BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 2429 By: Eiland 4-26-95 Committee Report (Amended) BACKGROUND Ships that dock in Texas waters can take passengers out to international waters, where gambling is legal. However, while riding into international waters, passengers may not be in a room where the gambling equipment is housed. This therefore limits the types of boats that can be used for these gambling cruises. PURPOSE CSHB 2429 would allow passengers on gambling ships to be in the same room as the gambling devices when the ship is in state waters. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1.: Section 47.09 of the Penal Code is amended, creating subsection (b)(2)(b), which states that while a vessel is in territorial waters of the state, all gaming devices should be covered and electronically disabled. Creates subsection (b)(3)(b) which states that while the vessel is in territorial waters of the state, no one other than a member of the crew or the master can remove the disabling devices to inspect or repair the gaming equipment. SECTION 2.: No change. SECTION 3.: Effective date, September 1, 1995. SECTION 4.: Emergency clause. EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS Committee Amendment #1, strikes Subsection (B) on page 2, line 4, and inserts a new Subsection (b) to read: that all devices, equipment, or paraphernalia are covered in a manner that prevents the use and viewing of the device, equipment or paraphernalia, and allows only the master and crew of the vessel to uncover the device equipment, or paraphernalia, and disabled, electronically or by another method, from a remote and secured area of the vessel in a way that allows only the master and crew of the vessel to remove any disabling device. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION HB 2429 was heard in a Public Hearing on April 26, 1995. The Chair laid out HB 2429, and recognized the author Rep. Eiland to explain the bill. Rep. Jones offered an amendment to HB 2429, and moved that the full committee adopt Committee Amendment #1. There was no objection. Rep. Yarbrough moved that the full committee adopt HB 2429 as amended, and that it be reported favorably to the full House with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed and placed on the Local and Consent Calendar. The motion prevailed by the following vote: AYES: 6, NAYS: 0, ABSENT: 3