BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 1825
88R18447 JTZ-D	By: Turner; Cook (Birdwell)
	State Affairs
	5/12/2023
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Under Section 11.179(a), Education Code, the board of trustees of a public school district located in a county with a population of not more than 300,000 and in which a component university of the University of Houston System is located may adopt a policy allowing the consumption, possession, and sale of an alcoholic beverage at an event held at a performing arts facility owned by the school district if the facility is leased to a nonprofit organization for an event not sponsored or sanctioned by the district.

H.B. 1825 would allow the board of trustees of the Arlington Independent School District to adopt a policy allowing alcohol to be served at the Center for Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA), a standalone complex in Arlington ISD. With a precedent in the code for another Texas county, the bill would extend the same allowance to Arlington. Currently, the inability to have alcohol at the CVPA inhibits many nonprofits from using the venue to host events. This world-class facility is located at the center of Arlington's entertainment district and is more affordable than other venues in the area. This bill would help smaller foundations and organizations host events in the entertainment district. Events where alcohol could be consumed would be limited to events hosted by third parties, so school events would not be included.

Arlington ISD would benefit from H.B. 1825 because the district could have more events at the CVPA, and revenue generated from venue rental fees could be significant. Concerns about student safety would be addressed by safety measures laid out in statute, including not permitting events with the sale or consumption of alcohol during school hours.

H.B. 1825 amends current law relating to the consumption, possession, and sale of alcoholic beverages at certain performing arts facilities owned by certain school districts.

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 Section 11.179(a), Education Code, as follows:

(a) Authorizes the board of trustees of a school district to adopt a policy allowing the consumption, possession, and sale of an alcoholic beverage at an event held at a performing arts facility owned by the district if:

(1) makes no changes to this subdivision; and

(2) the district is located in:

(A) creates this paragraph from existing text: or

(B) a county in which is located a facility described by Subdivision (1) (relating to a facility that is leased to a nonprofit organization for an event not sponsored or sanctioned by the school district) within two miles of two or more stadiums with a capacity of at least 40,000 people.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2023.