S.B. 349 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 349 By: Armbrister Economic Development Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current Texas law, the Department of Information Resources (department) does not have the explicit authority to acquire or hold intellectual property rights through patents, copyrights, trademarks, and other intellectual property rights. As a result, the department is unable to copyright and trademark parts of its intellectual property and derive revenue from it. S.B. 349 amends the Government Code to give the department that explicit authority, and to require any revenue acquired from intellectual property to be paid to the general revenue fund. In addition, S.B. 349 repeals Section 2054.124, which requires each state agency to perform a biennial audit of software licenses for software installed in the agency's computers. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS SB 349 amends the Government Code to allow the Department of Information Resources to patent, copyright, or trademark its intellectual property; any revenue paid to the department shall be deposited in the general revenue fund. SB 349 repeals Section 2054.124, Government Code, which requires each state agency to perform a biennial audit of software licenses for software installed in the agency's computers. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2003.