HBA-DMH H.B. 2119 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2119 By: Haggerty Licensing & Administrative Procedures 7/18/2001 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Progressive bingo is a specific type of bingo game in which a player must achieve a specific pattern by the time a certain number of bingo balls have been selected. If the player does not achieve the specific pattern within the specified number of balls, the game continues until someone achieves a winning pattern. A consolation prize is awarded and the remainder of the prize amount is carried over and added to the next progressive bingo game. House Bill 2119 authorizes a licensed authorized organization to conduct a progressive bingo game. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking authority is expressly delegated to the Texas Lottery Commission in SECTION 2 (Section 2001.421, Occupations Code) and SECTION 3 of this bill. ANALYSIS House Bill 2119 amends the Occupations Code to authorize a licensed authorized organization to conduct a progressive bingo game and to provide that only one progressive bingo game may be conducted during a bingo occasion. The bill prohibits a licensed authorized organization from conducting a progressive bingo game before the Texas Lottery Commission (TLC) adopts rules to administer progressive bingo games. The bill prohibits the prize offered or awarded for a progressive bingo game from exceeding $750 at the first bingo occasion during which the game is played and prohibits the prize offered or awarded from being increased by more than $500 at each successive bingo occasion at which the game is played until the game is won. If the prize for a progressive bingo game is not awarded at a bingo occasion, the progressive bingo game must be continued at a future bingo occasion of the same organization until a winner is declared. The bill authorizes a consolation prize of not more than $250 for a progressive bingo game to be awarded at each bingo occasion during which the game is played. The bill provides that prize awards provisions established in the Bingo Enabling Act do not apply to a progressive bingo game, but prize fee provisions do apply in a progressive bingo game. The bill provides that a licensed authorized organization conducting a progressive bingo game must post the rules for the progressive bingo game as part of the organization's house rules before the start of the bingo occasion. Except as otherwise required by rule of TLC, the posted rules must remain in effect until a winner is declared for the progressive bingo game. If more than one licensed authorized organization conducts bingo at the same location, the bill provides that each organization is responsible for the organization's own progressive bingo game. A licensed authorized organization conducting a progressive bingo game must maintain adequate records relating to the game as required by rule of TLC. The records must include the amount of the increase in the prize at each bingo occasion at which the game is continued and account for all gross receipts for each progressive bingo game. The bill requires TLC to adopt rules, not later than October 1, 2001, to administer these provisions. The bill sets forth provisions regarding the applicability of current law to prizes awarded in a progressive bingo game. EFFECTIVE DATE Vetoed.