Jobs Bill Arizona 102

Jobs Bill Arizona 102 Technology Transfer Bill Overview The Tech Transfer initiative will permit Arizona's three public universities to receive equity in companies that license technology developed at the universities as compensation for use of the technology. The passage of this initiative allows Arizona to stay competitive with the other twenty-four states that currently let the private sector commercialize technology in this way. It will enable our Arizona universities to continue to develop highly marketable and profitable products and ideas, which will benefit our state financially and improve the lives of our citizens. Although the initiative allows universities to receive stock for the use of their technology, it does not allow them to invest in the stock market. Proposition 102 Proposition 102 Tech firms push for university partnerships By HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services 07/25/2004 Arizona companies are planning to spend up to $900,000 to convince voters to approve a change in the state constitution they say will benefit both business and universities. Formed under the banner of Arizona Forward, the political action committee hopes to get approval of Proposition 102. That measure would exempt the Board of Regents -- and the state's three universities -- from constitutional provisions that now prohibit the state or any of its agencies from becoming an owner in a private company. 'Tech transfer' has early backing 'Tech transfer' has early backing By David Wichner ARIZONA DAILY STAR 7/15/2004 A referendum that would change the state constitution to allow Arizona universities to take ownership stakes in private companies has some good early support, but backers aren't taking anything for granted. Supporters say the so-called "tech transfer" ballot measure, recently designated Proposition 102, would give universities an important new option to accept shares in a company in exchange for technology licensing rights, instead of charging cash-strapped startups licensing fees. Tech's losses at Capitol mean loss of capital Tech's losses at Capitol mean loss of capital Jon Talton Republic columnist Jun. 15, 2004 A week of unseasonably mild weather ends, but warm feelings continue about the recent legislative session. Moderates of both parties asserted themselves to push through one of the most important measures for future workforce development and economic mobility: all-day kindergarten. Less attention has fallen on the failure to pass any of three bills that would have boosted Arizona's technology sector. Among them, a well-tested program to seed venture-capital money, lack of which is consistently the root of the state's poor performance in "growing our own" future giants. Universities seek research payoff By Marija Potkonjak, East Valley Tribune July 12, 2004 Arizona's public universities will ask voters in November for a constitutional amendment that would lift the ban on state ownership of private companies. Proponents of Proposition 102 say the amendment would streamline technology transfer. Start-up companies eager to market university research would pay for licensing fees upfront with stock certificates instead of cash. "This change will streamline the process tremendously," said Todd Bankofier, president of the Arizona Technology Council. "It's not just beneficial to the universities. It's beneficial to the state economy." Universities seek research payoff