A top bill aimed at turning researchers at Kentucky’s public universities into collaborative teammates on cutting-edge research won overwhelming approval in the state Senate Wednesday.
The bill, introduced by Republican Senate President Robert Stivers, passed the Senate on a 36-0 vote and advanced to the House. Details of the start-up funding for this initiative will be revealed in the coming weeks. The Senate is working on a state budget for the next two years, but the final version will be worked out by negotiators from the House and Senate. Mr. Stivers will be a key participant in these discussions.
Kentucky bill allows child support to begin if pregnancy is advanced
The legislation aims to raise the profile of Kentucky research while promoting research that can win lucrative federal grants and other support. Projects can focus on achieving breakthroughs in medicine and strengthening the school’s existing strengths in other types of research.
The goal is to foster research breakthroughs that have a lasting impact on improving lives, Stivers said.
“That’s the hope of this bill, that we feel like we’ve made a difference,” the top Senate leader said. “The trajectory of this state, the lives of the people of this state, and the differences in areas far beyond the geographic boundaries of Kentucky.”
Sen. Gerald Neal, the top Senate Democrat, praised the bill as “the most visionary action we’ve taken this Congress.”
The bill was designated as Senate Bill 1, indicating it was a top priority.
Kentucky State Senate President Robert Stivers addresses senators at the Kentucky State Capitol on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 in Frankfort, Kentucky. A top bill won overwhelming support in the state Senate Wednesday that aims to transform researchers at Kentucky’s public universities into teammates collaborating on cutting-edge research. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)
Seed funding from the state will help incubate the research project, but the hope is that the research will be successful enough to attract outside funding.
“Combining our resources means more opportunities for additional federal grants and private funding from investors who want to support cutting-edge research,” Stivers said in a news release after the Senate vote. mentioned in.
The bill would create an endowed research fund to be administered by the State Council on Postsecondary Education. Supporters have not yet discussed a specific amount to support the research. The council will solicit and review joint funding applications submitted by two or more public universities in an effort to increase collaboration between Kentucky schools that are often viewed as competitors.
The council will select five research consortia to receive funding over the first five years. Interest earned from research funds will be transferred to accounts that support each project.
Each research team’s performance will be reviewed by the Board of Trustees, who will decide whether their funding needs to be renewed for up to another five years. If funding for the research team is cut off, the council will review other applications to fill the vacancies.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Last year, the state’s research reputation further strengthened when the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center received the highest rating from the National Cancer Institute. This increased status will strengthen research and patient care in a state that suffers from some of the highest cancer rates in the nation.
