By: Geren (Senate Sponsor - Powell) H.B. No. 2847
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 3, 2021;
  May 6, 2021, read first time and referred to Committee on Local
  Government; May 13, 2021, reported favorably by the following
  vote:  Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 13, 2021, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the authority of the Tarrant County Hospital District
  or a nonprofit corporation formed by the district regarding certain
  technology or intellectual property owned by or licensed to the
  district or corporation.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 281, Health and Safety
  Code, is amended by adding Section 281.0519 to read as follows:
         Sec. 281.0519.  TARRANT COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT; AUTHORITY
  TO SELL OR LICENSE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. (a) The Tarrant County
  Hospital District or a nonprofit corporation formed by the district
  may:
               (1)  sell or license technology or intellectual
  property that is owned by or licensed to the district or a nonprofit
  corporation formed by the district;
               (2)  enter into a contract to provide services related
  to technology or intellectual property sold or licensed under
  Subdivision (1);
               (3)  contract, collaborate, or enter into a joint
  venture or other agreement with a public or private entity to engage
  in an activity authorized under Subdivision (1) or (2); or
               (4)  take any other action necessary to protect or
  benefit from the exclusivity of technology and intellectual
  property owned by or licensed to the district or a nonprofit
  corporation formed by the district, including applying for,
  acquiring, registering, securing, holding, protecting, and
  renewing under applicable provisions of state, federal, or
  international law:
                     (A)  a patent;
                     (B)  a copyright;
                     (C)  a trademark, service mark, collective mark,
  or certification mark; or
                     (D)  any other form of protection of intellectual
  property provided by law.
         (b)  For purposes of Subsection (a)(3):
               (1)  a public or private entity may be a for-profit or a
  nonprofit entity; and
               (2)  a nonprofit corporation formed by the district may
  hold an ownership interest in a public or private entity described
  by Subsection (a)(3).
         (c)  Information prepared or compiled by or for the Tarrant
  County Hospital District or a nonprofit corporation formed by the
  district relating to the development of technology or intellectual
  property to which this section applies is exempt from public
  disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
 
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