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill provides $7,500,000 in funding for a grant to BioForward, Inc., in its
capacity as the lead consortium member of a consortium formed for purposes of
Wisconsin's designation by the federal government as a regional technology and
innovation hub eligible for a federal regional technology and innovation hub grant.
Under the bill, grant moneys may be expended for the following projects, but only to
the extent consistent with the purposes of such federal grant and only if the federal
grant is actually awarded:
1. The establishment in Wisconsin of a clinical work flow and supply chain
support center for image-guided therapies and theranostics.
2. The construction of expanded shared lab space at Forward BIOLABS, Inc.,
the construction of new Forward BIOLABS, Inc., lab space, and the development of
lab-related programming and support for the expansion of Forward BIOLABS, Inc.
3. The development of a program that provides support for manufacturing and
supply chain companies in Wisconsin to develop apprenticeship programs and the
development of incentives for Wisconsin employers to engage apprentices in
high-demand industry sectors.
The bill requires that the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and
BioForward, Inc., submit a joint report to the Joint Committee on Finance, annually
for three years, that details all uses of the grant moneys.
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SENATE BILL 894
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:
SECTION 1. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert
the following amounts for the purposes indicated:
2023-24 2024-25
20.192 Wisconsin Economic Development
Corporation
(1) PROMOTION OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
(ar)Regional technology and innova
tion hub grant GPR B -0- -0-
SECTION 2. 20.192 (1) (ar) of the statutes is created to read:
20.192 (1) (ar) Regional technology and innovation hub grant. Biennially, the
amounts in the schedule for the grant to BioForward, Inc., under 2023 Wisconsin Act
.... (this act), section 4 (1).
SECTION 3. 20.192 (1) (ar) of the statutes, as created by 2023 Wisconsin Act ....
(this act), is repealed.
SECTION 4.0Nonstatutory provisions.
(1) REGIONAL TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION HUB GRANT.
(a) The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation shall provide
sponsorship funding for purposes of this state's designation as a regional technology
and innovation hub under 15 USC 3722a. The funding shall be in the form of a grant
of $7,500,000 awarded to BioForward, Inc., in its capacity as the lead consortium
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SECTION 4
SENATE BILL 894
member of the consortium formed for purposes of this state's federal designation as
a regional technology and innovation hub. The grant awarded under this subsection
is not subject to s. 238.03 (3) (a).
(b) To the extent consistent with the purposes of a federal grant awarded under
15 USC 3722a (f), BioForward, Inc., shall expend all grant moneys for the following
projects:
1. The establishment in this state of a clinical work flow and supply chain
support center for image-guided therapies and theranostics.
2. The construction of expanded shared lab space at Forward BIOLABS, Inc.,
the construction of new Forward BIOLABS, Inc., lab space, and the development of
lab-related programming and support for the expansion of Forward BIOLABS, Inc.
3. The development of a program that provides support for manufacturing and
supply chain companies in this state to develop apprenticeship programs and the
development of incentives for employers in this state to engage apprentices in
high-demand industry sectors.
(2) REPORTS. Annually, for 3 years beginning with the first year after the grant
is awarded under sub. (1), the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and
BioForward, Inc., shall submit a joint report to the joint committee on finance
detailing all uses of the grant moneys.
SECTION 5.0Fiscal changes.
(1) In the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) for the appropriation to the joint
committee on finance under s. 20.865 (4) (a), the dollar amount for fiscal year
2023-24 is increased by $7,500,000 for the grant to BioForward, Inc., under SECTION
4 (1) of this act. No moneys may be released under this subsection unless the
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SECTION 5 SENATE BILL 894
consortium specified in SECTION 4 (1) of this act is awarded a federal grant under 15
USC 3722a (f).
SECTION 6.0Effective dates. This act takes effect on the day after publication,
except as follows:
(1) The repeal of s. 20.192 (1) (ar) takes effect on July 1, 2025.
(END)
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