KEGA Creates Authority to Fund Bioscience Industry

A bill that Chancellor Robert Hemenway calls "the most significant nonbudget issue for KU this spring" received final approval on Monday, April 19, from Governor Kathleen Sebelius.

The Kansas Economic Growth Act (KEGA) was signed into law during a ceremony in Lenexa attended by KU faculty and administrators. Under the act, the state's public research universities stand to benefit from a potential infusion of $500 million over 10 years into biosciences research, facilities and new staff.

While KEGA incorporates six related bills, the centerpiece legislation creates an 11-member authority with independent power to invest future biosciences industry tax revenue in biosciences research. The goal of this investment is to double employment in this field.

Kansas currently has 160 bioscience companies statewide employing 11,000 to 13,000 people. Another 8,500 people work in biosciences research and related areas at the state's universities.

KU will benefit under the new law, Hemenway said, "since we are already the state's leading research university and a strong partner in the Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute."

Rep. Kenny Wilk, R-Lansing, was the principal supporter for KEGA. He spoke about KEGA April 14 at the Dole Institute of Politics before an audience of KU students, staff and the public.

"Kansans are ready for a bold, ambitious plan," Wilk said. He outlined his vision for a stronger Kansas economy, one that relies less on three industries-agriculture, aviation, and oil and gas-that are in decline. That future economy will feature a new, major segment-biosciences-that depends on strong research universities.

KEGA "is about job creation," Wilk said, and "reaches across Kansas-north to south, east to west." The overall act "has something for everybody, no matter where they live." • - Story by KU University Relations