1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the maximum value of a raffle prize.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Sections 3(g) and (k), Charitable Raffle Enabling

 1-5     Act (Article 179f, Revised Statutes), are amended to read as

 1-6     follows:

 1-7           (g)  A prize offered or awarded at the raffle may not be

 1-8     money.  Except as provided by Subsection (k) of this section, the

 1-9     value of a prize that is offered or awarded at the raffle and that

1-10     is purchased by the organization or for which the organization

1-11     provides any consideration may not exceed $50,000 [$25,000].

1-12           (k)  A prize may consist of one or more tickets in the state

1-13     lottery authorized by Chapter 466, Government Code [the State

1-14     Lottery Act (Article 179g, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), and its

1-15     subsequent amendments], with a face value of $50,000 [$25,000] or

1-16     less, without regard to whether a prize in the lottery game to

1-17     which the ticket or tickets relate exceeds $50,000 [$25,000].

1-18           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-19     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-20     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-21     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-22     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

1-23     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

1-24     passage, and it is so enacted.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 641 was passed by the House on March

         13, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 114, Nays 23, 2 present, not

         voting.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 641 was passed by the Senate on May

         8, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor