1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the regulation and operation of bingo.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Section 2, Bingo Enabling Act (Article 179d,
1-5 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended by adding Subdivisions
1-6 (26) through (29) to read as follows:
1-7 (26) "Instant bingo," "pull-tab bingo," and
1-8 "break-open bingo" mean a form of bingo played using tickets with
1-9 perforated break-open tabs, made of paper or paper products, the
1-10 face of which is covered or otherwise hidden from view to conceal
1-11 numbers, letters, or symbols, some of which have been designated in
1-12 advance as prize winners.
1-13 (27) "Licensed authorized organization" means an
1-14 authorized organization that holds a license to conduct bingo games
1-15 as provided by this Act and the rules adopted by the commission.
1-16 (28) "Primary business office" means the location at
1-17 which all records relating to the primary purpose of a licensed
1-18 authorized organization are maintained in the ordinary course of
1-19 business.
1-20 (29) "Location," "place," or "premises" means the area
1-21 subject to the direct control of, and to actual use by, a licensed
1-22 authorized organization or group of licensed authorized
1-23 organizations for the purpose of conducting a game of bingo.
1-24 SECTION 2. Subsections (e), (k), (p), (q), and (v), Section
2-1 11, Bingo Enabling Act (Article 179d, Vernon's Texas Civil
2-2 Statutes), are amended to read as follows:
2-3 (e) A prize may not exceed the sum or value of $750 [$500]
2-4 in any single game of bingo.
2-5 (k) A game of chance other than bingo or a raffle conducted
2-6 under the Charitable Raffle Enabling Act (Article 179f, Revised
2-7 Statutes, as added by Chapter 957, Acts of the 71st Legislature,
2-8 Regular Session, 1989) may not be conducted or allowed during an
2-9 occasion when bingo is played. A person authorized to conduct a
2-10 raffle under this section must be a bona fide member of a licensed
2-11 authorized organization as described in Subsection (g) of this
2-12 section. The commission shall adopt rules for the implementation
2-13 of this subsection. This subsection does not prohibit the
2-14 exhibition and play of an amusement machine that is not a gambling
2-15 device as defined by Section 47.01, Penal Code.
2-16 (p) No one other than a licensed authorized organization or
2-17 the commission may advertise [or promote] bingo. A licensed
2-18 authorized organization or the commission may [not] include in an
2-19 advertisement or promotion the amount of a prize or series of
2-20 prizes offered at a bingo occasion.
2-21 (q) A licensed authorized organization or other person may
2-22 not award or offer to award a door prize having a value of more
2-23 than $250 [or other prize to persons present at a bingo occasion or
2-24 participating in a bingo occasion in addition to the prizes awarded
2-25 for winning the individual bingo games].
2-26 (v) A person may not use a card-minding device:
2-27 (1) to generate or determine the random letters,
3-1 numbers, or other symbols used in playing the bingo card played
3-2 with the device's assistance;
3-3 (2) as a receptacle for the deposit of tokens or
3-4 money, including coins or paper currency, in payment for playing
3-5 the bingo card played with the device's assistance; or
3-6 (3) as a dispenser for the payment of a bingo prize,
3-7 including coins, paper currency, or any thing of value for the
3-8 bingo card played with the device's assistance. No more than 40
3-9 [30] percent of the individuals attending a [gross bingo game sales
3-10 at each] bingo occasion, based on the average of two previously
3-11 submitted quarterly reports, may use [can be on] electronic or
3-12 mechanical card-minding devices. This provision does not
3-13 include[,] pull-tabs, instant bingo tickets, or break-open bingo
3-14 games.
3-15 SECTION 3. Section 12, Bingo Enabling Act (Article 179d,
3-16 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended by adding Subsection (g)
3-17 to read as follows:
3-18 (g) For purposes of Subsection (a)(1) of this section:
3-19 (1) a copy of the Internal Revenue Service letter that
3-20 grants approval of an organization's Section 501(c) exemption is
3-21 adequate evidence of the validity of the organization's tax exempt
3-22 status; and
3-23 (2) a letter of good standing from a parent
3-24 organization that holds a Section 501(c) exemption for both the
3-25 parent organization and its affiliate is adequate evidence of the
3-26 affiliate organization's Section 501(c) exemption.
