$500 million bioscience measure nears Senate approval

? The Kansas Senate today gave preliminary approval to a $500 million measure designed to boost bioscience research.

“This is a bold and new venture for the state of Kansas,” state Sen. Nick Jordan, R-Shawnee, said.

The Senate advanced the measure on a voice vote and is expected to give final approval later today. The proposal would then go back to the House for consideration of Senate amendments.

Under the bill, the state will divert about $500 million over 15 years in the growth of taxes from bioscience companies back into developing the industry.

The bill would establish a new biosciences authority that would work with state universities to recruit top scholars, develop research and build facilities.

The measure had been caught up in a battle between anti-abortion advocates and higher education officials over fetal tissue research.

“I think we found a spot that people are OK with it right now,” Jordan said.

The bill stipulates that research funded through the initiative is not to encourage abortions or the use of cells or tissues derived from abortions.

During debate today, Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley of Topeka tried to amend the bill to ensure that 75 percent of construction workers hired to build the research facilities were Kansans.

“As we embark upon this huge, potentially great economic development plan … we need to guarantee that our people who live in this state will benefit,” Hensley said.

But some senators said ensuring that 75 percent of the jobs went to Kansans would be difficult to implement, while others said that some of these facilities may require expert workers who may not be available in Kansas. Hensley’s amendment was defeated 24-14. He then lowered his proposal to require that 65 percent of the workers be from Kansas, but that was defeated too.

Although most senators spoke in favor of the bioscience bill several noted they had concerns about the diversion of up to $500 million from the state’s general revenue fund, which funds state government functions, such as education and social services.