| TO: | Honorable Frank Madla, Chair, Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations |
| FROM: | John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | SB1566 by Madla (Relating to mass gatherings in unincorporated areas of counties.), As Introduced |
The bill would amend the Health and Safety Code to redefine "mass gathering." The bill would take effect immediately upon passage.
Under current statute, the number of persons that constitutes a mass gathering under particular circumstances is 5,000. The bill would lower that number to 2,500 in certain instances and it would be 500 persons in other circumstances described in the bill. Lowering the number of persons considered to create a mass gathering would increase the number of events considered to be a mass gathering and therefore would increase the number of permits required, as well as increase the investigations, hearings, and inspections by local government authorities necessary. It is anticipated, however, that permit fees would cover additional costs. If the state or a local government holds a mass gathering, it would be responsible for paying permit fees. If admission is charged for the event, the sponsoring unit would recoup the permit fees.
| Source Agencies: | |
| LBB Staff: | JK, DLBa
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