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HCR024.....................................................by STATE AFFAIRS
BIOSCIENCE INDUSTRY - TASK FORCE - Stating findings of the legislature and
authorizing the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the
House of Representatives to appoint a task force to undertake and complete
a study of the economic development opportunities relating to the
bioscience industry in the state of Idaho, particularly in the areas of
agriculture, biosciences, imaging, power and energy and nanoscience.
03/21 House intro - 1st rdg - to printing
03/22 Rpt prt - to 2nd rdg
03/23 2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg
Rls susp - ADOPTED - voice vote
Floor Sponsor - Jones
Title apvd - to Senate
03/24 Senate intro - 1st rdg - to St Aff
]]]] LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO ]]]]
Fifty-eighth Legislature First Regular Session - 2005
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 24
BY STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
1 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
2 STATING FINDINGS OF THE LEGISLATURE AND AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE
3 OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO APPOINT A
4 TASK FORCE TO UNDERTAKE AND COMPLETE A STUDY OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
5 OPPORTUNITIES RELATING TO THE BIOSCIENCE INDUSTRY IN THE STATE OF IDAHO,
6 PARTICULARLY IN THE AREAS OF AGRICULTURAL BIOSCIENCES, IMAGING, POWER AND
7 ENERGY AND NANOSCIENCE.
8 Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
9 WHEREAS, the bioscience industry is aimed at the development and manage-
10 ment of biologically based organisms and ecosystems and is composed of a range
11 of industry sectors which include agricultural feedstock and chemicals, drugs
12 and pharmaceuticals, medical devices and equipment, research and testing, and
13 academic health centers, research hospitals and research institutions. Nation-
14 ally, bioscience is a $50 billion industry with nearly 150,000 employees and
15 1,500 companies and it is an industry that is attracting significant venture
16 capital. States across the country are trying to capture a piece of the
17 bioscience industry and its high paying jobs; and
18 WHEREAS, the field of bioscience is expected to have an average annual
19 employment growth between now and 2012 that is 13 percent greater than the
20 average annual growth rate for all employment and, in 2003, jobs in bioscience
21 had salaries that were at least $26,600 higher than the national average; and
22 WHEREAS, bioscience research and product development is already underway
23 in Idaho at state research universities, the private industry sector and the
24 Idaho National Laboratory and the collective efforts of the industry have laid
25 a solid foundation for strengthening Idaho's knowledge-based economy. Idaho's
26 science and technology sector is growing faster than the national average,
27 ranking first in the nation in patents per capita and Idaho's funding for
28 university-based research and development continues to grow; and
29 WHEREAS, BioIdaho, the Idaho Bioscience Association, is a nonprofit orga-
30 nization founded in 2004 that brings together corporate, academic and politi-
31 cal leaders to educate the public and to promote bioscience activities in the
32 state. BioIdaho's activities include supporting funding for the biosciences,
33 particularly at universities, increasing education and attracting the
34 brightest researchers possible to Idaho, identifying and promoting opportuni-
35 ties for business intersections and collaborations, and advising government as
36 required to develop policy and programs enhancing the bioscience industry and
37 education; and
38 WHEREAS, Idaho has the opportunity to leverage its established agricul-
39 tural industry and bioscience research assets at its state research universi-
40 ties to develop a vibrant bioscience industry. Idaho is attractive for exist-
41 ing bioscience companies to set up manufacturing operations because of Idaho's
42 strong work ethic, attractive tax structure and business incentives; and
43 WHEREAS, agricultural biosciences, imaging, power and energy and
44 nanoscience are specialties of some of Idaho's biggest research institutions
2
1 and companies, and supporting and encouraging these strengths will attract
2 similar types of technology firms to Idaho.
3 WHEREAS, Idaho's bioscience industry represents the best of Idaho's
4 future, including the future of young people, their education and job opportu-
5 nities. Investment in the biosciences can lead to benefits for a state's citi-
6 zens in terms of improved health care, cleaner environments and healthier
7 foods.
8 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the First Regular Session
9 of the Fifty-eighth Idaho Legislature, the House of Representatives and the
10 Senate concurring therein, that the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and
11 the Speaker of the House of Representatives are authorized to appoint a task
12 force to undertake and complete a study of the economic development opportuni-
13 ties relating to the bioscience industry in the state of Idaho, particularly
14 in the areas of agricultural biosciences, imaging, power and energy and
15 nanoscience. The President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the
16 House of Representatives shall determine the number of legislators and member-
17 ship from each house appointed to the task force and shall authorize the task
18 force to receive input, advice and assistance from interested and affected
19 parties who are not members of the Legislature.
20 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that nonlegislative members of the task force may
21 be appointed by the cochairs of the task force. Nonlegislative advisory mem-
22 bers shall not be reimbursed from legislative funds for per diem, mileage, or
23 other expenses and shall not have voting privileges regarding the task force's
24 recommendations or proposed legislation.
25 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall report its findings, rec-
26 ommendations and proposed legislation, if any, to the Second Regular Session
27 of the Fifty-eighth Idaho Legislature.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
RS 15179C1
This resolution will create a task force appointed by the
Leadership of the House and Senate to participate with the
bioscience industry to explore the potential of and to
participate in the further development of bioscience companies
and projects in Idaho.
FISCAL NOTE
There is no fiscal impact to the general fund.
Contact
Name: Representative Doug Jones
Phone: 208-332-1000
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE HCR 24