SRC-DPW C.S.H.B. 844 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.H.B. 844
76R13379 TBy: Wilson (Armbrister)
Finance
4/26/1999
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST 

In 1997, the 75th Legislature passed legislation to place a limit on the
total amount of lottery prizes that may be awarded in a fiscal year.  From
fiscal year 1992 through fiscal year 1997, the Texas Lottery experienced
five years of sales growth.  After the enactment of the legislation to
reduce the payout, total sales for the fiscal year 1998 decreased by 17 and
one-half percent.  This bill would remove the current limit placed on the
total amount of state lottery prizes that may be awarded in a fiscal year. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, C.S.H.B. 844 removes the current limit placed on the total
amount of state lottery prizes that may be awarded in a fiscal year. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 466.015(c), Government Code, to delete an
exception from the rules governing prizes on winning lottery tickets which
prohibits the total amount of prizes awarded from exceeding the amount
described in Subsection (d). 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 466.015(d), Government Code, to require the Texas
Lottery Commission to decrease its spending from its advertising budget of
$40 million for each fiscal year by $1 million for each one percent
increase over Fiscal Year 1999 average prize payout.  Deletes a provision
prohibiting the total amount of lottery prizes from exceeding a certain
amount. 

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.



SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

SECTION 2.

Amends Section 466.015(d), Government Code, to require the Texas Lottery
Commission to decrease its spending from its advertising budget of $40
million for each fiscal year by $1 million for each one percent increase
over Fiscal Year 1999 average prize payout.  Deletes a provision
prohibiting the total amount of lottery prizes from exceeding a certain
amount. Deletes proposed SECTION 2.