3-27 SECTION 4. Section 13, Bingo Enabling Act (Article 179d,
4-1 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended by amending Subsections
4-2 (f), (j), and (q) and adding Subsections (p), (v), and (w) to read
4-3 as follows:
4-4 (f) A person who leases premises on which bingo is conducted
4-5 is [not] required to be a licensed commercial lessor if [unless]
4-6 the person leases directly to a licensed authorized organization.
4-7 An authorized organization that holds a commercial license to lease
4-8 premises on which bingo is conducted must be licensed to conduct
4-9 bingo at the same premises.
4-10 (j) A license may not be transferred by a licensee[,] except
4-11 as provided by this subsection.
4-12 (1) A commercial license to lease bingo premises may
4-13 be transferred to another person with the prior approval of the
4-14 commission.
4-15 (2) A [that a] licensed commercial lessor may transfer
4-16 a license held by the licensee to a corporation formed by the
4-17 licensee or from one corporation owned by the licensee to another
4-18 corporation owned by the licensee.
4-19 (3) Subject to Subdivisions (4) and (5) of this
4-20 subsection, if an individual who holds a commercial license to
4-21 lease bingo premises dies, or becomes incapacitated as determined
4-22 by a court of this state, the individual's license is part of the
4-23 individual's estate and is subject to the laws governing the
4-24 disposition and control of property under the circumstances. Under
4-25 such circumstances, the license is not considered to have been
4-26 transferred, subject to compliance with Subdivision (6) of this
4-27 subsection. The individual's estate may take any action with
5-1 respect to the individual's license that the individual could have
5-2 taken while the individual was alive.
5-3 (4) Unless an injunction is issued under this section,
5-4 a licensed authorized organization that conducts bingo lawfully at
5-5 any location that is the subject of a license to which Subdivision
5-6 (3) of this subsection applies may continue conducting bingo at the
5-7 location following the death or incapacity of the individual
5-8 license holder.
5-9 (5) On a showing of good cause by the commission, a
5-10 district court having jurisdiction in the county for which a
5-11 commercial lessor license was issued may temporarily or permanently
5-12 enjoin the conduct of bingo at any location that is the subject of
5-13 a license to which Subdivision (3) of this subsection applies. For
5-14 purposes of this section, "good cause" means any cause that would
5-15 be sufficient for the commission to obtain a suspension under
5-16 Section 16(e) of this Act.
5-17 (6) The estate or guardian of an individual to whom
5-18 Subdivision (3) of this subsection applies shall notify the
5-19 commission within one year of the date the individual dies or is
5-20 determined to be incapacitated by a court of this state. The
5-21 estate or guardian and the heir or heirs or other appropriate
5-22 person under the circumstances shall promptly take all necessary
5-23 steps to complete a transfer of the license to the heir or heirs or
5-24 other appropriate person under the circumstances. A transfer of a
5-25 license under this subsection requires the prior approval of the
5-26 commission. The commission shall approve the transfer if the
5-27 person to whom the license will be transferred otherwise meets the
6-1 requirements for the license.
6-2 (p)(1) Notwithstanding Subsection (n) of this section, the
6-3 commission may not issue a commercial license to lease a bingo
6-4 premises to any person unless the commission receives evidence that
6-5 the commission considers adequate that any funds used by the person
6-6 seeking the license to obtain the premises, provide the premises
6-7 with furniture, fixtures, or equipment, renovate the premises, or
6-8 provide utilities to the premises are:
6-9 (A) the person's own funds; or
6-10 (B) the funds of another person, including the
6-11 proceeds of a loan, obtained in an arms-length transaction that was
6-12 commercially reasonable under the circumstances and the funds were
6-13 not obtained under an expectation or obligation that the person
6-14 from whom the funds were obtained would directly participate in, or
6-15 have any legal interest in, any rents obtained under the license or
6-16 revenues or profits from the conduct of bingo on the premises.
6-17 (2) This subsection does not prohibit a group of
6-18 licensed authorized organizations from combining the organizations'
6-19 funds or combining or jointly obtaining funds described by
6-20 Subsection (p)(1)(B) of this section.
