BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 4805

By: González, Jessica

Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Local business leaders, city governments, and sports enthusiasts have voiced their support for including the 2024 T20 Cricket World Cup as an eligible event under the major events reimbursement program. The City of Grand Prairie was recently chosen as a host venue for the 2024 games, and local leaders are looking to capitalize on this opportunity to bring economic benefits to the North Texas area. As Texas grows, the major events reimbursement program must also grow with it to reflect changes in popular entertainment. Though the Super Bowl and World Series have been included in the program since it was established, the T20 Cricket World Cup is new to the United States and new to Texas. C.S.H.B. 4805 seeks to create an incentive for future cities to seek hosting privileges for major cricket events by making those events eligible for reimbursement under the program.

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

C.S.H.B. 4805 amends the Government Code to make a single cricket match or competition or a series of cricket matches or competitions sanctioned by Major League Cricket, USA Cricket, or the International Cricket Council, including the T20 World Cup, eligible for funding under the major events reimbursement program. The bill authorizes an eligible cricket event to receive funding through the program if a portion of the event is held at one or more sites located in another state or country or the event is held more than one time in any year, notwithstanding certain statutory restrictions on the location and frequency of an eligible event.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.

COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 4805 may differ from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

The substitute includes cricket matches, competitions, and series sanctioned by Major League Cricket, USA Cricket, or the International Cricket Council, including the T20 World Cup, in the events eligible for funding under the program, whereas the introduced only included a T20 World Cup match or the T20 World Cup tournament sanctioned by the International Cricket Council. The substitute provides an exception to the program's restrictions on event location and frequency for certain eligible cricket events, while the introduced did not include this provision.