By Ehrhardt                                           H.B. No. 2936
         Line and page numbers may not match official copy.
         Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the protection and use of intellectual property by an
 1-3     appraisal district.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Chapter 6, Tax Code, is amended to add Section
 1-6     6.15 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 6.15.  PROTECTION AND USE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND
 1-8     PUBLICATIONS. (a)  An appraisal district may:
 1-9                 (1)  apply for, register, secure, hold, and protect
1-10     under the laws of the United States, any state, or any nation a
1-11     patent, copyright, trademark, or other evidence of protection or
1-12     exclusivity issued in or for an idea, publication, or other
1-13     original innovation fixed in a tangible medium, including:
1-14                       (A)  a logo;
1-15                       (B)  a service mark;
1-16                       (C)  automated systems software;
1-17                       (D)  an audio or visual work;
1-18                       (E)  geographic information systems.
1-19                 (2)  enter into a nonexclusive license agreement with a
1-20     third party for the receipt of a fee, royalty, or other thing of
1-21     monetary or nonmonetary value.
1-22           (b)  Money paid to the appraisal district under this section
1-23     shall be deposited in the appraisal district budget
 2-1           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2002.
 2-2           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
 2-3     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-4     emergency and an imperative necessity that the constitutional rule
 2-5     required bills to be read on three several days in each house be
 2-6     suspended and this rule is hereby suspended.