6-21 (q) The following persons are not eligible for a commercial
6-22 license, or to renew a commercial license, to lease bingo premises
6-23 to a licensed authorized organization:
6-24 (1) a person convicted of a felony, criminal fraud,
6-25 gambling or gambling-related offense, or crime of moral turpitude,
6-26 if less than 10 years have elapsed since the termination of any
6-27 sentence, parole, mandatory supervision, or probation served for
7-1 the offense;
7-2 (2) a public officer who receives any consideration,
7-3 direct or indirect, as owner or lessor of premises offered for the
7-4 purpose of conducting bingo;
7-5 (3) a person who extends credit to, loans money to, or
7-6 pays or provides for the payment of license fees for an authorized
7-7 organization;
7-8 (4) a distributor or manufacturer; [or]
7-9 (5) a person, firm, or corporation in which a person
7-10 covered by Subdivision (1), (2), (3), or (4) of this subsection or
7-11 a person married or related in the first degree by consanguinity or
7-12 affinity, as determined under Chapter 573, Government Code [Article
7-13 5996h, Revised Statutes], to one of those persons has greater than
7-14 a 10 percent proprietary, equitable, or credit interest or in which
7-15 one of those persons is active or employed;
7-16 (6) a foreign corporation or other legal entity, an
7-17 individual who is not a resident of this state, or a corporation or
7-18 other legal entity owned or controlled by a foreign corporation or
7-19 individual who is not a resident of this state; or
7-20 (7) a corporation or other legal entity whose shares
7-21 are publicly traded or a corporation or other legal entity that is
7-22 owned or controlled by a corporation whose shares are publicly
7-23 traded.
7-24 (v)(1) Except as provided in this subsection, no more than
7-25 one bingo location may exist under a common roof or over a common
7-26 foundation.
7-27 (2) This subsection does not apply where more than one
8-1 bingo location lawfully exists under a common roof or over a common
8-2 foundation pursuant to a license application filed with the
8-3 commission on or before May 23, 1997, and the commission shall
8-4 renew any license at such location that is otherwise in compliance
8-5 with this Act.
8-6 (3) Subdivision (2) of this subsection does not apply
8-7 if one or more of the bingo locations under a common roof or over a
8-8 common foundation ceases to lawfully exist.
8-9 (w)(1) Subsections (q)(6) and (7) of this section do not
8-10 apply to a license in effect as of May 1, 1997, if bingo was being
8-11 lawfully conducted on the licensed premises as of that date.
8-12 (2) This subsection does not apply to a license that
8-13 is:
8-14 (A) moved to a location in this state that is
8-15 different from the location for which the license was in effect as
8-16 of May 1, 1997;
8-17 (B) expanded as to square footage or seating
8-18 capacity beyond the square footage and seating capacity in use as
8-19 of May 1, 1997; or
8-20 (C) if ownership of the licensee changes, or the
8-21 license is transferred, after May 1, 1997.
8-22 (3) The commission may make any investigation of, and
8-23 require any information from, a person described by Subsection
8-24 (q)(6) or (7) of this section or any officer, director, agent, or
8-25 employee thereof, that the commission is authorized to make or
8-26 require of an applicant for or holder of a commercial license to
8-27 lease premises on which bingo is conducted, if the person owns or
9-1 controls a license described by Subdivision (1) of this subsection.
9-2 If such person, or an officer, director, agent, or employee in
9-3 Texas of such person, would be disqualified under this Act from
9-4 holding a commercial license to lease premises on which bingo is
9-5 conducted if the person, officer, director, agent, or employee were
9-6 the licensee or an applicant for such license, any entity owned or
9-7 controlled by such person is disqualified from holding such
9-8 license. The commission may require the individual or legal entity
9-9 that is the subject of a substantiated investigation under this
9-10 subsection to pay the actual cost of the investigation.
9-11 (4) This subsection expires January 1, 2001.
9-12 SECTION 5. Section 13e, Bingo Enabling Act (Article 179d,
9-13 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended by adding Subsections
9-14 (i)-(k) to read as follows:
9-15 (i) A system service provider may use bar codes on bingo
9-16 paper as a means of providing accurate tracking, registering, and
9-17 accounting.
9-18 (j) A system service provider may purchase goods or services
9-19 from a licensed manufacturer.
9-20 (k) The commission shall include a system service provider
9-21 as a member of a bingo advisory committee appointed under Section
9-22 43 of this Act.
