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.