BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3946

By: Clardy

Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Sports seasons don't always follow a traditional 365-day January-December calendar. For example, the 2021 Texas Bowl was held in January of 2022 due to COVID-19, causing a delay in the season. That same year, the 2022 Texas Bowl was held in late December. Under current law, only one of these events would be eligible to receive reimbursement under the Major Events Reimbursement Program (MERP) or Events Trust Fund (ETF), because the statute specifies that only one event is eligible "each year." This problem is not just a one-time COVID-related issue; sometimes an event is moved up or back a weekend each year due to unforeseen delays or simply because that particular game is played later in one season versus the next. H.B. 3946 seeks to clarify that events occurring in the same calendar year but for different sports seasons are eligible for reimbursement through the MERP or the ETF.

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. 3946 amends the Government Code to establish that, for purposes of eligibility for funding under the major events reimbursements program and the events trust fund, certain sporting events are considered to be held one time in each year if the event is held only one time in any annual season for that sport.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.