9-23 SECTION 6. Section 14, Bingo Enabling Act (Article 179d,
9-24 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended by amending Subsection
9-25 (b) and adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows:
9-26 (b) A license issued under this Act may be amended on
9-27 application to the commission, and on payment of a $10 [$25] fee,
10-1 if the subject matter of the proposed amendment could lawfully and
10-2 properly have been included in the original license. A licensee
10-3 may not change the location [or times] of its bingo games until it
10-4 has surrendered its original license and received an amended
10-5 license from the commission.
10-6 (d) A licensee shall notify the commission before changing
10-7 the time or date of a bingo game. A licensee may provide notice to
10-8 the commission regarding the change of the time or date of a bingo
10-9 game by use of telephone or facsimile.
10-10 (e) The commission by rule shall provide a method by which a
10-11 licensee may pay the amendment fee required by this section.
10-12 SECTION 7. Section 16, Bingo Enabling Act (Article 179d,
10-13 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to read as follows:
10-14 Sec. 16. CONTROL AND SUPERVISION; SUSPENSION OF LICENSES;
10-15 INSPECTION OF PREMISES. (a) The commission shall administer this
10-16 Act. The commission has broad authority and shall exercise strict
10-17 control and close supervision over all games of bingo conducted in
10-18 this state to the end that the games are fairly conducted and the
10-19 proceeds derived from the games are used for the purposes
10-20 authorized in this Act. The commission's authority under this Act
10-21 is executed through a division established by the [administrator of
10-22 the] commission to administer this Act. The commission
10-23 [administrator] shall employ a director of bingo operations to
10-24 administer the division under the direction of the commission [and
10-25 administrator]. The commission may adopt rules for the enforcement
10-26 and administration of this Act.
10-27 (b) The commission shall provide to any person on request a
11-1 printed copy of this Act and any rules applicable to the
11-2 enforcement of this Act. The commission may impose a reasonable
11-3 charge for a copy of an item provided under this subsection.
11-4 (c) [(d)] The commission by rule shall provide procedures
11-5 for the approval of bingo cards. A licensee may not use or
11-6 distribute a bingo card unless it has been approved by the
11-7 commission. The commission may set the price or adopt one or more
11-8 schedules of prices at which bingo cards may be sold or otherwise
11-9 furnished by a licensed authorized organization. A licensed
11-10 authorized organization may not sell or otherwise furnish a bingo
11-11 card at a price other than a price authorized by the commission
11-12 under this subsection or by a schedule adopted under this
11-13 subsection. The commission may establish procedures requiring a
11-14 licensed authorized organization to notify the commission of the
11-15 price or price schedule for bingo cards the organization will use
11-16 for one or more reporting periods.
11-17 (d) [(e)] After a hearing, the commission may suspend or
11-18 revoke any license issued under this Act for failure to comply with
11-19 this Act or a rule adopted by the commission under this Act, or for
11-20 any reason that would allow or require the commission to refuse to
11-21 issue or renew a license of the same class.
11-22 (e) The commission may temporarily [summarily] suspend a
11-23 license issued under this Act for failure to comply with this Act
11-24 or a rule adopted by the commission under this Act. Before
11-25 temporarily suspending a license issued under this Act, the
11-26 director of bingo operations must follow any prehearing rules
11-27 adopted by [if] the commission to determine if [determines that]
12-1 the licensee's continued operation may constitute an immediate
12-2 threat to the health, safety, morals, or welfare of the public.
12-3 Chapter 2001, Government Code, [The Administrative Procedure and
12-4 Texas Register Act (Article 6252-13a, Vernon's Texas Civil
12-5 Statutes)] does not apply to the director of bingo operations or to
12-6 the commission in the enforcement and administration of a temporary
12-7 [summary] suspension under this section.
12-8 (f) A proceeding to temporarily [summarily] suspend a
12-9 license issued under this Act is initiated by the director of bingo
12-10 operations [commission] by serving notice to the licensee informing
12-11 the licensee of the rules adopted by the commission regarding the
12-12 prehearing temporary suspension process and [it] of the licensee's
12-13 right to a hearing before the commission. The notice must be
12-14 personally served on an officer, operator, or agent of the licensee
12-15 or sent by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested,
12-16 to the licensee's mailing address as it appears on the commission's
12-17 records. The notice must state the alleged violations that
12-18 constitute grounds for temporary [summary] suspension.
