Utah Code § 53H-4-205 — Utah Code / Title 53H / Chapter 53H-4 / § 53H-4-205
§ 53H-4-205. Research park.
Status: in_force

(1) As used in this section: (a) "Patent" means the patent covering the land acquired by the University of Utah from the United States of America dated October 18, 1968. (b) (i) "Research park" means: (A) research and development facilities; (B) research institutes; (C) testing laboratories; (D) related business and government installations; and (E) similar facilities, together with land. (ii) "Research park" includes all necessary appurtenances, rights, and franchises acquired and developed by the University of Utah which are suitable or necessary to promote the social welfare of the state through the advancement of education, science, research, economic development, and related purposes. (2) The acquisition and provision of any one or more of the following facilities may be included as part of the development of land for the research park but only to the extent that the facilities are incidental to the use of the land as a research park: (a) water; (b) sewage; (c) drainage; (d) street; (e) road; (f) sidewalk; (g) curb; (h) gutter; (i) street lighting; (j) electrical distribution; and (k) docking. (3) The Legislature determines that it is in the public interest of the state, Utah's citizens, and commerce to develop a research park in Salt Lake County upon property conveyed to the University of Utah under patent from the United States of America dated October 18, 1968. (4) The University of Utah has the following powers: (a) to establish, develop, and administer, through nonprofit corporations or foundations controlled by the president and the board of trustees, a research park upon the land acquired by the university under the patent; (b) to establish, acquire, develop, maintain, and operate a research park, including the acquisition of all necessary or suitable buildings, facilities, and improvements, and to acquire, purchase, construct, reconstruct, improve, remodel, add to, extend, maintain, equip, and furnish the research park or any building or facility, including research and service facilities and areas intended for the common use of the research park tenants; (c) to form nonprofit corporations or foundations to aid and assist the University of Utah to attain the University of Utah's charitable, scientific, literary, and educational objectives, including the acquisition, construction, financing, operation, and management of a research park; (d) to lease to the nonprofit corporation or foundation all or part of the land and facilities included in the research park upon terms and conditions established by the University of Utah, and to enter into any other contract or agreement with the nonprofit corporation or foundation as necessary for the construction, financing, operation, and management of the research park; (e) to lease, either directly or through a nonprofit corporation or foundation, to any person, firm, partnership, or corporation engaged in business for a profit any part or all of the land, buildings, or facilities of the research park under guidelines established by the university; (f) to allow a lessee to acquire or construct necessary or suitable buildings, facilities, and improvements upon the leased property, with any improvements acquired or constructed upon the premises during the term of the lease reverting to and becoming the property of the university at the lease's termination, renewal, or extension; and (g) to finance all or part of the cost of the research park including the purchase, construction, reconstruction, improvement, remodeling, addition to, extension, maintenance, equipment, and furnishing as permitted by law for the financing of self-liquidating projects by institutions of higher education. (5) (a) The nonprofit corporations or foundations may receive and administer legislative appropriations, government grants, contracts, and private gifts to carry out the nonprofit corporation or foundation's public purposes. (b) For the purpose of employee benefits, all salaried employees, agents, officers, faculty, and staff of the nonprofit corporation or foundation are considered employees, agents, officers, faculty, and staff of the University of Utah. (6) The Salt Lake City Council shall provide police and fire protection and furnish, install, and maintain customary municipal services and facilities for street lighting, traffic control, sidewalks, curb, gutter, drainage, sewage disposal, and water supply to all areas of the research park established upon lands conveyed to the University of Utah under the patent. (7) (a) The services and facilities are to be furnished and provided as needed and determined by the board subject to connection fees, use charges, and other service fees customarily assessed against similar persons, companies, or properties within the territorial limits of Salt Lake City. (b) No special improvement district may be created or special taxes imposed with respect to the services and facilities provided under this section. (c) The Department of Transportation may enter into agreements with the University of Utah between regular sessions of the Legislature designating all or part of the roads within or adjacent to the research park as part of the state highway system.