CLEARINGHOUSE ON STATE AND LOCAL INITIATIVES.

SEC. 5122. CLEARINGHOUSE ON STATE AND LOCAL INITIATIVES. (a) Clearinghouse.—The Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.) is amended— 102 STAT. 1438 (1) by redesignating sections 6 through 19 as sections 7 through 20, respectively; and (2) by inserting after section 5 the following new section: “SEC 6. 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), the Secretary may enter into contracts for the purpose of collecting information on the nature, extent, and effects of initiatives. “(d) Triennial Report.—The Secretary shall prepare and transmit to the Congress once each 3 years a report on initiatives by State and local governments to enhance the competitiveness of American businesses through the stimulation of productivity, technology, and innovation. The report shall include recommendations to the Presi-102 STAT. 1439 dent, the Congress, and to Federal agencies on the appropriate Federal role in stimulating State and local efforts in this area. The first of these reports shall be transmitted to the Congress before January 1, 1989.” (b) Definition.—Section 4 of such Act is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new paragraph: “(13) ‘Clearinghouse’ means the Clearinghouse for State and Local Initiatives on Productivity, Technology, and Innovation established by section 6.”. (c) Conforming Amendment.—Section 10(d) of such Act, as so redesignated by section 5122(a)(1) of this part, is amended by striking “6, 8, 10,14, 16, or 17” and inserting in lieu thereof “7, 9, 11, 15, 17, or 18”.