§ 3704a. — Clearinghouse for State and Local Initiatives on Productivity, Technology, and Innovation.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 15USC3704a]
TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 63--TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION
Sec. 3704a. Clearinghouse for State and Local Initiatives on
Productivity, Technology, and Innovation
(a) Establishment
There is established within the Office of Productivity, Technology,
and Innovation a Clearinghouse for State and Local Initiatives on
Productivity, Technology, and Innovation. The Clearinghouse shall serve
as a central repository of information on initiatives by State and local
governments to enhance the competitiveness of American business through
the stimulation of productivity, technology, and innovation and Federal
efforts to assist State and local governments to enhance
competitiveness.
(b) Responsibilities
The Clearinghouse may--
(1) establish relationships with State and local governments,
and regional and multistate organizations of such governments, which
carry out such initiatives;
(2) collect information on the nature, extent, and effects of
such initiatives, particularly information useful to the Congress,
Federal agencies, State and local governments, regional and
multistate organizations of such governments, businesses, and the
public throughout the United States;
(3) disseminate information collected under paragraph (2)
through reports, directories, handbooks, conferences, and seminars;
(4) provide technical assistance and advice to such governments
with respect to such initiatives, including assistance in
determining sources of assistance from Federal agencies which may be
available to support such initiatives;
(5) study ways in which Federal agencies, including Federal
laboratories, are able to use their existing policies and programs
to assist State and local governments, and regional and multistate
organizations of such governments, to enhance the competitiveness of
American business;
(6) make periodic recommendations to the Secretary, and to other
Federal agencies upon their request, concerning modifications in
Federal policies and programs which would improve Federal assistance
to State and local technology and business assistance programs;
(7) develop methodologies to evaluate State and local programs,
and, when requested, advise State and local governments, and
regional and multistate organizations of such governments, as to
which programs are most effective in enhancing the competitiveness
of American business through the stimulation of productivity,
technology, and innovation; and
(8) make use of, and disseminate, the nationwide study of State
industrial extension programs conducted by the Secretary.
(c) Contracts
In carrying out subsection (b) of this section, the Secretary may
enter into contracts for the purpose of collecting information on the
nature, extent, and effects of initiatives.
(Pub. L. 96-480, Sec. 6, as added Pub. L. 100-418, title V,
Sec. 5122(a)(2), Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1438.)
Codification
Subsec. (d) of this section, which required the Secretary to prepare
and transmit a triennial report to Congress, including recommendations
to the President, Congress, and Federal agencies, on initiatives by
State and local governments to enhance the competitiveness of American
businesses through the stimulation of productivity, technology, and
innovation, terminated, effective May 15, 2000, pursuant to section 3003
of Pub. L. 104-66, as amended, set out as a note under section 1113 of
Title 31, Money and Finance. See, also, page 50 of House Document No.
103-7.
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in sections 3703, 3713, 3715 of this
title.
