19.0722.02000
Sixty-sixth
Legislative Assembly SENATE BILL NO. 2224
of North Dakota
Introduced by
Senators Wanzek, Meyer, Sorvaag
Representatives Keiser, Sanford, Schreiber-Beck
1 A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 4.1-01 of the North Dakota
2 Century Code, relating to a bioscience innovation grant program; to provide a continuing
3 appropriation; to provide an appropriation; and to provide for a transfer.
4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NORTH DAKOTA:
5 SECTION 1. A new section to chapter 4.1-01 of the North Dakota Century Code is created
6 and enacted as follows:
7 Bioscience innovation grant program - Continuing appropriation.
8 1. The agriculture commissioner shall collaborate with a local association having
9 bioscience experience to develop and administer a bioscience innovation grant
10 program through the bioscience innovation grant fund.
11 2. The commissioner shall collaborate with the committee established under
12 subsection 5 to adopt rules and criteria necessary to administer the bioscience
13 innovation grant program. The rules must include criteria for program eligibility,
14 including requiring a bioscience business that receives funding through the program
15 match up to fifty percent of the amount of the grant received.
16 3. The bioscience innovation grant fund is a special fund created in the state treasury.
17 Moneys in the fund are appropriated on a continuing basis to the commissioner to
18 award grants to:
19 a. Support biotechnology innovation and commercialization in areas including crop
20 genetics, biofuels, biomaterials, biosensors, and biotechnology in relation to food,
21 nutrition, animals, humans, equipment, medical and health products and
22 services, medical diagnostics, medical therapeutics, and farm-based
23 pharmaceuticals;
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1 b. Promote the creation of bioscience jobs in the state to be filled by graduates from
2 institutions under the control of the state board of higher education;
3 c. Encourage the development of new bioscience technologies and bioscience
4 startup companies in the state;
5 d. Leverage the agriculture industry in the state to support the development of
6 bioscience technologies impacting livestock operations and crop production;
7 e. Promote bioscience research and development at institutions under the control of
8 the state board of higher education; and
9 f. Encourage coordination and collaboration among other entities and programs in
10 the state to promote bioscience innovation goals.
11 4. A bioscience business operating in the state is eligible to receive a grant under the
12 program if the business:
13 a. Employs at least two employees;
14 b. Has documented annual sales of less than two million five hundred thousand
15 dollars; and
16 c. Is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, limited partnership, or
17 limited liability partnership registered in the state.
18 5. The bioscience innovation program shall award grant funding through a committee
19 consisting of:
20 a. One representative from the department of agriculture appointed by the
21 agriculture commissioner;
22 b. One representative from the bioscience association of North Dakota appointed by
23 the board of the bioscience association of North Dakota; and
24 c. One representative from the department of commerce appointed by the
25 commissioner of the department of commerce.
26 6. Grant funds awarded under this section may not be used for capital improvements,
27 academic programming or curriculum, or workforce training.
28 SECTION 2. APPROPRIATION - TRANSFER. There is appropriated out of any moneys in
29 the general fund in the state treasury, not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $1,000,000, or so
30 much of the sum as may be necessary, which the director of the office of management and
31 budget shall transfer to the bioscience innovation grant fund during the biennium beginning
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1 July 1, 2019, and ending June 30, 2021. Of the funds provided in this section, up to $400,000
2 may be awarded to entities providing assistance to develop bioscience companies.
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Statutes affected:
Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Representative Delzer: 54-65-01, 54-65-06, 54-65-07
Enrollment: 54-65-01, 54-65-06, 54-65-07