12-19 (g) If a notice of temporary [summary] suspension is served
12-20 on a licensee, the director of bingo operations [commission] shall
12-21 simultaneously serve notice of a hearing, to be held within 10 days
12-22 after the date the notice is served, at which the licensee shall
12-23 show cause why the license should not be temporarily [summarily]
12-24 suspended on the 10th day after the date the notice is served. A
12-25 final hearing on the suspension or revocation of the license shall
12-26 be held, if requested by the licensee, within 30 days after the
12-27 date the commission receives written notice of the request. A
13-1 final hearing on suspension or revocation is governed by the same
13-2 rules as a hearing on any other suspension or revocation under this
13-3 Act.
13-4 (h) The commission may employ officers or investigators as
13-5 the commission considers necessary to administer this Act.
13-6 (i) The commission or the commission's officers or agents
13-7 and state, city, or county peace officers may enter and inspect the
13-8 contents of premises where a game of bingo is being conducted or
13-9 where it is intended that a game is to be conducted, or where any
13-10 equipment used or intended for use in the conduct of a game is
13-11 found.
13-12 (j) The commission by rule may establish the number and type
13-13 of bingo games that may be played during an occasion.
13-14 SECTION 8. Section 19a, Bingo Enabling Act (Article 179d,
13-15 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended by amending Subsection
13-16 (k) and by adding Subsection (l) to read as follows:
13-17 (k) Before the end of each quarter, each licensed authorized
13-18 organization shall disburse for charitable purposes an amount not
13-19 less than 35 percent of the organization's adjusted gross receipts
13-20 from the last preceding quarter, less the amount of authorized
13-21 expenses not to exceed six percent of the gross receipts. For
13-22 purposes of this subsection, adjusted gross receipts means gross
13-23 receipts [plus any consideration received from the rental of
13-24 premises for bingo by the authorized organization,] less the
13-25 amount of cost of goods sold by an organization and prizes paid in
13-26 the preceding quarter. For purposes of this subsection, cost of
13-27 goods sold by an organization is the cost of bingo paper, instant
14-1 bingo tickets, or pull-tab bingo games purchased by the
14-2 organization. If a licensed authorized organization fails to meet
14-3 the requirements of this subsection for a quarter, the commission
14-4 in applying appropriate sanctions may consider whether, taking into
14-5 account the amount required to be distributed during that quarter
14-6 and the three preceding quarters and the charitable distributions
14-7 for each of those quarters, the organization has distributed a
14-8 total amount sufficient to have met the 35 percent requirement for
14-9 that quarter and the three preceding quarters combined.
14-10 (l) A licensed authorized organization may obtain only one
14-11 commercial lessor license. The license to lease bingo premises may
14-12 only be issued for the same premise, place, or location where the
14-13 authorized organization is licensed to conduct its bingo games.
14-14 SECTION 9. Section 20, Bingo Enabling Act (Article 179d,
14-15 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to read as follows:
14-16 Sec. 20. REPORTING AND DUE DATE OF TAXES AND FEES. (a) The
14-17 taxes and fees authorized or imposed by this Act are due and
14-18 payable by the licensee or any person conducting bingo games
14-19 without a license to the commission [state treasurer] quarterly on
14-20 or before the 15th day of the month succeeding each calendar
14-21 quarter. The report must be filed under oath on forms prescribed
14-22 by the commission.
14-23 (b) The commission shall adopt rules regarding payment of
14-24 taxes and fees.
