§ 278l. — Assistance to State technology programs.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 15USC278l]
TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 7--NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY
Sec. 278l. Assistance to State technology programs
(a) In addition to the Centers program created under section 278k of
this title, the Secretary, through the Director and, if appropriate,
through other officials, shall provide technical assistance to State
technology programs throughout the United States, in order to help those
programs help businesses, particularly small- and medium-sized
businesses, to enhance their competitiveness through the application of
science and technology.
(b) Such assistance from the Institute to State technology programs
shall include, but not be limited to--
(1) technical information and advice from Institute personnel;
(2) workshops and seminars for State officials interested in
transferring Federal technology to businesses; and
(3) entering into cooperative agreements when authorized to do
so under this chapter or any other Act.
(Mar. 3, 1901, ch. 872, Sec. 26, as added Pub. L. 100-418, title V,
Sec. 5121(a), Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1435.)
Technology Extension Services
Section 5121(b), (c) of Pub. L. 100-418, as amended by Pub. L. 102-
245, title I, Sec. 105(d), Feb. 14, 1992, 106 Stat. 12, provided that:
``(b) Technology Extension Services.--(1) The Secretary shall
conduct a nationwide study of current State technology extension
services. The study shall include--
``(A) a thorough description of each State program, including
its duration, its annual budget, and the number and types of
businesses it has aided;
``(B) a description of any anticipated expansion of each State
program and its associated costs;
``(C) an evaluation of the success of the services in
transferring technology, modernizing manufacturing processes, and
improving the productivity and profitability of businesses;
``(D) an assessment of the degree to which State services make
use of Federal programs, including the Small Business Innovative
Research program and the programs of the Federal Laboratory
Consortium, the National Technical Information Service, the National
Science Foundation, the Office of Productivity, Technology, and
Innovation, and the Small Business Administration;
``(E) a survey of what additional Federal information and
technical assistance the services could utilize; and
``(F) an assessment of how the services could be more effective
agents for the transfer of Federal scientific and technical
information, including the results and application of Federal and
federally funded research.
The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, at the time of
submission of the organization plan for the Institute under section
5112(d)(1) [of Pub. L. 100-418, set out as a note under section 272 of
this title], the results of the study and an initial implementation plan
for the programs under section 26 of the Act of March 3, 1901 [15 U.S.C.
278l], and under this section [enacting sections 278k to 278m of this
title]. The implementation plan shall include methods of providing
technical assistance to States and criteria for awarding financial
assistance under this section. The Secretary may make use of contractors
and experts for any or all of the studies and findings called for in
this section.
``(2)(A) The Institute shall enter into cooperative agreements with
State technology extension services to--
``(i) demonstrate methods by which the States can, in
cooperation with Federal agencies, increase the use of Federal
technology by businesses within their States to improve industrial
competitiveness; or
``(ii) help businesses in their States take advantage of the
services and information offered by the Regional Centers for the
Transfer of Manufacturing Technology created under section 25 of the
Act of March 3, 1901 [15 U.S.C. 278k].
``(B) Any State, for itself or for a consortium of States, may
submit to the Secretary an application for a cooperative agreement under
this subsection, in accordance with procedures established by the
Secretary. To qualify for a cooperative agreement under this subsection,
a State shall provide adequate assurances that it will increase its
spending on technology extension services by an amount at least equal to
the amount of Federal assistance.
``(C) In evaluating each application, the Secretary shall consider--
``(i) the number and types of additional businesses that will be
assisted under the cooperative agreement;
``(ii) the extent to which the State extension service will
demonstrate new methods to increase the use of Federal technology;
``(iii) geographic diversity; and
``(iv) the ability of the State to maintain the extension
service after the cooperative agreement has expired.
``(D) States which are party to cooperative agreements under this
subsection may provide services directly or may arrange for the
provision of any or all of such services by institutions of higher
education or other non-profit institutions or organizations.
``(3) In carrying out section 26 of the Act of March 3, 1901 [15
U.S.C. 278l], and this subsection, the Secretary shall coordinate the
activities with the Federal Laboratory Consortium; the National
Technical Information Service; the National Science Foundation; the
Office of Productivity, Technology, and Innovation; the Small Business
Administration; and other appropriate Federal agencies.
``(4) There are authorized to be appropriated for the purposes of
this subsection $2,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1989, 1990, and
1991.
``(c) Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986.--Nothing in sections
[sic] 25 or 26 of the Act of March 3, 1901 [15 U.S.C. 278k, 278l], or in
subsection (b) of this section shall be construed as limiting the
authorities contained in the Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986
(Public Law 99-502) [see Short Title of 1986 Amendments note set out
under section 3701 of this title].''
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in sections 272, 278g-5 of this title.
