74R12304 E By Jones of Lubbock H.B. No. 2713 Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2713: By Jones of Lubbock C.S.H.B. No. 2713 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the regulation of bingo. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Section 2(22), Bingo Enabling Act (Article 179d, 1-5 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to read as follows: 1-6 (22) "Bingo equipment" means equipment actually used, 1-7 made, or sold for the purpose of use in bingo games and includes 1-8 machines or other devices from which balls or other items are 1-9 withdrawn to determine the letters and numbers or other symbols to 1-10 be called, the balls or items themselves, bingo cards or 1-11 computerized or electronic devices as defined in Section 11(u), and 1-12 any other device commonly used in direct operation of the game. 1-13 "Bingo equipment" does not include: 1-14 (A) a bingo game set commonly manufactured and 1-15 sold as a child's game for a retail price of $20 or less unless the 1-16 set or a part of the set is actually used in a bingo game subject 1-17 to regulation under this Act; or 1-18 (B) commonly available component parts of bingo 1-19 equipment such as light bulbs, fuses, or bingo balls. 1-20 SECTION 2. Section 11, Bingo Enabling Act (Article 179d, 1-21 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended by amending Subsection 1-22 (u) and adding Subsection (v) to read as follows: 1-23 (u) A licensed authorized organization may not conduct a 1-24 bingo game in which any player uses or is assisted by a 2-1 computerized or electronic device that is used instead of or in 2-2 conjunction with the player's traditional paper or nondisposable 2-3 bingo card unless: 2-4 (1) the computerized or electronic device is 2-5 continuously interfaced with and monitored by an independent data 2-6 processor; and 2-7 (2) the independent data processor registers and 2-8 verifies bingo winnings on the bingo card played with the device's 2-9 assistance. 2-10 (v) A person may not use a computerized or electronic device 2-11 otherwise permitted under Subsection (u) of this section: 2-12 (1) to generate or determine the random letters, 2-13 numbers, or other symbols used in playing the bingo card played 2-14 with the device's assistance; 2-15 (2) as a receptacle for the deposit of tokens or 2-16 money, including coins or paper currency, in payment for playing 2-17 the bingo card played with the device's assistance; or 2-18 (3) as a dispenser for the payment of a bingo prize, 2-19 including coins, paper currency, or any thing of value for the 2-20 bingo card played with the device's assistance. 2-21 SECTION 3. Section 19(b), Bingo Enabling Act (Article 179d, 2-22 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to read as follows: 2-23 (b) A game of bingo may not be conducted with any equipment 2-24 except that owned or leased by the licensed authorized organization 2-25 or used without payment of any compensation therefor by the 2-26 licensee. 2-27 SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 1995. 3-1 SECTION 5. The importance of this legislation and the 3-2 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 3-3 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 3-4 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 3-5 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.