Utah Senators heaped praise Wednesday on a multimillion-dollar plan to build research laboratories at state universities in order to goose the state's high-tech sector.

"The state of Utah has a declining share of the high-tech market," said state Sen. Al Mansell, R-Sandy, sponsor of what's known as the USTAR initiative.

"If we don't do something rather significant, we are going to become one of the best-educated, smartest call centers in the nation."

The Senate passed the initiative 28-0 on its first foray on the floor. It must pass one more vote before proceeding to the House.

The bill proposes building two research centers, one each at Utah State University and the University of Utah, using $50 million in general fund money and $110 million in bonds.

The universities would donate land for the buildings and contribute additional construction funds.

It would also create the Utah Science Technology and Research Governing Authority and allocate $15 million for the next fiscal year to fund research teams and five technology outreach centers across the state.

The idea is that research at the centers would generate in-state jobs by creating spin-off companies and opportunities for existing firms.

Both the governing authority and the universities would receive royalties and licensing fees from any created technology, with the expectation that state funding could eventually be phased out.

"This is the kind of thing that sounds really good in theory, but could be a disaster," said state Sen. Michael Waddoups, R-West Jordan -- but he's convinced it won't give the state a "black eye."

"I believe the potential is really there," he said. "I'm hoping this is just the beginning, that we'll have to do this again in a few years because we've run out of space."

SB 75: USTAR Initiative

Creates a governing authority to oversee two research labs and other technology research teams and centers, and allocates funding for lab construction and research programs.

Sponsor: Sen. Al Mansell, R-Sandy

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page A9.