Will bill 529/2020 force research institution to return their cash balance state government treasury of São Paulo?
Market Rules
In August 2020, the Governor of São Paulo, João Doria Jr, introduced the Bill 529/2020, which proposes that USP, UNESP, UNICAMP, and FAPESP return their positive cash balances to the government's treasury, alleging that such institutions should not have "spare" money at this point.
The 4 above-mentioned institutions are crucial for the development of sciences in the state of São Paulo and in Brazil, as well as for the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. They allege that the so-called "spare" money is used to finance long-lasting research, including those related to the pandemic. In this scenario, some groups have started to mobilize against article 14 of the bill, which addresses the referred return of cash to the treasury.
If bill 529/2020 passes in the State of São Paulo by October 31, 2020, including the provision that determines that USP, UNESP, UNICAMP, AND FAPESP return their positive cash balance to the government treasury, this market will be resolved as "Yes".