SF0104

Establishes a faculty research project account at the University of Wyoming with $51.2 million in funding to support specified research projects and graduate student stipends.

• Creates the University Faculty Research Project Account with continuously appropriated funds that do not lapse or revert, with all investment earnings credited to the account. (W.S. 21-16-2001(a), Sec. 1)
• Authorizes account funds to support research projects requiring enhanced research capabilities and equipment, donor-matched research projects, research requested by Wyoming businesses, and miscellaneous university-specified projects. (W.S. 21-16-2001(b)(i)-(iv), Sec. 1)
• Establishes graduate student research stipends of up to $1,500 per month for graduate students assisting with funded research projects, without requiring matching funds for this use. (W.S. 21-16-2001(b)(v), Sec. 1)
• Requires one dollar of appropriated funds to be matched with at least one dollar of nonstate matching funds for research projects, except for graduate student stipends. (W.S. 21-16-2001(c), Sec. 1)
• Allocates profits from research funded by the account 50% to the University of Wyoming and 50% to the faculty researcher, unless the university negotiates an explicit alternative profit distribution model or retains ownership of innovations or patent rights. (W.S. 21-16-2001(d), Sec. 1)
• Requires the University of Wyoming to report annually to the joint education, joint minerals/business/economic development, and joint appropriations committees on the number of funded projects, research subjects, expenditure amounts, graduate student stipend recipients, and stipend amounts. (W.S. 21-16-2001(f), Sec. 1)
• Appropriates $51,200,000 from the general fund to the university faculty research project account with restrictions on transfer and use for other purposes. (Sec. 2(a)-(b))
• Specifies that the appropriation is separate from the University of Wyoming's state aid program and that state aid funds may be used for fundraising to raise matching funds but not to directly match the appropriated funds.