LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                                   Austin, Texas
         
                                   FISCAL NOTE
                               75th Regular Session
         
                                  May 30, 1997
         
         
      TO: Honorable Bob Bullock            Honorable James E. "Pete" Laney
          Lieutenant Governor                Speaker of the House
          Senate
          Austin, Texas
         
         
         
         
         FROM:  John Keel, Director    
         
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on HB2086 ( relating 
to the regulation and operation of bingo.) this office has detemined 
the following:
         
         Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by HB2086-Conference Committee Report
         
Implementing the provisions of the bill would result in a net 
positive impact of $38,092 to General Revenue Related Funds 
through the biennium ending August 31, 1999.
         

         
 
Fiscal Analysis
 
The bill would amend the Bingo Enabling Act as it applies to 
the operation of a bingo game, the award of prizes, the disbursement 
of funds for a charitable purpose or other action taken on or 
after October 1, 1997.  The revised provisions would take effect 
September 1, 1997.

The bill would add a system service provider 
as a member of the bingo advisory committee currently authorized 
under the Act and would require the Texas Lottery Commission 
to adopt rules not later than July 1, 1997 governing both the 
operation of bingo and distribution of bingo proceeds for charitable 
purposes as revised by the bill. The bill would allow the advertising 
of bingo sessions and prizes by bingo licensees or by the commission. 
 Licensed operators could conduct a charitable raffle under 
the Charitable Raffle Enabling Act at a bingo session.  The 
bill raises the allowable limit for a prize from $500 to $750 
for any single game of bingo.  Also, licensed operators could 
award a door prize, provided that the value of the door prize 
was no greater than $250.   The bill would increase the percentage 
of persons who could use a card minding device to 40 percent 
from 30 percent.
 
Methodolgy
 
The Comptroller of Public Accounts estimates that the bill would 
increase winner fee revenue through an increase in charitable 
bingo participation. One half of this revenue would be allocated 
to units of local government.  The Texas Lottery Commission 
estimates that one (1) new staff position would be needed  to 
implement the provisions of the bill.  Additional costs for 
start-up of the training program and refinement of the required 
new rules would be included.  Other support costs associated 
with the new staff position are also included.  Initial costs 
of developing rules by the July 1997 directive would be absorbed 
with  current appropriated funds.  Should the commission decide 
to contract out for training services for licensees, there could 
be a reduced fiscal impact of implementing that section of the 
bill.
The probable fiscal implications of implementing the provisions 
of the bill during each of the first five years following passage 
is estimated as follows:
 
Five Year Impact:
 
Fiscal Year Probable           Probable Revenue   Probable           Change in Number   
            Savings/(Cost)     Gain/(Loss) from   Savings/(Cost)     of State                             
            from General       General Revenue    from General       Employees from                       
            Revenue Fund       Fund               Revenue Fund:      FY 1997                              
                                                  Local Share of                                          
                                                  Prize Fee Revenue                                       
            0001               0001               0001                                                     
       1998         ($47,883)          $134,000         ($67,000)               1.0                  
       1998          (49,025)           136,000          (68,000)               1.0                  
       2000          (50,182)           138,000          (69,000)               1.0                  
       2001          (51,384)           140,000          (70,000)               1.0                  
       2002          (52,586)           142,000          (71,000)               1.0                  
 
 
         Net Impact on General Revenue Related Funds:
 

 
              Fiscal Year      Probable Net Postive/(Negative)
                               General Revenue Related Funds
                                             Funds
               1998              $19,117
               1999               18,975
               2000               18,818
               2001               18,616
               2002               18,414
 
          
Units of local government would receive additional prize fee 
revenue as noted in the table above.
          
   Source:            Agencies:   
                                         362   Texas Lottery Commission
                                         304   Comptroller of Public Accounts
                      LBB Staff:   JK ,JD ,PH