SB154 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arthur OrrSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

State employees and education employees, patent proceeds to be shared with state agency or education institution, distrib. of proceeds to State General Fund or Education Trust Fund

Summary

SB154 would require patent proceeds from inventions developed by state or education employees to be shared with their employer, with half of the proceeds going to the relevant fund (State General Fund for agencies, Education Trust Fund for schools).

What This Bill Does

If passed, the bill would allocate 50% of patent proceeds from a state employee's invention to the employee's state agency (to be deposited in the State General Fund) or from an education employee to the education institution (to be deposited in the Education Trust Fund). The text provided does not explicitly state where the remaining 50% goes, but it is typically implied to go to the inventor. The act would take effect on the first day of the third month after it is enacted into law.

Who It Affects

• State employees who develop inventions as part of their job would be required to share patent proceeds with their employer (the remaining portion would presumably go to the inventor).
• State agencies would receive 50% of eligible patent proceeds and must deposit those funds into the State General Fund.
• Education employees who develop inventions as part of their job would be required to share patent proceeds with their employer (the remaining portion would presumably go to the inventor).
• Education institutions would receive 50% of eligible patent proceeds and must deposit those funds into the Education Trust Fund.

Key Provisions

• Section 1: A state agency shall receive 50 percent of the patent proceeds of a state employee who has developed an eligible invention within the scope of employment, with those proceeds deposited into the State General Fund.
• Section 2: An education institution shall receive 50 percent of the patent proceeds of an education employee who has developed an eligible invention within the scope of employment, with those proceeds deposited into the Education Trust Fund.
• Section 3: The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after its passage and approval by the Governor, or otherwise becoming law.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Patents