1     
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY TALENT INITIATIVE

2     
2020 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Ann Millner

5     
House Sponsor: Val L. Peterson

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill creates a deep technology talent initiative within higher education.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     defines terms, including "deep technology";
13          ▸     creates and describes a deep technology talent initiative that will be developed and
14     overseen by the State Board of Regents;
15          ▸     describes what entities may participate in and create proposals to receive funding
16     under the deep technology talent initiative;
17          ▸     describes the requirements and process for receiving funding under the deep
18     technology talent initiative; and
19          ▸     creates an advisory council to make recommendations to the State Board of Regents
20     regarding submitted proposals for funding under the deep technology talent
21     initiative.
22     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
23          This bill appropriates:
24          ▸     to the State Board of Regents -- Economic Development -- Deep Technology Talent
25     Initiative, as an ongoing appropriation:
26               •     from the Workforce Development Restricted Account, $5,000,000.
27     Other Special Clauses:
28          None
29     Utah Code Sections Affected:

30     ENACTS:
31          53B-26-301, Utah Code Annotated 1953
32          53B-26-302, Utah Code Annotated 1953
33          53B-26-303, Utah Code Annotated 1953
34     

35     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
36          Section 1. Section 53B-26-301 is enacted to read:
37     
Part 3. Deep Technology Initiative

38          53B-26-301. Definitions.
39          As used in this part:
40          (1) "Advisory council" means the Deep Technology Talent Advisory Council created
41     in Section 53B-26-303.
42          (2) (a) "Deep technology" means technology that leads to new products and
43     innovations based on scientific discovery or meaningful engineering innovation.
44          (b) "Deep technology" may include technology that leads to new products and
45     innovations related to one or more of the following:
46          (i) advanced materials;
47          (ii) artificial intelligence;
48          (iii) augmented and virtual reality;
49          (iv) biotechnology;
50          (v) photonics;
51          (vi) quantum computing;
52          (vii) robotics;
53          (viii) secure computing; and
54          (ix) other emerging technologies as determined by the advisory council.
55          (3) "Institution of higher education" means the University of Utah, Utah State
56     University, Southern Utah University, Weber State University, Snow College, Dixie State
57     University, Utah Valley University, or Salt Lake Community College.

58          Section 2. Section 53B-26-302 is enacted to read:
59          53B-26-302. Deep technology initiative.
60          (1) Subject to appropriations from the Legislature and in accordance with the proposal
61     process and other provisions of this section, the board shall develop and oversee a deep
62     technology talent initiative that includes providing funding for expanded programs in deep
63     technology.
64          (2) The board shall facilitate collaborations that create expanded, multidisciplinary
65     programs or stackable credential programs in both undergraduate and graduate studies that
66     prepare students to be workforce participants in jobs requiring deep technology skills.
67          (3) An institution of higher education seeking to partner with one or more participating
68     employers shall submit a proposal to the board, in a form approved by the board and in
69     accordance with deadlines determined by the board, which contains the following elements:
70          (a) a description of the proposed program in deep technology that demonstrates the
71     program will:
72          (i) be responsive to the deep technology talent needs of the state through industry
73     involvement in the project's design;
74          (ii) be a partnership that includes at least one participating employer and at least one
75     institution of higher education; and
76          (iii) address a previously unmet state need related to deep technology;
77          (b) an estimate of:
78          (i) student enrollment in the program;
79          (ii) what academic credit or credentials will be provided by the program; and
80          (iii) occupations for which graduates will be qualified;
81          (c) evidence that each participating employer is committed to participating and
82     contributing to the program by providing any combination of instruction, extensive workplace
83     experience, or mentoring;
84          (d) a description of any resources that will be provided by each participating employer
85     in the program; and

86          (e) the amount of funding requested for the program, including justification for the
87     funding.
88          (4) The board shall provide all proposals to the advisory council and the advisory
89     council shall review and prioritize each proposal received and recommend to the board whether
90     the proposal should be funded, including the recommended amount of funding, using the
91     following criteria:
92          (a) the quality and completeness of the elements of the proposal described in
93     Subsection (3);
94          (b) to what extent the proposed program:
95          (i) would expand the capacity to meet state or regional workforce needs related to deep
96     technology;
97          (ii) would integrate deep technology competency with disciplinary expertise;
98          (iii) identifies a faculty member or other individual who has expertise and a
99     demonstrated willingness to lead the proposed program;
100          (iv) would incorporate internships or significant project experiences, including
101     team-based experiences;
102          (v) identifies how industry professionals would participate in curriculum development
103     and teaching;
104          (vi) would create partnerships with other higher education institutions and industry;
105     and
106          (vii) would be cost effective; and
107          (c) other relevant criteria as determined by the advisory council and the board.
108          (5) Subject to Subsection (6) and the other provisions of this section, on or before
109     September 1 of each fiscal year, the board shall review the recommendations of the advisory
110     council and may provide funding for deep technology programs using the criteria described in
111     Subsection (4).
112          (6) Before the board may provide funding for one or more deep technology programs
113     for fiscal year 2021, on or before October 1, 2020, the board shall provide written information

