BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                        S.B. 616

                                                                                                                                         By: Duncan

                                                                                                                               Natural Resources

                                                                                                                                              7/3/2007

                                                                                                                                              Enrolled

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

The Texas Water Development Board is celebrating an anniversary in 2007 and can pursue an intellectual property right for certain items that it currently lacks. Currently, other state agencies and institutions of higher education have the power to obtain intellectual property rights.

 

S.B. 616 authorizes the Texas Water Development Board to acquire intellectual property rights.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 6, Water Code, by adding Section 6.197, as follows:

 

Sec. 6.197.  INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF BOARD.  Authorizes the executive administrator (executive administrator) of the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), with the approval of TWDB and on TWDB's behalf, to acquire, apply for, register, secure, hold, protect, and renew under the laws of the State of Texas, another state, the United States, or any other nation a patent for certain purposes, a copyright for certain purposes, certain trademarks, or other evidence of protection or exclusivity of intellectual property. Authorizes the executive administrator, with the approval of TWDB and on TWDB's behalf, to contract with a person for certain purposes relating to the use of TWDB's intellectual property; obtain under such a contract a royalty, license right, or other certain means of securing reasonable compensation for the exercise of rights with respect to TWDB's intellectual property; waive, increase, or reduce the amount of such compensation under certain conditions; and enforce rules adopted to implement this section.

 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2007.