By Jones of Lubbock                                   H.B. No. 2713
       74R7867 T
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to the regulation of bingo; and declaring an emergency.
    1-3        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-4        SECTION 1.  Section 11(u), Bingo Enabling Act (Article 719d,
    1-5  Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to read as follows:
    1-6        (u)  A licensed authorized organization may not conduct a
    1-7  bingo game in which any player uses or is assisted by a
    1-8  computerized or electronic device that is used instead of or in
    1-9  conjunction with the player's traditional paper or nondisposable
   1-10  bingo card unless such a computerized or electronic device is
   1-11  continuously interfaced with, and monitored by, an independent data
   1-12  processing means which registers and verifies winnings on the bingo
   1-13  cards played with its assistance, and said device does not perform
   1-14  any of the following functions:
   1-15              (1)  generate or determine the random letters, numbers
   1-16  and/or other symbols to be called and matched on the bingo cards
   1-17  being played with its assistance;
   1-18              (2)  accept direct monetary coins, bills, or tokens as
   1-19  payment for the bingo cards being played with its assistance; or
   1-20              (3)  pay out directly any monetary coins, bills, or
   1-21  tokens, or anything else of value, as a prize for the bingo cards
   1-22  being played with its assistance.
   1-23        SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
   1-24        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
    2-1  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    2-2  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
    2-3  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    2-4  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.