114     regarding the proposed funding to, and shall consider the recommendations of, the Higher
115     Education Appropriations Subcommittee.
116          (7) (a) Each institution of higher education that receives funding under this section
117     shall, in a form approved by the board, annually provide written information to the board
118     regarding the activities, successes, and challenges related to administering the deep technology
119     program, including:
120          (i) specific entities that received funding under this section;
121          (ii) the amount of funding provided to each entity;
122          (iii) the number of participating students in each program;
123          (iv) the number of graduates of the program; and
124          (v) the number of graduates of the program employed in jobs requiring deep
125     technology skills.
126          (b) On or before November 1 of each year, the board shall provide a written report
127     containing the information described in this Subsection (7) to the:
128          (i) Education Interim Committee; and
129          (ii) Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee.
130          Section 3. Section 53B-26-303 is enacted to read:
131          53B-26-303. Deep Technology Talent Advisory Council.
132          (1) There is created the Deep Technology Talent Advisory Council to make
133     recommendations to the board in the board's administration of the deep technology talent
134     initiative described in Section 53B-26-302.
135          (2) The advisory council shall consist of the following members:
136          (a) two members who have extensive experience in deep technology in the private
137     sector appointed by the president of the Senate;
138          (b) two members who have extensive experience in deep technology in the private
139     sector appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives;
140          (c) a representative of the board appointed by the chair of the board;
141          (d) a representative of the Governor's Office of Economic Development appointed by

142     the executive director of the Governor's Office of Economic Development;
143          (e) one member of the Senate appointed by the president of the Senate;
144          (f) one member of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker of the House
145     of Representatives; and
146          (g) other specialized industry experts who may be invited by a majority of the advisory
147     council to participate as needed as nonvoting members.
148          (3) The board shall provide staff support for the advisory council.
149          (4) (a) One of the advisory council members appointed under Subsection (2)(a) shall
150     serve an initial term of two years and one of the advisory council members appointed under
151     Subsection (2)(b) shall serve an initial term of two years.
152          (b) Except as described in Subsection (4)(a), all other advisory council members shall
153     serve an initial term of four years.
154          (c) Successor advisory council members upon appointment or reappointment shall each
155     serve a term of four years.
156          (d) When a vacancy occurs in the membership for any reason, the replacement shall be
157     appointed by the initial appointing authority for the unexpired term.
158          (e) An advisory council member may not serve more than two consecutive terms.
159          (7) A vote of a majority of the advisory council members is necessary to take action on
160     behalf of the advisory council.
161          (8) The duties of the advisory council include reviewing, prioritizing, and making
162     recommendations to the board regarding proposals for funding under the deep technology
163     talent initiative described in Section 53B-26-302.
164          (9) A member may not receive compensation or benefits for the member's service, but
165     a member who is not a legislator may receive per diem and travel expenses in accordance with:
166          (a) Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107; and
167          (b) rules made by the Division of Finance pursuant to Sections 63A-3-106 and
168     63A-3-107.
169          Section 4. Appropriation.

170          The following sums of money are appropriated for the fiscal year beginning July 1,
171     2020, and ending June 30, 2021. These are additions to amounts previously appropriated for
172     fiscal year 2021. Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures
173     Act, the Legislature appropriates the following sums of money from the funds or accounts
174     indicated for the use and support of the government of the state of Utah.
175     ITEM 1
176          To State Board of Regents -- Economic Development
177               From Workforce Development Restricted Account
$5,000,000

178               Schedule of Programs:
179                    Deep Technology Talent Initiative     $5,000,000
180          The Legislature intends that appropriations under Item 1:
181          (1) be allocated to programs that meet the criteria described in Section 53B-26-302;
182     and
183          (2) under Section 63J-1-603, not lapse at the close of fiscal year 2021.