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By:  Chavez                                                       H.B. No. 2797



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the authority of federally recognized Indian tribes 
along the Texas-Mexico border to engage in bingo.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 2001.002, Occupations Code is amended by 
amending Subdivision (11) to read as follows:
		(11)  "Fraternal organization" means:                                         
			(A)  a nonprofit organization organized to 
perform and engaged primarily in performing charitable, 
benevolent, patriotic, employment-related, or educational 
functions that meet other requirements of this chapter; or
			(B)  a nonprofit National Historical District 
Association representing the owners and lessees of a majority of 
the real property located in a National Historical District 
designated for not less than five years by the National Register of 
Historic Places, Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service of 
the United States Department of the Interior, if the association's 
net proceeds are used for restoration, construction, maintenance, 
and security in the district.  The term "fraternal organization" 
does not include an organization whose members are predominantly 
veterans or dependents of veterans of the armed services of the 
United States.
			(C)  a federally recognized Indian tribe whose 
reservation is located within the boundaries of the State of Texas.
	SECTION 2.  Subchapter C, Chapter 2001, Occupations Code, is 
amended by adding Section 2001.1015 to read as follows:
	An Indian tribe which meets the definition of fraternal 
organization under Section 2001.102(11) is authorized to conduct on 
its reservation bingo activities upon the adoption by the tribe of 
rules and regulations in conformance with the substantive 
provisions of the Bingo Enabling Act and in accord with Section 
47(b), (c), Article III, Texas Constitution.  In compliance with 
Sections 107(b) and 207(b) of Public Law No. 100-89, an Indian tribe 
conducting bingo activities shall do so without submitting to the 
regulatory jurisdiction of the State of Texas including licensing.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2005.