By Crownover H.B. No. 1243
76R4399 AJA-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to eligibility for membership on the Texas Racing
1-3 Commission.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 2.05(a), Texas Racing Act (Article 179e,
1-6 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to read as follows:
1-7 (a) Three [Four] of the appointed members of the commission
1-8 must be representatives of the general public and have general
1-9 knowledge of business or agribusiness. One additional appointed
1-10 member must have special knowledge or experience related to
1-11 greyhound racing, [and] one additional appointed member must have
1-12 special knowledge or experience related to horse racing, and one
1-13 additional appointed member must be a veterinarian. A person is
1-14 not eligible for appointment as a member of the commission if the
1-15 person or the person's spouse:
1-16 (1) is licensed by the commission, except as a
1-17 commissioner;
1-18 (2) is employed by the commission or participates in
1-19 the management of a business entity or other organization regulated
1-20 by the commission or receiving funds from or through the
1-21 commission;
1-22 (3) owns or controls, directly or indirectly, more
1-23 than a 10 percent interest in a business entity or other
1-24 organization regulated by the commission or receiving funds from or
2-1 through the commission; or
2-2 (4) uses or receives a substantial amount of tangible
2-3 goods, services, or funds from or through the commission, other
2-4 than compensation or reimbursement authorized by law for commission
2-5 membership, attendance, or expenses.
2-6 SECTION 2. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
2-7 (b) The change in law made by this Act relating to the
2-8 qualifications for membership on the Texas Racing Commission does
2-9 not affect the eligibility of a member of the commission serving
2-10 immediately before the effective date of this Act to continue to
2-11 serve on the commission for the term to which the member was
2-12 appointed. The governor shall appoint a veterinarian to the
2-13 commission in accordance with Section 2.05(a), Texas Racing Act
2-14 (Article 179e, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), as amended by this
2-15 Act, to fill the next vacancy that occurs after the effective date
2-16 of this Act in a position held by a commission member representing
2-17 the general public.
2-18 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
2-19 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-20 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-21 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-22 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.