LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session April 18, 2001 TO: Honorable Rene Oliveira, Chair, House Committee on Ways & Means FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB2936 by Ehrhardt (Relating to the protection and use of certain intellectual property by an appraisal district.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted ************************************************************************** * No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. * ************************************************************************** The bill would add Section 6.15 to the Tax Code to allow appraisal districts the right to patent, copyright, and trademark protection for an idea, publication, or other original innovation fixed in a tangible medium, including: a logo, a service mark, automated systems software, an audio or visual work, or geographic information systems. Money paid to the appraisal district for the exclusive rights would be deposited to the credit of the district's general fund. Passage of the bill could result in the availability of additional revenues for use by those appraisal districts holding the exclusive rights to intellectual property and publications. The deposit of fees and royalties paid to those appraisal districts by third parties could result in cost savings to taxing units that contributed to the appraisal districts' budgets. Local Government Impact No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies: 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts LBB Staff: JK, SD, BR