The proposed bill, General Assembly Committee Bill No. 5015, seeks to amend Section 22-82a of the general statutes to authorize employees of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station to form and participate in spin-off companies based on their inventions and discoveries. The bill introduces new provisions that allow employees to serve as board members and receive compensation from these start-up companies, provided that such activities align with the rights of researchers at other public universities and comply with applicable legal and ethical standards. This change aims to place employees of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station on equal footing with their counterparts at The University of Connecticut regarding the commercialization of their inventions.

In addition to the new provisions, the bill retains existing language that outlines the ownership rights of the station over inventions conceived by its employees during their employment. It mandates that employees disclose their inventions, assign rights to the station, and entitles them to a share of the net proceeds derived from the commercialization of their inventions. The bill also establishes mechanisms for resolving disputes related to inventions and their allocation, including voluntary and compulsory arbitration. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance the innovation landscape within the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station while ensuring that employees are fairly compensated for their contributions.

Statutes affected:
Committee Bill: 22-82a