06 LC 18
5012
House
Bill 1083
By:
Representatives Harbin of the
118th,
Burmeister of the
119th,
and Fleming of the
117th
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Chapter 15 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to the Georgia Medical Center Authority, so as to change the definition of
projects of the authority; to change certain purposes of the authority and to
provide for additional purposes; to provide for an exemption from certain sales
and use taxation; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Chapter
15 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the
Georgia Medical Center Authority, is amended by striking paragraph (3) of Code
Section 20-15-2, relating to definitions regarding the authority, and inserting
in its place a new paragraph (3) to read as follows:
∀(3)
'Project' means and includes one or any combination of the following: biomedical
and biotechnical research centers, facilities, and programs based in
Augusta,
Georgia,
the State of
Georgia to include office space,
laboratories, treatment centers, and other related buildings, structures,
equipment, as well as associated facilities such as parking facilities and
common areas; and improvements of every kind and character deemed by the
authority necessary or convenient for its
purposes.∀
SECTION
2.
Said
chapter is further amended by striking Code Section 20-15-4, relating to
purposes of the authority, and inserting in its place a new Code Section 20-15-4
to read as follows:
∀20-15-4.
The
corporate purpose and the general nature of the business of the authority shall
be:
(1)
The provision of biomedical and biotechnical research centers, facilities, and
programs based in
Augusta,
Georgia,
the State of
Georgia in cooperation with the board of
regents;
(2)
The commercialization of biomedical and biotechnical research
results;
(3)
The promotion of closer ties between academic institutions of the state and the
biomedical industry so as to capitalize on present and future state intellectual
resources;
(4)
The generation of sustained research funding in the form of revenues from
licensed and commercialized intellectual property with excess revenues
reinvested in biomedical research infrastructure and programs;
(5)
The promotion of continuing investment in the intellectual capacity of the
Medical College of Georgia by cooperating with the board of regents in the
retention and recruitment of clinical faculty; and
(4)
The facilitation of the development of a biosciences industrial cluster in the
State of Georgia through strategic partnerships as they relate to innovation,
commercialization, acquisition, and recruitment programs; and
(6)(5)
The advancement of local and state economic growth.
Nothing
in this chapter shall be construed to conflict with the powers and authority of
the board of regents over its
institutions.∀
SECTION
3.
Said
chapter is further amended by striking Code Section 20-15-6, relating to public
purposes and tax exemptions of the authority, and inserting in its place a new
Code Section 20-15-6 to read as follows:
∀20-15-6.
It
is found, determined, and declared that the creation of the authority and the
carrying out of its corporate purposes are in all respects for the benefit of
the people of this state and constitute a public purpose and that the authority
will be performing an essential governmental function in the exercise of the
powers conferred upon it by this chapter. The State of Georgia covenants that
the authority shall be required to pay no taxes or assessments upon any of the
property acquired by it or under its jurisdiction, control, possession, or
supervision or upon its activities in the operation or maintenance of the
facilities erected, maintained, or acquired by it or any fees, rentals, or other
charges for the use of such facilities or other income received by the
authority; provided, however,
that
in no event shall the exemptions granted in this Code section extend to any
lessee or other private person or entity.
The exemption
from taxation provided for in this Code section shall include exemptions from
sales and use taxes on property purchased by the authority or for use by the
authority.∀
SECTION
4.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.