14-25 SECTION 10. Section 39(b), Bingo Enabling Act (Article 179d,
14-26 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to read as follows:
14-27 (b) Any person conducting, promoting, or administering a
15-1 game commits a felony of the third degree unless the person is
15-2 conducting, promoting, or administering a game:
15-3 (1) in accordance with a valid license issued under
15-4 this Act;
15-5 (2) within the confines of a home for purposes of
15-6 amusement or recreation when:
15-7 (A) no player or other person furnishes anything
15-8 of more than nominal value for the opportunity to participate;
15-9 (B) participation in the game does not exceed 15
15-10 players; and
15-11 (C) the prizes awarded or to be awarded are
15-12 nominal;
15-13 (3) on behalf of an organization of persons 60 years
15-14 of age or over, a senior citizens' association, a senior citizens'
15-15 community center program operated or funded by a governmental
15-16 entity, [or] the patients in a hospital or nursing home or
15-17 residents of a retirement home, or the patients in a Veterans
15-18 Administration medical center or a military hospital solely for the
15-19 purpose of amusement and recreation of its members, residents, or
15-20 patients, when:
15-21 (A) no player or other person furnishes anything
15-22 of more than nominal value for the opportunity to participate; and
15-23 (B) the prizes awarded or to be awarded are
15-24 nominal; or
15-25 (4) on behalf of a business conducting the game for
15-26 promotional or advertising purposes if:
15-27 (A) the game is conducted by or through a
16-1 newspaper or a radio or television station;
16-2 (B) participation in the game is open to the
16-3 general public and is not limited to customers of the business;
16-4 (C) playing materials are furnished without
16-5 charge to any person on request; and
16-6 (D) no player is required to furnish anything of
16-7 value for the opportunity to participate.
16-8 SECTION 11. The Bingo Enabling Act (Article 179d, Vernon's
16-9 Texas Civil Statutes) is amended by adding Sections 44, 45, and 46
16-10 to read as follows:
16-11 Sec. 44. TRAINING PROGRAM. (a) The person designated by
16-12 the licensed authorized organization under Section 12(a)(7) of this
16-13 Act shall complete eight hours of training as provided by the rules
16-14 of the commission.
16-15 (b) A program approved by the commission must include
16-16 training on:
16-17 (1) conducting a bingo game;
16-18 (2) administering and operating a bingo game; and
16-19 (3) promoting a bingo game.
16-20 (c) The commission by rule shall establish:
16-21 (1) the content of training courses under this
16-22 section;
16-23 (2) information concerning training to be reported to
16-24 the commission; and
16-25 (3) other training program requirements that the
16-26 commission determines to be necessary to promote the fair conduct
16-27 of bingo games and compliance with this Act.
17-1 Sec. 45. APPLICATION FORMS. The commission may not require
17-2 a person who has held a license for five or more years to complete
17-3 an application for the renewal of the license that is more than two
17-4 pages in length.
17-5 Sec. 46. PAPERWORK REDUCTION. The commission may not
17-6 require a person who has held a license for five or more years to
17-7 complete an application for the renewal of the license that is more
17-8 than two pages in length.
17-9 SECTION 12. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of
17-10 this section, this Act applies to the operation of a bingo game,
17-11 the award of prizes, the disbursement of funds for a charitable
17-12 purpose, or other action taken on or after October 1, 1997. The
17-13 law in effect before October 1, 1997, is continued in effect for
17-14 the purposes of the calculation and distribution of funds and the
17-15 operation of a bingo game by a licensed authorized organization
17-16 before October 1, 1997.
17-17 (b) Not later than July 1, 1997, the Texas Lottery
17-18 Commission shall adopt rules under Section 19a, Bingo Enabling Act
17-19 (Article 179d, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), as amended by this
17-20 Act, relating to the operation of bingo by bingo license holders
17-21 and the distribution of proceeds for charitable purposes.
17-22 SECTION 13. The Texas Legislative Council shall prepare a
17-23 nonsubstantive revision of the Bingo Enabling Act (Article 179d,
17-24 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes) for consideration by the 76th
17-25 Legislature at its regular session in 1999.
17-26 SECTION 14. The importance of this legislation and the
17-27 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
18-1 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
18-2 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
18-3 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
18-4 and that this Act take effect and be in force according to its
18-5 terms, and it is so enacted.
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2086 was passed by the House on May
10, 1997, by the following vote: Yeas 140, Nays 0, 2 present, not
voting; that the House refused to concur in Senate amendments to
H.B. No. 2086 on May 23, 1997, and requested the appointment of a
conference committee to consider the differences between the two
houses; and that the House adopted the conference committee report
on H.B. No. 2086 on May 31, 1997, by the following vote: Yeas 131,
Nays 4, 2 present, not voting.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2086 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 21, 1997, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays
0; at the request of the House, the Senate appointed a conference
committee to consider the differences between the two houses; and
that the Senate adopted the conference committee report on H.B. No.
2086 on May 31, 1997, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor