5. Relationship with academic institution. An applied A technology development center shall establish a relationship with at least one academic institution in this State. The Applied Technology Development Center System Coordinating Board shall establish guidelines for such a relationship and determine whether an applied a technology development center has met the requirements of this subsection.

6. Rule-making authority. The Department of Economic and Community Development may adopt rules to carry out the purposes of this section. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in chapter 375, subchapter II- A 2-A.

SUMMARY

This bill changes the names of the Applied Technology Development Centers and its coordinating board, removes the position of Applied Technology Development Center System Director and transfers the responsibilities of the Department of Economic and Community Development for marketing and recruiting tenants to the centers. The bill also establishes a funding cap on the initial funding of a center and removes old references to named centers for the purpose of the initial funding allocations.