Patent Fee Integrity Act
Bill journey · stage 2 of 5
Under committee review
What it doesSummary introduced in senate (Mar 13, 2014)
Patent Fee Integrity Act - Establishes in the Treasury the United States Patent and Trademark Office Innovation Promotion Fund (Innovation Promotion Fund) to be used as a revolving fund by the Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) without fiscal year limitation.
Requires to be credited to or deposited in the Innovation Promotion Fund: (1) appropriations for defraying the costs of USPTO activities; (2) fees collected under federal patent and trademark laws; and (3) any available unobligated balances remaining in the Patent and Trademark Office Appropriation Account and in the Patent and Trademark Fee Reserve Fund. (Replaces the Patent and Trademark Office Appropriation Account, eliminates the Patent and Trademark Fee Reserve Fund, and provides a source of permanent funding for the USPTO.)
Requires fees collected by the Director to remain available to the Director until expended.
Makes the Public Enterprise Fund available to cover: (1) ordinary and reasonable administrative, operating, and other expenses incurred by the Director for the continued operation of USPTO services, programs, activities, and duties relating to patents and trademarks; and (2) expenses incurred pursuant to obligations, representations, or other commitments of the USPTO.
Requires the Director, on an annual basis, to: (1) report to Congress with operation and spending plans for the current and next fiscal year, including financial details and staff levels broken down by each major activity; (2) provide for an independent audit of USPTO financial statements; and (3) submit a budget to the President.
What just happenedMar 13, 2014
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Who’s behind it
- Introduced in SenateMar 13, 2014
- Mar 13, 2014IntroReferral
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Mar 13, 2014IntroReferralB00100
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1658-1661)
- Mar 13, 2014IntroReferral10000
Introduced in Senate