BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2138

By: Kacal

Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Under current law, nonprofit wildlife conservation organizations are unable to sell raffle tickets online. These organizations note that doing so would afford them with a more streamlined process for volunteers and purchasers and would enhance fundraising opportunities for their members and supporters, ultimately benefiting their conservation projects. H.B. 2138 seeks to address this issue by authorizing a nonprofit wildlife conservation association to sell raffle tickets to its supporters through the Internet.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2138 amends the Occupations Code to authorize a nonprofit wildlife conservation association, including each local chapter, affiliate, wildlife cooperative, or unit, that is considered a qualified nonprofit organization under the Charitable Raffle Enabling Act to use the organization's website to sell or offer to sell raffle tickets to the organization's previously identified supporters.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2023.