BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 1200
By: Patrick, Dan
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The Texas Lottery has been criticized for continuing to sell scratch-off lottery tickets well after the top prizes in the game have been claimed. Current Texas Lottery Commission rules and procedures do not expressly require the closing of a game after all top prizes have been claimed and authorize a retailer to continue selling tickets for such a game for 60 days after it has been called.
As proposed, S.B. 1200 requires the Texas Lottery Commission to adopt rules leading to the closure of an instant lottery game after all top prizes in the game have been claimed and the cessation of the sale of tickets for the game beyond the 46th day after the game’s closure.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Lottery Commission in SECTION 1 (Section 466.015, Government Code) of this bill.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 466, Government Code, by adding Section 466.015(e), to require the Texas Lottery Commission (commission) to adopt rules governing instant games (games) that close a game after all top prizes have been claimed or on an earlier date determined by the executive director of the commission, and that provide procedures for the timely closing of a game that end the sale of tickets for such a game beyond the 46th day after its closure.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2007.