By Wohlgemuth                                         H.B. No. 2629
         77R7676 YDB-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to authorizing certain community bingo games offered
 1-3     without charge and with nominal prizes.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Section 2001.551(b), Occupations Code, is amended
 1-6     to read as follows:
 1-7           (b)  A person conducting, promoting, or administering bingo
 1-8     commits an offense if the person conducts, promotes, or administers
 1-9     bingo other than:
1-10                 (1)  under a license issued under this chapter;
1-11                 (2)  within the confines of a home for purposes of
1-12     amusement or recreation when:
1-13                       (A)  no player or other person furnishes anything
1-14     of more than nominal value for the opportunity to participate;
1-15                       (B)  participation in the game does not exceed 15
1-16     players; and
1-17                       (C)  the prizes awarded or to be awarded are
1-18     nominal;
1-19                 (3)  on behalf of an organization of individuals 60
1-20     years of age or over, a senior citizens' association, a senior
1-21     citizens' community center program operated or funded by a
1-22     governmental entity, the patients in a hospital or nursing home,
1-23     residents of a retirement home, or the patients in a Veteran's
1-24     Administration medical center or a military hospital, solely for
 2-1     the purpose of amusement and recreation of its members, residents,
 2-2     or patients, when:
 2-3                       (A)  no player or other person furnishes anything
 2-4     of more than nominal value for the opportunity to participate; and
 2-5                       (B)  the prizes awarded or to be awarded are
 2-6     nominal;  [or]
 2-7                 (4)  on behalf of a business conducting the game for
 2-8     promotional or advertising purposes if:
 2-9                       (A)  the game is conducted by or through a
2-10     newspaper or a radio or television station;
2-11                       (B)  participation in the game is open to the
2-12     general public and is not limited to customers of the business;
2-13                       (C)  playing materials are furnished without
2-14     charge to a person on request; and
2-15                       (D)  no player is required to furnish anything of
2-16     value for the opportunity to participate; or
2-17                 (5)  on behalf of a business conducting the game as a
2-18     community service if:
2-19                       (A)  the game is restricted to players 55 years
2-20     of age or over;
2-21                       (B)  participation in the game is open to the
2-22     general public and is not limited to customers of the business;
2-23                       (C)  playing materials are furnished without
2-24     charge to a person on request;
2-25                       (D)  no player or other person furnishes anything
2-26     of more than nominal value for the opportunity to participate; and
2-27                       (E)  the prizes awarded or to be awarded are
 3-1     nominal.
 3-2           SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.